What is broken?

[tonerrrr]

I've always had slop in my shifter but yesterday it seemed to get weird (like everything was moving when I shifted).

This morning I was on my way to work and I couldn't get into third. It seemed as if since the whole "thing" was moving, it couldn't reach third. I made the decision to go back home and I'm glad I did. Right after I pulled into the drive way it got reeeeeally "loose":



What am I looking at broken here? Obviously without getting under there and checking I don't know for sure, just looking for the common thing that goes out.

Before this the car sometimes was hard to get into 2nd when accelerating quickly (yes an eta can accelerate quickly haha) and all around didn't feel super smooth choosing gears. Maybe something was bent then snapped?

[jlevie]

As a guess, the selector rod has broken or become disconnected.

[lolcantturn]

Selector rod as jim pointed out. Unlikely though as those things are 1/2 inch steel.......perhaps it disconnected.

If you have an iPhone, remove the dust/insulator boot and put it on video mode and peep in there, works everytime ;)

[tonerrrr]

That's what I'm thinking, without even looking at it I decided to take the plunge and purchase the UUS EVO3 Kit: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-35...36-e46-z3.aspx

I've been putting it off so now I guess it's time haha. I'll take a peek like you suggested and post back what I find.

Just a heads up to anyone else, if shit's feeling really weird, just drive home before you get stuck, I'm glad I did ha!

[tonerrrr]

I could fit my phone in there but did undo the clip and bring the shift rod up. You can tell steel or not the thing broke off and is still in there(sorry my nexus couldn't fit down in there!):



It looks like it snapped right where the line for #10 is drawn:


Immobile BMW :( :

[lolcantturn]

Yup, definitely broken. Really strange, you must shift really hard ;)

sucks you have an ETA old style shifter carrier, you would have gotten a better look at everything, I can pull my boot off, stick my iphone in there and have a 360 view of everything, guibo, trans mounts, rear shifter carrier, etc.

But replace everything in there, bushings, etc!

[tonerrrr]

Yep, I wouldn't have a problem looking under the car but it's wet out. I don't really shift hard (I don't think anyway...) I think the parts are all original. I wish I took a video of the slop it had before this happened...It was bad!

I'll probably do a separate order with pelican for some other stuff as needed. Even the rubber piece up top split when I was taking it out. This stuff is original (25 years old)...

[jlevie]

Yup, definitely broken. Really strange, you must shift really hard ;)

Actually that is a common failure mode. And it is pretty easy to fix by welding.

[lolcantturn]

Actually that is a common failure mode. And it is pretty easy to fix by welding.

Really? When I did my 24v swap which requires the selector rod to be rotated 10*, i couldn't get the thing to budge even when I was putting all my weight on the rod!

[tonerrrr]

Hnm well late tonight or tomorrow I'll have it apart to share pics of the carnage haha

[tonerrrr]

Yep, just as suspected. I'm having a hell of a time getting the driveshaft out of the way. There's a stupid flange on the transmission, seems like a lot of people don't have it or took it off.

[tonerrrr]

Working around that flange is awesome, thank you PO! What a hacked up masterpiece:

[tonerrrr]

:D

[jlevie]

Now that is a real mess. If I believe what I think I see in the pictures the transmission output flange nut has been welded to the flange. That would mean that the transmission is now a piece of junk. I have no idea why anyone would do that...