325ix transmission trouble

[kmushu]

I was just driving home and fourth gear has started popping out and grinding at anything above 20mph.

I'd noticed what seemed to be an increase of transmission noise so I changed the oil about 500 miles ago, but noise levels stayed the same. Shifter is super floppy but not sure if that's typical on stock e30s/ixs cause this is my first.

Car is a 1989 325ix with 190k on the odo, only fourth seems to be affected. Clutch is on its last legs too.

Any ideas? I'm worried its a synchro...

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[TurboJake]

fourth gear has started popping out and grinding

...

Shifter is super floppy

This is a problem. May or may not be THE problem, but it's very likely you're not even getting it fully into 4th. Replace the shifter bushings and related parts.

[TobyB]

3rd- 4th has an aluminum shift fork. Fix the shifter, but be ready for the trans to need work.

sorry...

t

[kmushu]

TobyB, a month later and here I am having the same trouble after replacing the shifter bushings. I even upgraded to delrin. Would you suggest just getting a new transmission or fixing the one I have?

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[Julien]

I briefly owned a 325ix with that exact same issue. not sure if it's a 325ix deal or what. this trans needed a synchro and possibly a gear

[nando]

same trans as every other manual E30.. sounds like it's an issue with the transmission itself, the shifter forks as TobyB said.

it could be rebuilt. it will be expensive though... it depends if you want to replace everything, or just the broken parts. Finding another manual ix trans might not be easy, and it could have the same issues.

Funny, cause my transmission has eleventy billion miles on it and it still shifts perfectly. I think I'm at 350k?

[kmushu]

@nando, thanks for all your help so far. Was reading that the normal e30 getrag could be fitted with an ix rear housing in order to swap it over, do you think that's worth pursuing?

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