5 speed, reverse moves forward

[Sauced]

On my new to me 88 325i 5 speed manual, the previous owner said they were coming up to an intersection and the light was changing so they downshifted quickly and it felt like the clutch went out. they pushed it into a parking lot and I bought it from there.

It was a friends car and I know that the clutch was replaced about 5k miles ago. the car bogs in any gear like it is in 3rd 4th or 5th, but in reverse the car moves forward like it is in 2nd or 3rd.

I am wondering if the transmission is toast or if it is something more simple like the shift linkage or maybe a bent shift fork.

any input is appreciated, I'm itching to begin pulling it apart as soon as this rain passes

[george graves]

Never heard of this on a e30 trans!

Does shifting feel normal? Can you feel the indent for each gear? Must be messed up inside.

[DesktopDave]

I'm hoping it's the linkage. One of my old E24 parts cars acted like that too, PO guessed the gearbox was broken. It had the earlier sheet metal style shifter bracket...that was missing a bolt on one of the front 'ears.' Cheap & easy fix! The alu type shifter has a rear bushing can also disintegrate or fall out. They're not too hard to fix either.

Do me a favor...go punch your friend and tell him: "Oops, I was just downshifting!"

[TobyB]

On the E21, it was possible for the transmission to slip into 2 gears at once- one was
usually reverse.

This sounds like the selector INSIDE the box has done something it shouldn't-
maybe the botched shift coupled with motor movement and monkey grip on
the shifter bent something- probably the selector, but yeah, maybe a fork.

Plan on another gearbox- these things CAN be fixed, but seldom for the cost
of 2 used gearboxes, simply because they are pretty darned hard to get apart.
And it takes tools, skill, and patience. PLUS, only the Pro3 monkeys really break
them with any regularity, so until recently, a used 'box was cheap and a good gamble.

hth

t

[Ether-D]

I say bad linkage issue. Easy fix.