shifter problem help!!

[ihugcorners]

before my selector rod fell out, my shifter rattled like crazy . its sloppy as hell as well. i can make the shifter do circles the size of a softball when in gear anywho , point is.... i put the selector rod back into places , clips and all... and it began to rattle like no ones business and then the selector rod fell out... this has happened 3 nights in a row.... diagnoses why it falls out or why it rattles like hell or both?

[jlevie]

The slop in the shifter suggests that you need to rebuild it. I can't see how the circlips would come off since they snap over the selector rod ends if you used the OE clips. however if you used generic e-clips that weren't the right size, they might come off.

[ihugcorners]

yeah i went junkyard hunting yesterday and took a few circlips off other e30s . so yesterday i put the selector rod on , still rattled like crazy but it was on. rediculous slop... so. anywho i was driving and bam it falls on again..... it seems like the higher gear i go into the louder it starts rattling... shit is annoying... makes me wanna drive in 1st on the fwy

[jlevie]

I think you need to remove the entire shifter from the car and replace all the worn parts with new.

And while at that, replace the transmission and engine mounts if they look less than perfect.