Complaints about BMW 3 Series - No Reverse

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Scott of Gastonia, NC (12/28/09)
We bought our '01 X5 new. Suffered a failed alternator a couple months ago, cost $1200. Drive the X5 to Charlotte airport to pick up my son. Backed out of the parking place and noticed a bumping feel. Now, no reverse. Drives normal forward. Prices anywhere from $2500 to $5000 to fix. Depends on rebuild or new. Will never buy another BMW.

David of Sacramento, CA (12/28/09)
325 ci , 2001 reverse went out at 100,000 ish. what the fuck!!! why is it not being recalled? and what the fuck i got a letter with the frame defect, but i been driving it without reverse for a while and been pushing my car as needed so fu**ing embarrassing. now my car wont star, because somehow the transmission is so fucked up now that it doesn't know its on park so the car wont start... i want to buy a used transmission but, im scared this problem will just occurred again

Jeff of Chicago, IL (12/25/09)
I had never heard of such an issue as "no reverse" until suddenly Tuesday morning my car wouldn't reverse. I am an owner of a 2001 325ci w/ 80k miles. I was shocked to see all the info on the web regarding this problem w/ many BMW models and even more shocked to hear BMW North America as done absolutely nothing. When you pay $40k - $100k for a car you expect the manufacturer to stand by its product and replace any parts that are known to be faulty. The fact that BMW outsourced the transmission to GM of all people is ludicrous.

I took my car to the dealer which found an internal fault code and wanted to charge me $6,500 for a new transmission - they said they won't repair them. I mentioned this 'no reverse' issue to my dealer and the service manager and they acted like it was the first they had heard of it. RIDICULOUS!

Luckily I have an extended 3rd party warranty on my car and they are paying for it to be 'rebuilt' or 'fixed' at a local shop. As soon as it's rebuilt, it's out of my garage, I'm done w/ it. I've never enjoyed driving a car so much in my life (I've had 9 now including Toyota, Honda, & Acura) but I've never had more problems w/ a car. In the last 4 months I've had to replace the following: front left lower control arm & bushings, 2 door lock actuators, thermostat, alternator pulley, and now the transmission. If I was driving a 2001 Honda Accord I wouldn't be having any of these issues.

The Germans need to wake up. They sure know how to make the ultimate driving machine, but they need to make sure it drives for more than 4 years.

If anyone has info on starting a class action lawsuit…I’m in!!!!

Susan of Redondo Beach, CA (12/17/09)
I tracked down Gina Tufaro, the attorney in the class action suit Contino vs. BMW NA which has been mentioned on this board. Her phone number is 212-986-4500.
She told me the Oct 08 settlement was made as an individual settlement, not as a group settlement, and the details of that settlement are confidential. So, no $ for the rest of us. The firm has no plans to initiate a new class action suit on this issue. She also suggested I contact BMW Corporate.

Marc of Portland, OR (12/15/09)
Bought a 323i Wagon with 69K miles in otherwise excellent condition. Drove it up from Napa over the weekend, this morning - tried to reverse out of the driveway. No reverse.

Sharol of Jonesboro, GA (12/14/09)
I simply can not believe what I am reading and nothing is being done. I am also one the the (UN)fortunate owners of a 1999 323i with 132,000 miles and in excellant condition. That was, until 10/22/2009, I returned from a trip and attempted to back out of the parking space at the airport and, nothing. Carried the car to the BMW dealer for them to tell me that the shift plate not aligned and the car is thinking thats it in neutral. BULL!! When that did not solve the problem, the dealer said that it was the transmission. Had that rebuilt at $2000 and still the same problem 2 days later. Please get this class action suit in motion because this is outrageous and BMW refuses to recall this transmission.

Susan of Redondo Beach, CA (12/14/09)
No-reverse happened today to my 2000 318i with 68k miles. great stuff on this board and others referenced here. I did file a complaint on the Natl Auto Safety site. And made an inquiry at the law firm's site about the class action suit. Will call the repair guy in san diego to get a quote.
Thanks to all for sharing your stories.

just had reverse go out this afternoon. heard a clunk and then reverse starting acting like neutral. 68000 miles on a 2000 BMW 323i. I have maintained this car perfectly. will look for a transmission specialist - thanks for all the great info here!

Kathi of Brandon, FL (12/13/09)
It happened to me yesterday. I got into my 2000 BMW 328i (with 141,000 on it). put it in reverse and NOTHING.
Really? I am a single mom who has been unemployed since August. I have no money to fix this, but do have two very-hard-to-come by interviews this week on Monday and Tuesday. Nice timing, right? I sat in my car and cried. I saw all the info about the class action suit, so I am praying there is something that can be done. This is so UNFAIR. It anyone has any additional information or can offer some advice, please contact me. Thank you, Happy holidays...nice present from BMW.

Rena of Philadelphia, PA (12/9/09)
Tried to reverse out of a parking spot and nothing happened. Though my car was in neutral. Put it back in drive, then reverse again. Nothing. Turned the car off, back on, reverse gear, nothing. Ended up putting it in neutral and pushing the car out. It drove fine. Got to work, parked sideways across several spots in case I couldn't reverse later.Put it in park, reverse and it worked. Weird! Called my mechanic and he said that is a common problem with BMWs and that I had (hopefully) 6 months before I had to get my transmission fixed. I have a 2000 323CI with 141k miles on it. Already filed a complain with NHTSA.

Louis of Commack, NY (12/5/09)
I own a 2000 323ci which has less than 75000 miles on it and just experienced the "no reverse" problem. My local repair shop wants about $3000 - $3500 to rebuild the transmission. I noticed you have a few repair shops on your website which are willing to repair the problem for about 1/2 that price. Would you happen to know of any shops in the Long Island area that familiar with the problem and willing to repair the damaged part for a reasonable price?

Does anyone know if there is a class action lawsuit against BMW for this defect and how to join if there is one. I own a 2000 323ci, the reverse just stopped working the other day and the car has less than 75000 miles on it. I also own a 1999 323i which had the subframe problem which I spent ~$3000 to repair a few years ago, but recently there was a class action filed against BMW and I received the full amount I spent on the repairs. So keep your receipts if you have your transmission repaired.

Mark of United Kingdom (12/4/09)
Hi guys,
At last I have found people with the same problems as I am having with a 2000 323ci. The car will drop into reverse and if your parked on the flat it will just about creep backwards but if you come up to anything bigger than a grain of rice the car stops.

Do you know where I can get a technical diagram and find out the part numbers for all parts required as my local main stealer are no help.

I am able to repair the box myself as I rebuild Mercedes auto boxes, I just need the parts. Thanks guys & great website....good job!

Alex of Huntsville, AL (11/29/09)
I am the 3rd owner of a 2000 323i BMW that enjoyed the car for a year when the reverse gear quit working at 91K miles. Absolutely no warning or symptoms, just quit and will now barely engage in reverse.

Rakesh of NC (11/27/09)
I faced the no reverse problem with my BMW 323i 2000 with 93 K on it. I bought it last week from a delar. Can anyone help to know a nearby easy fix. Mine reverse goes away occasionally.. (3 times in last 10 days). It comes back after driving for some yards.. (something fixes it).. please help..

Paul of San Antonio, TX (11/27/09)
2000 323i Touring, 124,500 miles. Reverse gear failure with the ZF transmission. Unprompted and exciting was my loss of reverse on the day before Thanksgiving (I never liked parallel parking anyhow). So the next day i gave thanks for my Saab, which puts the Bimmer to shame in the "durability" category. Hmm, maybe the fact that the suspension bushings last 40k miles is a hint that the drivetrain should not be held to a higher standard.
I'll likely replace the reverse drum myself, well me a buddy and lots of beer.

Tom of Louisville, KY (11/18/09)
I guess we're the newest member of the club. My son and I bought a 2000 325ie with around 90,000 miles for my grandson. Over the weekend, the reverse gear went out. Someone had mentioned a class action suit. Is something pending?

Peter of Orlando, FL (11/15/09)
It looks like the lawsuit filed in NJ on behalf of some BMW owners was settled in late 2008. I have emailed the law firm that filed that and I will post their reply when it comes.

Neal of Newton, MA (11/14/09)
Responding to Esther from Los Angeles who posted on 9/6/09

The same problem just occurred with my 2001 330i. I'm interested in receiving the pdf file of the NJ lawsuit. My wife is a legal aid attorney, but doesn't handle product liability suits. Did the attorneys from that case respond to your emails?

It would be great if legal action could be taken against BMW. I'm going to try your method to at least get a new transmission at warranty cost from BMW, but I doubt it will work here.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

David of Columbus, OH (11/1/09)
I now have joined the ranks of the unhappy with BMW crowd. I was unhappy with their service at a local repair shop (Kelly-the sales manager was less then helpful regarding another issue) and dumped my 2006 BMW after the lease was over. I still have a 2000 323i which stopped going in reverse and of course now I am paying $2072 to fix it. I am done with BMW forever and will soon have this car up for sale.

I have had the no reverse problem and in discussion regarding it with a friend that owns a collision repair shop, he mentioned that BMW has had another lawsuit and are fixing problems on the 99-2005 3 series regarding the subframe cracking. He said the subframe cracks at the mounts at the rear of the car (always on the left side in his experience) and he has repaired several for a local BMW dealer. The cost to do the repair is considerable. He said to hang on to my repair info for the transmission work because he wouldn't be surprised that the no reverse issue might also be covered at some time. Anyways, have your dealer look for this subframe problem if interested.

Casey of WA (11/1/09)
We have a 323ci that we just put a brand new engine in because it blew a hose and blew the engine (that was $4500) and yesterday reverse stopped working. We are going to give the Lucas Transmission Fix a try, but were shocked to find this site and all the complaints like everyone else.

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