1998 BMW 323is no reverse
Bought a 1998 323is BMW for $600. Was told the torque converter was out with no transmission error codes (checked at bmw shop) I listened to a lot of stories about computer error and limp mode etc... I figured when I bought it the tranny was probably dead... I just went to try a few things in the car, check codes, etc. and noticed the A/M switch on the console and pushed M and the darn car has forward gears... but no reverse. I am sure this doesn't change much but what the heck... anyone think it's computer and not tranny failure? Thanks, Back in '84 I swapped a automatic borg warner from a 71 2002 and it was so easy... no computer issues.
The after a good wash picture... not bad... not great...
Well son of a gun- TOM YOU SAVED MY BACON!!! I was blindly on the road to something after the car took off and drove around the parking lot. I took the advice of the thread Tom posted and drove the car a couple miles and parked and sure enough the darn reverse worked.... Seems the Solenoids fail and may then stick back open after warming up or something and start working again... Even sounded normal in Auto setting instead of the Manual setting I got it working on... Still not out danger but a trans service and solenoids may do the trick... we'll keep you posted.
Working on it! This saved me alot of hassle, alot... And I have years of car experience....
So the latest news is that the no reverse syndrome isn't always final. Still not sure what is needed to fix this but now the reverse worked today with out a warm up drive.. and worked all day even enough to get the car smogged. Works in Auto Mode right away, no need to warm it up in manual now...
So what do you think solenoids, screen, throttle body issue or jsut ready for the rebuild bench?
Using the M switch mode is the key when reverse goes out and trans is not working with no error codes!
