Can you help me please?!

[shimy]

Hiya all newbie here :smile:

I have a 1998 Bmw 318 ti compact and i cant get reverse or 5th gear, im just wondering if anyone knows if other Bmw gearbox's will fit my car, i.e. 3 series e36 325, 320, 318, 316. I've been offered a gearbox out of a 1998 2 litre Z3 but i dont want to buy if it wont fit.

Any help would be really appretiated, thanks in advance for your help:smile:

Shimy.

[mooseheadm5]

Any E36 or Z3 4 cylinder gearbox will fit. The Z3 2.0, is that a 6 cylinder? Any E36/Z3 6 cylinder gearbox will bolt up, but the driveshaft is a different length. Go for the 4 banger gearbox, it should be cheaper. Any chance your shifter is just worn out/broken and not your gearbox?

[pnosker]

It's the Euro N series of motors, 4 cyl. Cool motor too-- Vanos!

[CirrusSR22]

Here's a realoem.com link to that Z3. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CL31&mospid=48080&btnr=23_0116&hg=23&fg=05

It appears to have the normal Getrag S5D 250G that the 318ti got.

I'm not sure about European models, but American E46 323 and 325 transmissions should fit, as well as E39 525 transmissions.

[cooljess76]

This might sound obvious, but I happened to notice that you only have 1 post, so I'm assuming you're a new owner. Please forgive me if I'm wrong and for underestimating you, but are you aware that reverse is all the way over to the left and forward? Perhaps your car has an aftermarket shift knob without the shift pattern pictured on it? If you have it in neutral, pull the lever left until it stops, then pull a little harder until it pops loose and push forward, now you're in reverse. As for 5th, I'm not sure.

[shimy]

Thanks for the replys you lot! :smile:

No offence taken cooljess76 :smile: yeah this is my first post but i've been 'beamering' for a while now. I actually brought it from an auction for the missus and its on the way home i noticed the 5th gear problem then when i got home i noticed reverse also :frown:

I think the Z3 2.0 is a 6 cylinder, i have the guys phone number so i'll give him a call to see if it is or not.

If the gearbox is the same or i locate one out of a 4 cylinder, is it a simple bolt on bolt off job?

Nothing at all happens when i try to engage reverse, the reverse lights come on but its like its in neutral. As for 5th, normally it will just crunch but i noticed i was able to get it in to 5th if i let the revs drop further than you normally would, put it in to gear really slowley and push the gear stick as far forward as it would go... But then it went through a stage of about 10 miles were it would'nt come out of 5th! All other gears work fine. :confused:

How would i tell if it is the gearbox for sure and not something less expensive?

Thanks again for all your help :smile:

[mooseheadm5]

Sounds like it needs a gearbox. If you buy one that is a direct fit for the car, it will bolt up easily, but you have to know what you are doing and have good tools, because it can be a pain to reach some of the bolts. Good luck.
-P

[shimy]

got it sorted now everyone :wink:

£200 pounds for a 2nd hand box with 55000 miles on it fitted.

Im happy with that :biggrin: