2000 BMW 3 Series: complete transmission failure

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · OH

Reverse gear of transmission went out around 100,000 miles. No issues prior to failure. Transmission was replaced by dealer at consumer's cost.

Filed Apr 6, 2009 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · CA

My 2000 323 ci bmw "no reverse ". With only 69,000 miles on it properly maintained and serviced, on april 5 2009 the cars reverse gear won't engage ,its like putting it in neutral but is actually in reverse, the car drives forward without any problems. Brought it to bmw dealership and was told I need a new transmission. Transmission failure rates of the above car is very high that they have a special website for such trany failure www.noreverse.org. Bmw needs to address these complaints and maybe held responsible for defects of the above transmission.

Filed May 30, 2008 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · CA

Car was in perfect condition, taken care of as needed. Always oil changes etc. Got off of work one day, car does not go into reverse. Will go forwards, not in reverse. The only way to fix it is to get a new transmission, a $6000 fix. Found a website with over 100 similar incidents.

Filed Jul 12, 2007 · Transmission · 52,700 miles · OR

Automatic transmission on 2000 bmw 323ci with 52,000 miles failed in reverse only. Properly maintained and driven less than 10,000 miles per year. Initial diagnosis cost $327.00, and told estimated cost of replacing transmission was $5500.00. No reason found as to why the transmission failed. Told that if keep driving the car that the entire transmission will eventually fail which was a serious danger on the highway.

Filed Jul 11, 2007 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · GA

A week and a half ago I took the well maintained 2000 323ci bmw to dealer for the 60,000 mile service, costing over $700.00 for normal? Servicing. A day after the service I had to return the car as I had found washer fluid pooled under the vehicle in the garage. I was told the washer pump failed, I then paid an additional $100.00 to have it fixed. A week later I put the car in reverse to go down the driveway and heard a loud ?bang. The car would not engage in reverse. I had the car towed to the dealership and today they informed me the transmission failed, which would cost over $5,000.00 for repair. I was just thankful that this didn't happen on the road. The dealership service representative I have been working with stated that bmw was aware that there were problems with the transmission placed in certain bmw vehicles, specifically a transmission used in the 3 series made by gm. I then went on line to consumeraffairs.com and noted hundreds of similar complaints about the 3 series transmission failure and bmw of failing to take responsibility for this. Blog entries expressed the obvious frustration, enormous costs and the possibility of filing a class action suit because the faulty transmission was obviously a manufacturing defect and should be recalled. Obviously my complaint wa s two-fold: 1. The ultimate driving mechanism had a risk factor in safety in that there was obviously a design defect in the transmissions used, causing the transmission to go out while operating ,and the only other replacement transmission that can be put in was the same type which might suggest the same incident could happen again . 2.) the cost/repair factor was unexpected and ridiculous because this was not a driver or service neglect problem but one of design. Was this a matter for recall and or class action suit?

Filed Apr 3, 2006 · Transmission · 49,123 miles · CA

Transmission failure twice!! First failure occurred on 4/20/02 with 49,123 miles. From the complaints I've read looks as though the failures all occur between 40,000 - 50,000 miles. The transmission is supposed to good to 100,000 not 40,000!! Please help!