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      05-08-2017, 02:24 PM   #1
Matt@EuroJerks
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Reverse Gear in Transmission Question

2013 N55

My car wouldn't go into reverse....weird
All six gears would work in forward direction...interesting
Brought it to AAMCO on 5/5/17 (car is there now)
They diagnosed it as a bad synchro. (Wait, don't we have straight cut gears for reverse and no sychros?)
AAMCO calls. They said they could make it work with parts but are having a hard time finding BMW replacement parts and are not going the total replacement route yet.


Am I getting taken for a ride? Either with the synchro talk or hard time getting parts talk?

Please give me your knowledge on our transmission in a gentle but technical way.

Last edited by Matt@EuroJerks; 05-08-2017 at 02:33 PM..
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      05-08-2017, 04:18 PM   #2
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being taken for a ride...

So... with the engine running and your foot down on the clutch pedal, your saying the trans will not go into reverse ?

Try it again... but this time switch off(a running) engine, while your foot is depressed down on the clutch pedal and with your hand try putting the trans into reverse. As the engine stops spinning does the trans slip into reverse? Then you have a bad clutch.

Yes, reverse gear on BMW's is syncronized.
Yes, BMW does not sell individual transmision parts. You will have to buy a rebuilt trans thru BMW.

Yes, you are being taken for a ride!
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      05-08-2017, 06:51 PM   #3
Matt@EuroJerks
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Wish I could but the car is not in my possession. So there is no "rebuilding" the transmission? Only replacement? I am not looking to buy a new transmission from BMW. That's my last option I want ​to use. I saw one on getbmwparts. Com for way less than what they quoted me. Legit place?

Last edited by Matt@EuroJerks; 05-08-2017 at 07:28 PM..
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      05-08-2017, 10:13 PM   #4
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I have the exact same problem. Drove it until the flakes fell last fall trying to find pull through parking spots, put it away for the winter and tried to forget about the issue until recently. I too took it to AAMCO where they said they could fix it, this after taking it to the dealer and them quoting me a mere $4500 which they later said was incorrect and should've been $4800, and AAMCO took it apart and gave me the same...no parts available, nothing, no where, BMW does not offer the parts, only new/reman complete units. This was about 2 weeks ago and since then I've spent countless hours looking for or trying to repair the N55 GS6-45BZ transmission, ebay, junkyards, talking to ZF directly, calling BMW directly, talking to BMW race shops, BMW transmission experts, bottom line is there are no parts available so they cannot be repaired. The problem is there very few manual transmissions offered anymore combined with very few of us "lucky ones" with this reverse gear issue combined with not enough trannies available in junkyards yet, not good odds. Even if you find one it's likely to have high miles, cost around $2,000, and then what, put a transmission with even more miles in the car?

I spoke to several very knowledgeable BMW technicians and it's either the reverse gear synchro that breaks in these which expands slightly and then doesn't allow the shifter to fall in, or the reverse pin gets stuck. I only wish I knew about this before AAMCO took it apart since I could've at least driven the car 1-6 gears while I scoured the country for a low mileage and hoped for a little luck. Once I got it back from them you can't put it back in the car since there are no seals and of course no parts to put it back together. Get to know car-part.com very well, search 335i and 535i forums or get out the plastic and pay. I just ordered mine today from getbmwparts.com. It comes with a 2 year warranty and with any luck will be here by Friday...

Hopefully you are still covered under BMW warranty, if you search there are a few others on here with this issue but most were covered by BMW. Obviously I am not and for the most part BMW NA didn't care. They offered 15% discount off of the original $5000 quote, no thanks. This happened with only 59,000 miles.

I did also buy a dimple drain plug, not cheap, not sure it will do anything, but it can't hurt.

Good luck.
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      05-09-2017, 09:22 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goran View Post
I have the exact same problem. Drove it until the flakes fell last fall trying to find pull through parking spots, put it away for the winter and tried to forget about the issue until recently. I too took it to AAMCO where they said they could fix it, this after taking it to the dealer and them quoting me a mere $4500 which they later said was incorrect and should've been $4800, and AAMCO took it apart and gave me the same...no parts available, nothing, no where, BMW does not offer the parts, only new/reman complete units. This was about 2 weeks ago and since then I've spent countless hours looking for or trying to repair the N55 GS6-45BZ transmission, ebay, junkyards, talking to ZF directly, calling BMW directly, talking to BMW race shops, BMW transmission experts, bottom line is there are no parts available so they cannot be repaired. The problem is there very few manual transmissions offered anymore combined with very few of us "lucky ones" with this reverse gear issue combined with not enough trannies available in junkyards yet, not good odds. Even if you find one it's likely to have high miles, cost around $2,000, and then what, put a transmission with even more miles in the car?

I spoke to several very knowledgeable BMW technicians and it's either the reverse gear synchro that breaks in these which expands slightly and then doesn't allow the shifter to fall in, or the reverse pin gets stuck. I only wish I knew about this before AAMCO took it apart since I could've at least driven the car 1-6 gears while I scoured the country for a low mileage and hoped for a little luck. Once I got it back from them you can't put it back in the car since there are no seals and of course no parts to put it back together. Get to know car-part.com very well, search 335i and 535i forums or get out the plastic and pay. I just ordered mine today from getbmwparts.com. It comes with a 2 year warranty and with any luck will be here by Friday...

Hopefully you are still covered under BMW warranty, if you search there are a few others on here with this issue but most were covered by BMW. Obviously I am not and for the most part BMW NA didn't care. They offered 15% discount off of the original $5000 quote, no thanks. This happened with only 59,000 miles.

I did also buy a dimple drain plug, not cheap, not sure it will do anything, but it can't hurt.

Good luck.
Sorry dude. Not happy to hear.
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      05-09-2017, 10:24 AM   #6
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Welcome to my world. I had this problem 1st time on December when I return home and found out I can't go reverse.

So I sent my car to some BMW raring team. They stripped tramission and found nothing. When they put it together the reverse gear was working again suddenly so they gave me my car back.

Sadly, the same problem has occurred again 2 weeks ago... they have some theories like:
1 - the "fork" which is moving with gears is bent
2 - maybe something is wrong with gear lever
3 - ...

Here I make some video for those mechanics. I am speaking in my language so turn on subtitles if you want to understand.

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      05-09-2017, 10:36 AM   #7
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I'd make sure all the external shifter linkage is intact and mounted correctly. That is weird.
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      05-09-2017, 10:55 AM   #8
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Now I wonder is @Matt@EuroJerks has exactly same problem of different.
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      05-09-2017, 11:08 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crematoriant View Post
Now I wonder is @Matt@EuroJerks has exactly same problem of different.
That's exactly what I have going on.
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      05-09-2017, 04:28 PM   #10
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So I am down to the following:
Order a new transmission from BMW of South Atlanta
Order a new transmission from getbmwparts.com
Go through AAMCO and wait a month for a transmission from Germany

FML.
Thoughts? Comments?
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      05-09-2017, 05:00 PM   #11
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In my case I'll wait and let them try to repair it. I don't want to throw money for new a transmission. Well... only if they would find any used transmission with some low mileage. Only then I'll buy it.

But what I heard, finding used transmission for 135i e82 is a rare thing...
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      05-09-2017, 05:34 PM   #12
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does a n54 manual transmission bolt right up? I'd be inclined to go with one of these if it does. higher torque handling capacity and failure is extremely rare.
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      05-09-2017, 05:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by titium View Post
does a n54 manual transmission bolt right up? I'd be inclined to go with one of these if it does. higher torque handling capacity and failure is extremely rare.
Yes it will fit. The 1M has an N54 and uses the same gearbox as the N55 135i (GS6-45) So the bolt holes will line up.

The N54's GS6-53 transmission out of a 135i or 335i will fit fine and is pretty much bulletproof. Transmission length is 14mm difference (S6-45 being shorter). This is not a problem since the prop shaft has a slipyoke that expands and contracts quite a lot so you could fit it up no worries.
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      05-10-2017, 08:33 AM   #14
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I ended up ordering one from getbmwparts
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      05-12-2017, 10:18 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks View Post
I ended up ordering one from getbmwparts
Just kidding BMW of NA called and is picking up the bill.
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      05-12-2017, 11:16 PM   #16
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Seriously?
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      05-15-2017, 12:48 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ayao View Post
Seriously?
100% serious. I called BMW NA and complained about the service, the dealership, and the lack of miles on the car. They called me back 3 days later and are picking up the bill. BMW dealership even gave me a loaner.
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      05-15-2017, 01:25 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks View Post
100% serious. I called BMW NA and complained about the service, the dealership, and the lack of miles on the car. They called me back 3 days later and are picking up the bill. BMW dealership even gave me a loaner.
WOW!! That is phenomenal!!!
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      05-16-2017, 03:26 PM   #19
Goran
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How many miles are on your car??
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      05-16-2017, 03:59 PM   #20
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      07-19-2017, 04:05 PM   #21
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Same issue here, just spoke with BMW NA today, they offered only about $1,200 towards an entire transmission replacement which totals over $6,000 at a local dealer.

Very disappointed with BMW NA. They are admitting to a problem but will not back their product in my case with no explanation, or figures to support the good will number offered to me.

I have started the following thread over on Bimmerforums if any one is interested.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...smission-Issue
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      07-20-2017, 10:21 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Accrual_World View Post
Same issue here, just spoke with BMW NA today, they offered only about $1,200 towards an entire transmission replacement which totals over $6,000 at a local dealer.

Very disappointed with BMW NA. They are admitting to a problem but will not back their product in my case with no explanation, or figures to support the good will number offered to me.

I have started the following thread over on Bimmerforums if any one is interested.

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...smission-Issue
Bummer.
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