Hey all!

1994 325is auto tranny 185K on the odometer.

Alright, well the problem started yesterday evening. We were headed out, I would start driving, and all of a sudden, the engine would rev up and not go anywhere and then catch. So I started thinking one of three things:

A: tranny is going out
B: Ring and pinion fahked

So this morning, I start the car and put it in reverse. NOTHING! I reved it up and it caught very minimally. I put it in each gear and nothing happened. It does have the M/A (manual/auto) option and it is in the auto setting. This is my daily driver and I do not abuse the tranny. I just use it to go the store and stuff like that and to school.

After having to rev it up big time to catch in reverse, I just put it in neutral, got out and pushed it back into the spot.

I am not too famiar with transmissions, but when I bought this (May 08), the seller said that the transmission was re-built a few years back.

So with these symptoms what do you think it is?

I also have this posted on bimmerforums.com

Dumb question but how is the fluid level?

Well, the good news is: Everyone thinks it is low on tranny fluid

bad news: I have not seen any leaks.

It could be something catastrophic, or it could be a messed up linkage

here is the thread on Bimmerforums
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=15368117

1994, does it have a vacuum modulator? Those things were vacuum actuated and if the diaphragm went it could suck the fluid into the engine and burn it. Just a long shot idea.

You could also have a leak that requires the trans fluid pump be turning which could cause it to leak only when driving down the road in which case you might not see it leaking near your normal parking spot.

Plugged up filter....trash in the tranny from the rebuild? If they used shop rags during the rebuild it may have lint plugging things up?

Last night, I had my wife get in and put it in reverse. The idea was to see if I could find a leak from the driveshaft since it is RWD. The car is lowered and I cannot get in there to see. So....my new DD is Shelby the X.

I am gonna have to find a lift and get in there. I might as well change the tranny fluid and filter on it, but if you buy the fluid that is supposed to come with it, then you pay $18 a bottle!! When my wife gave it some gas, it would catch but barely. I can't do crap until I get it on a lift.

Oh yeah and it's been 40K since the rebuild so I am doubting that lint is the problem.

Man that sucks. Definitely an expense you can do without right now.

Hopefully it will be a cheap and easy fix.

Finally.....So I actually had some free time today, so I jacked my BMW up, threw a jack stand under there and checked it out.

The way my parking lot is makes it it roll a tad to the Driver's side. I jacked it up today to get the serial number. There were 3 different automatic transmissions that they had for that year, and they quit manufacturing automatic transmission dipsticks in FEB. 91. Mine is a 94. I thought getting that info would help me find the correct oil to use. While I was uner there, I found a leak. It is the Tranny pan gasket. Luckily, I just did one of these on my X for the hell of it. I put the tranny down, and called BMW. The Chilton's manual said to call them with the serial # to find out the kind of oil to be used. I called them and it has been superceeded. I can use any Dexron III or better (4,5,6, etc...).

Next I jump started the BMW and gave it 10 minutes. I pulled it out and ran it around my complex. It backed out. This tells me that the tranny fluid was low because I delivered some fluid to the other side when I jacked it up so the driver's side was at a positive instead of a negative angle.

I went to the local autozone and found out that I had to jack it back up and find out the # of bolts holding on the tranny pan. I just went to get the tranny pan gasket and filter, and I am gonna get the oil on Saturday, and it should be good to go on Monday, after I switch it all out at school. It will be good driving the BMW instead of the X. I love the X but it is not a good DD.

The new tranny pan gasket says "change every 10,000 miles" I guess it was overdue. Good news for me. No tranny rebuild, just new fluid, gasket, and filter. Possibly a drain plug as well. :):):):):)

Glad you got it worked out.
Bet Shelby's wishing she can just roll onto your BMW ;)