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I recently purchased a 1987-(8) BMW 325i convertible and am having a problem with the automatic transmission. The car runs great but will not shift into fourth gear. Is there an adjustment or do you recommend changing fluid and filter? Fluid is clear and free from dirt,grit etc.

Submitted: 511 days and 2 hours ago.

Category: BMW

Value: $40

Status: CLOSED

Optional Information:
1987 BMW 325i

Already Tried:
not a clue

Posted by Wesley 511 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Hello, Does the shift indicator go into drive? There is no adjustment other than the cable. If the cable is out of adjustment most cases it would keep it from going into a lower gear. What is the symptom of not going into 4th gear?

511 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to Wesley's Post: It goes into drive but only reaches third gear ( example, 60 mph, 3000 rpm

Posted by Wesley 511 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Does it feel as if it is winding out? Does it have the correct tach? Can you find out what your final drive gear ratio is? Thanks

511 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Wesley, I'm sorry that I don't know. The tach seems accurate and it feels that it is winding out. At 80 mph the rpms seem high and the engine seems running at higher rpms than usual. I know that it does not go into fourth and when it is cold it stays in first fir a few minutes winding out and then shifts to second and third.
I hope this helps, I want to pay you and hopefully get it fixed. I am at a loss.
Jon

511 days and 1 hours ago.

Reply

Do you need any other information? Mileage is 120K and I don;t have history on tranny maintanance

511 days and 1 hours ago.

Reply

It is getting late and I gotta get some sleep. I'll check back in the early a.m. and hopefully you have a solution or at least a direction that I can go in without some guy telling me I need a new trans or worse.
Thanks

Accepted Answer

Jon, you did say that the fluid looks gook. So It is possible that the filter may be dirty or plugged. I sure don't want to tell you, you need a new transmission. Check fluid level, i am sure you have. While running and in park and up to temp. If it looks good then we might have to look at changing the filter. If no luck there you may have to go to your local transmission specialist. Let me know your results. Thanks

Accepts:
Expert:	Wesley
Pos. Feedback:	97.8 %
Answered:	7/1/2008

BMW Technician

Servicing and Repairing BMW's exclusively for 20 years. Previous owner of Independent repair shops.

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Question

I recently purchased a 1987-(8) BMW 325i convertible and am having a problem with the automatic transmission. The car runs great but will not shift into fourth gear. Is there an adjustment or do you recommend changing fluid and filter? Fluid is clear and free from dirt,grit etc.

Optional Information

Optional Information: 1987 BMW 325iAlready Tried: not a clue

Answer

Hello, Does the shift indicator go into drive? There is no adjustment other than the cable. If the cable is out of adjustment most cases it would keep it from going into a lower gear. What is the symptom of not going into 4th gear?

Reply

Reply to Wesley's Post: It goes into drive but only reaches third gear ( example, 60 mph, 3000 rpm

Answer

Does it feel as if it is winding out? Does it have the correct tach? Can you find out what your final drive gear ratio is? Thanks

Reply

Reply

Do you need any other information? Mileage is 120K and I don;t have history on tranny maintanance

Reply

It is getting late and I gotta get some sleep. I'll check back in the early a.m. and hopefully you have a solution or at least a direction that I can go in without some guy telling me I need a new trans or worse. Thanks

Accepted Answer

Related BMW Questions

Optional Information:
1987 BMW 325i

Already Tried:
not a clue

It is getting late and I gotta get some sleep. I'll check back in the early a.m. and hopefully you have a solution or at least a direction that I can go in without some guy telling me I need a new trans or worse.
Thanks