I own a 2000 BMW 323I with 160,000 miles on it. I just purchased the vehicle 1 1/2 ago. Since my purchase I have had several issues with it. First the alternator went-cost $520, then leak in radiator, replaced several hoses plus repairs $ $500 and now on 01-29-2010, I was doing errands, came out turned my car on, put the car in reverse and noticed that it wouldn't, it just acted like it was in neutral.... now I towed car and called several repair shops cost in the range of $2500-6000 for either rebuilt, new or from a salvaged car yard. I had no indication, no noise or sound out of the ordinary. The car did drive forward. I need help.

- Perth Amboy , NJ, USA

I own a 2000 BMW 323I and have encountered the infamous "no reverse" issue as has been experienced and reported by many folks now (see noreverse.org). this stems from a faulty reverse drum in the transmission and should be fixed by BMW as it really does appear to be a common failure.

- Magnolia, TX, USA

2000 BMW 318I will not go in reverse. Bought new in 2000 from long beach BMW in long beach ca.

- Redondo Beach, CA, USA

2000 323ci has 94,000 on the dot (less than 10K per year put on it), all maintenance done as required/scheduled. Yesterday, 12/05/09, I drove the car all day without any indication of a problem and last night I got in the car, put it in reverse, and it tried to back up then acted like it was in neutral. Managed to get the car out of the parking spot and it drove forward just fine. I got the car home, attempted to back up again and it tried to back up 2 or 3 times then acted like it was in neutral again! repairs will be between $2000-$5000 for a car that was immaculately kept. Apparently this is a known concern by BMW and they refuse to offer assistance to vehicle owners.

- Humble, TX, USA

2000 BMW 323ci transmission just stopped going into reverse. Forward gears work fine. Vehicle has less than 75000 miles.

- Commack, NY, USA

Sudden loss of reverse gear.

- Demarest, NJ, USA

Reverse gear intermittently goes out in the vehicle causing unsafe driving conditions. This is a widespread problem caused by an engineering defect that BMW refuses to acknowledge.

- Centerville, OH, USA

Hello I bought a 200 BMW 323I and the car was working perfectly fine. After one week the car wont go in reverse.this is a very common failure of the transmission in 3 series and the deal wants $5000 for a new tranny or to rebuild it which is crazy considering I just bought the car.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

No reverse in 2000 BMW 323I with 70K miles. Reverse went out suddenly with no prior problems or warnings. Fortunately, I just arrived home and tried to park my car in reverse into my garage when I noticed the reverse acted like it was in neutral. Took to auto body shop $3300 to replace transmission completely. Mechanic promised the car shouldn't have that problem ever again after replacing the transmission.

- Seabrook, TX, USA

My 2000 BMW 323ci no longer shifts into 'reverse". almost 93,000 miles.

- Cerritos, CA, USA

No reverse in 2000 BMW 323I with 92K miles. Reverse went out suddenly with no prior problems or warnings. BMW dealer says hasn't been an issue. The dealers solution is to replace transmission completely, approx. $5,500. From looking at the number of complaints on the web concerning this issue, it seems BMW should recall this problem. I was fortunate enough to be in my garage when it quit working, but that would not have been the case just a few hours prior.

- Russellville, AR, USA

I owned BMW 2000 323I with 79,000 miles and reverse suddenly stopped working. I went online and found that a lot of people are complaining with the same problem as mine. Please look into this.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

I own a 2000 BMW 323I with only 21,500 miles on it. The car is kept in an interior garage and driven mostly within the city. Until two days ago, I had no problems with the car and never had any indication that there was a problem with the transmission (or anything else for that matter). I backed out of my garage, drove to a store, did my shopping and returned to the parking lot. I turned the ignition on as normal, put my foot on the break and shifted the gear into reverse and tried to back out, but the car would not move. It acted as if it were in neutral but the dashboard clearly read that I was in reverse. There was no warning, no indicator light went on, no noise or sound out of the ordinary. The car did drive forward, so I waited until the cars in front of me left and drove my car to the BMW dealership where I got the car. They refused to give me an estimate of a transmission repair or replacement until I gave them $300 to perform a diagnostic test. I declined and brought it to a local transmission shop near my home. The mechanic removed a pan and showed me the liquid which was blackish in color. He said that it had aluminum powder in it, indicating that something inside probably broke and caused burning. I am currently in the process of deciding what to do next: Either get the transmission replaced or have it rebuilt. BMW of North America and the BMW dealership I got the car from refuse any financial responsibility for the repair.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

In the middle of a 3-point turn, vehicle was shifted into reverse. Vehicle shuddered and the reverse gear failed. Given that my car would no longer operate in reverse, I was trapped in the middle of oncoming traffic. Of course, I was involved in a collision because I was unable to move my car from the roadway. This is a common and widespread issue regarding reverse gear failure. BMW is aware of the problem. This transmission is produced by GM, and is installed in Cadillac cars as well (for which a recall was issued). No recall has been issued by BMW.

- Grass Valley, CA, USA

BMW 323 lost reverse without warning! without warning, my 3000 BMW 323I with 62,300 miles had no reverse. Car was taken to a transmission garage. Problem was identified as a broken reverse drum that shed metallic parts throughout the transmission requiring a overhaul. Cost $2800.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

'2000 BMW 323I, 108K, transmission would not engage in reverse. Engine revved up, but no engagement. This is so far intermittent and has taken place three times within 1 week. All other gears appear to work fine. All instances I had to manually push car out of packing spot. Took to repair shop and reverse worked at the time so could not determine fault. I have since seen many identical reports listed on web.

- Anderson, SC, USA

I am the original owner of a 2000 BMW 323I with 93K miles. My car has never missed a servicing. Yesterday, while parked, it would not go in reverse. There was not warning that anything was failing. I took it to an authorized BMW specialist, and they told me the transmission failed. They quoted me a price of $5,520 to install a rebuilt transmission from BMW. I have read online of hundreds of very similar complaints, especially with BMW 2000 323I. I am seeking information on the class action lawsuit settled in NJ in 10/08, mdl 1922. BMW has known about this problem. Apparently, the transmission was built by GM. The same transmission was installed in the Cadillac. When the same problem occurred, GM recalled all the Cadillac's. BMW should do the same thing. A transmission not going in reverse is a major safety issue. Please help!

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

I got into my 2000 BMW 323I, and put the car into reverse but the did nothing but idle. I've bought the car used about 6 months ago with 92K mi, and I now has 100K. The car clearly has been maintenance meticulously and there was no warning of any kind prior to this.

- Omaha, NE, USA

My 2000 BMW 323I automatic transmission had no reverse at 72,000 miles. All the other gears work fine. There was no signs prior to the failure. I had the transmission replaced and cost me $3000. Its been 4 years since and still no recall despite the hundreds of complaints with the same problem and situation. BMW outsourced this transmission to GM who used the same one on their escalades which also failed. GM replaced their transmissions, but they wouldn't replace BMW's because it was outsourced....it would be real nice if something was done and I get back some of this money some day...

- Fountain, CO, USA

When putting vehicle into reverse, there is no power. Engine revs as if in neutral. Forward gears seem fine. Internet search revealed this is a common problem with the transmission. This happened without warning. No warning indicators. Estimated cost of replacement of the defective transmission is $6K.

- Salinas, CA, USA