I have a 2000 323 BMW and all of sudden my reverse stop working for no reason at all I been up to date with my taking care of it and one day it just stop working, even though sometimes it does go reverse and sometimes it just doesn't do nothing, I haven't done anything to try to correct it because simply is to much for me the cost for it is 4,000 dollars and I just don't have the money to do it, I feel its not fair what BMW has done, with this problem that BMW 3 series are suspect on doing.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

My BMW 323I no longer goes into reverse. I read online this is a common problem with certain bmws and I'm wondering why BMW hasn't issued a recall since this is a safety issue as well as an identified common problem. The website I found other complaints on is: www.noreverse.org/complaints.html the problem presently is constant - the car just has no reverse function any longer. I have not had it looked at by a shop as they want $550 to take the transmission out to evaluate (and that cost goes toward expense of repair but if the repair is unaffordable - it is too risky to have them do the evaluation and spend $550 for nothing). So now I'm in a position where I can't easily sell the car either since I can't exactly determine easily what is wrong. From what I read it is a problem with the D-G clutch drum that causes this problem and the only way to fix it is to rebuild the transmission. This same car about 4-5 years ago had faulty wires with the fan which would not stop running. This caused an electrical fire and $5000 worth of damage.

- Olney, MD, USA

2000 BMW 323I no reverse, no power steering.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

2000 BMW 323I reverse gear does not work. I started my car and shifted into reverse gear, and nothing happened. I had just parked the car approximately 1 hour earlier. There was no indication prior to this incident that there was a problem with the transmission. In anticipation of a costly and lengthy repair process, I began to explore the internet for options, and it is only then that I realized that this is a widespread problem that has occurred to numerous other BMW owners. I am not alone and BMW of na is doing nothing to address the manufacturer's defect. I consider this a safety issue. BMW has no maintenance requirement for this transmission. I am assuming that they think it is replace upon failure. Unacceptable, the part that failed is called the drum. A band beaks and the reverse gear is broken. They have modified the materials in the newer drums to alleviate the problem. That tells me that they are aware that the material they installed in my vehicle was inadequate. I have not repaired the vehicle at this time still shopping around for options. This is a safety issue and a recall is warranted.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

Out of nowhere my 2000 BMW 323I stopped going in reverse. Prior to that it worked just fine, just stopped one day. Drive works just fine, but reverse is gone. I took the car to my local BMW dealership and when I dropped it off on a Saturday at 4:00pm they told me they'd look at it on Monday and call me. The advisor told me based on the reverse failing it would likely be a transmission replacement needed. When asked how much that would cost he said another customer with my exact same year/make/model in the week prior paid $8K for his. We then came home and did research which has revealed thousands of other owners with the same year/make/model have the same issue and apparently this is something BMW has known about but is doing nothing about at all. I emailed the GM of my dealership the same sat evening I dropped the car off and attached many articles and websites highlighting the issue and telling them I planned to move forward with my own complaints with BMW na and online forums and local news outlets. Today (Monday) I initially got a call from an advisor telling me the car does in fact need a new tranny and that it would be $6500. Later in the afternoon the head of the service dept. Called saying the GM had forwarded my email and that he would like to offer to reduce the cost to $4K for me. I told him I had to talk to my fiance and called him back telling him they'd have to offer more than that to get me to not move forward sharing my issues. I have not heard back yet (it is now Monday evening) but I imagine someone will call me tomorrow. Regardless of how my local dealer chooses to deal with me I do feel this is a very significant issue in that 2 service advisors at my local dealership acknowledge the problem and clearly the GM does too or she never would've forwarded my emails on. I hope someone forces them to do a recall (and reimburse those of us who have to fix our cars now) and/or a class action lawsuit!

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

I am an owner of 2000 BMW 323I. It currently has ~115K miles on it. Today (Friday, July 13, 2007), I entered the parking garage at work and attempted to back into a parking space --- as I always do. I drove forward, then put my car in the reverse gear, but it would not move. When I pressed on the accelerator, it would only make an idling sound like it was in the neutral gear --- even though the lcd showed "R" (reverse). After a few attempts of trying to go in reverse, I realized that all my efforts came to naught. Luckily, I had just enough room to "drive" forward and clear the car in front of me so that I could take my car to get repaired. Come to find out, I need a new transmission. I find it very odd that my transmission would go out this early and it wouldn't give any type of warning. Also, I find it very frustrating that there are cars that cost 1/3 of the price and provide better utility. This experience definitely has me questioning my brand loyalty. BMW surely isn't living up to its' branding message as "the ultimate driving machine" --- unless it specifically excludes going in reverse.

- Irving, TX, USA

Manual transmision won't go into 2nd intermittently, pops out of 2nd intermittently and grinds going into 2nd. Have had it independently check and verified to be a serious safety issue.

- Huntsville, AL, USA