BMW "no reverse" transmission problem apparently very common

Well, misery loves company but I'd just as soon have a working vehicle. It turns out that there are scores of complaints on BMW's automatic transmissions. And the "getting into the car, popping it into reverse and only having the engine rev" scenario is an excruciatingly familiar tale.

From the ArticleBase entry BMW "No Reverse" Transmission Problem:

This article deals with the reasons behind an unexpected loss of reverse in certain BMW automatic transmission equipped vehicles, specifically the 3 series and 5 series vehicles that use the ZF5HP19 or steptronic transmission. This includes the popular 323i, 323ci, 325i, 328i, 330i, 525i, 528i, 530i, X3 and X5 models well as some others built in the 1999 to present model years.

To eliminate confusion, this does not apply to vehicles equipped with the GM 5L40 E transmission, just the ones with the sometimes problematic ZF5HP19. The 5L40 E has some issues of its own that are beyond the scope of this article but are certainly going to be the subject of another.

The failure rate for these transmissions seems to be very high and is expected to become much more of a problem as time goes by.

Typically, the vehicle is working perfectly while driving forward but when it is put in reverse there is a complete and permanent loss of movement to back up.

At least he says that the replacement part is durable.

Checking around teh interwebs, there are many such references to bad beemer transmissions.

By the way Bad Beemer Trannies sounds like a really, really bad adult film.

This is particularly bad news from Consumer Affairs:

BMW owners find themselves facing thousands of dollars in transmission repair bills while the highly profitable German automaker refuses to accept any responsibility for the mounting number of failures.

"We are unaware of any widespread concern regarding the transmission. However, the actual length of life of any given vehicle part is dependent on a number of factors including care, maintenance, use, and climate," BMW AG wrote to the owner of a 2000 3 series sedan.

The complaints being filed with ConsumerAffairs.com are similar and describe a transmission that hesitates or refuses to be shifted into reverse.

"Lost reverse gear on my 2001 330Ci convertible at about 53,000 miles," wrote Don from Dayton, Ohio. "The car has an automatic transmission and repair costs at a local dealership was $4,048," he told ConsumerAffairs.com

And under the article at Consumer Affairs titled "BMW Automatic Transmissions Prone to Failure' Owners face repair bills up to $7,000," they note

The BMW automatic transmission that is failing through the country wins this week's "Lemon of the Week" Award.

The transmission failure is one of the most expensive and widespread automobile repair bills plaguing consumers today, according to our readers. The faulty automatic transmission is in use, when it works, in many used BMW sedans across the country.

Consumers from all over the U.S. are reporting the failure. Without notice, the reverse gear stops working in BMWs, many of them the popular 323i luxury sedan.

BMW service centers charge as much as $7,000 to repair the transmission, according to ConsumerAffairs.com readers.

These articles started in early 2007. This in October 2008:

The BMW is favored by car enthusiasts for its handling and the experience it offers behind the wheel. And chances are you'll be happy with the car, as long as it has a manual transmission.

A BMW with automatic transmission, especially one with a number of miles on it, has produced 163 complaints to ConsumerAffairs.com in the last 12 months. The specific complaint involves the loss of the reverse gear. Kevin, of Baldwinsville, New York, said it happened to his 323Ci at 80,000 miles.

I have a message to call the transmission shop back. I am dreading it. I have put less than 20k miles on this car since I bought it.

Update: There is even a website devoted to this BMW flaw that has been calling for a recall for years! No Reverse dot org. It seems that BMW knows this is a potentially fatal flaw, but will not issue a recall or offer repair assistance.

2013 Update:  It appears this problem is not only expensive but VERY VERY common.  It's now one of the top search hits that brings people to this blog.  So if this happened to you, you are not alone.  This week alone there have been more than a dozen hits to this post from Google searches on the topic.