Author Topic: '91 318is - Straight or Bent Shift Rod? (Read 3857 times)

lateapex · « **on:** April 17, 2009, 05:25:24 PM »

Hi, I'm new to the forum, I picked up a '91 318is recently that has some shifting issues. It would not stay in 1st or 3rd gears, the gears would work but you had to force the shifter forward (forcibly) and hold it there for the gears to engage. If you didn't hold it forcibly in there, it would grind and kick the shifter out of gear. The shifter was very vague and loose feeling too. I can confirm that reverse, 2nd and 4th gear would work...not sure if 5th worked, but I would assume not.

Anyway, I took it all apart planning to just go through all the bushings and replace them...I ordered all new replacement parts from Pelican.

But once I got in there it seems someone had already performed some work. My car has a straight shift selector rod and if I am seeing it correctly on realoem.com's diagrams my car should have had a "bent" selector rod from the factory, correct?

My shifter seems to be the stock unit, as it has an aluminum pivot ball on the end rather than a plastic one like the 1.9L Z3 shifter has (I've searched and read that is a popular upgrade on these cars?)

Also, the mount for the shifting arm (the aluminum piece the shifter sits in) was installed with the bolt in the lower mounting hole rather than the upper mounting hole...though I could see that it had at one time been installed in the upper mounting hole at some point by there being a clean, nut shaped ring around the upper hole.

So, I am hoping that someone can confirm that I should 1) have a bent selector rod or 2) if someone can confirm that it doesn't matter which type I have (IE: I won't have any interference issues with the guibo or driveshaft and that having a straight rod isn't causing my gear selection issues) and finally 3) which mounting hole should the shifting arm's rear mount be installed in - the upper or the lower?

Thanks, enjoying the site so far...I've been doing a lot of searching for tech. Hopefully I will be able to contribute as I learn about my car.

lateapex · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2009, 09:45:32 PM »

Well, I have been patient...but 51 views and no response? I'm pretty sure someone on here has refurbished their shifter bushings and could answer my questions fairly easily...not a fair assumption?

JP 91iS · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2009, 09:51:42 PM »

1) my selector rod wasn't bent, so I think yours should be straight
2)...
3)pretty sure it should be in the upper hole - I don't remember on mine but just helped a friend with a 325is and his was in the upper

I don't think all this grinding is from your shifter assembly, sounds more like a transmission issue. Have you replaced the fluid? It could help.

lateapex · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2009, 02:18:31 PM »

Checking back in...it has been sloooow going working on this car. I got the shifter assembly all back together finally, started the car up, selected 1st gear and gently let the clutch out and it still made a grinding sound and kicked it out of gear. Tried 3rd gear and it does the same thing...STILL. Tried 2nd, 4th and reverse and those gears all work. So now I'm resolved that JP must be right that something is amiss inside my transmission...first thought is maybe a bent shifter fork? I will go ahead and change the fluid just in case but I'm not sure it's going to help...this seems like a mechanical issue.

Any other ideas? Guess I should start shopping for another transmission if I want to get this thing running again.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2009, 03:16:04 PM »

You should disconnect the shifter and just try shifting with the rod. That way you could isolate the culprit and determine if it's the rod, shifter or tranny. My '91 318i has a bent shifter, but I've never seen which hole one the rod sits in.

Hopefully the shifter is the problem...

lateapex · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:05:03 PM »

Quote from: DesktopDave;75075

You should disconnect the shifter and just try shifting with the rod. That way you could isolate the culprit and determine if it's the rod, shifter or tranny. My '91 318i has a bent shifter, but I've never seen which hole one the rod sits in.

Hopefully the shifter is the problem...

You know, that's a good idea Dave. I did try to move the selector rod by hand by running a short screw-driver shaft through it but it was tough to get enough leverage to move and twist it in the confined space. I'll try it again though by moving the shifter carrier with the shifter disconnected, worth a try!

fabe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2009, 10:51:01 PM »

sounds more like a synchromesh problems...

lateapex · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2009, 03:14:58 PM »

I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet...but...1st gear and 3rd gear DO work, you just have to physically hold the shifter in gear. I don't know...I'm starting to consider just shopping for a used transmission. I'd really like to get this car running again.