Table 1 shows one common power train related problems of the 2001 BMW 3 Series.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Power Train problems |
Vehicle operated without issue and then the reverse gear ceased functioning when attempting to reverse from a parking spot and the vehicle had to be pushed as the reverse gear in the transmission no longer engaged. Repeated attempts with the vehicle at operating temperature and when allowed to cool down yielded the same result. Nothing led me the feel this would occur and could have been deadly if the situation had been dire if an outcome as such rested on the success or failure of the reverse gear.
2001 BMW 330i. No reverse. It seems to be a common issue with this transmission, yet there has been no recall. It was a one owner car with meticulous maintenance records. Despite the high miles, there were no warning signs prior to the reverse gear failing.
I was trying to park and when I put the car into reverse, the car did not move backwards. My car rolled forward as if it was in neutral. After researching the issue, this seems to be a common problem with the 3 Series.