Re: BMW Auto box gear select problem (offset drive gear???) Wierd

My daughter drives a '00 325i (USA version) with an automatic transmission. I used it recently and noticed that if the car is in N, I had to depress the brake pedal to select D again, but if the car was in R, I could move the shift selector to D without doing anything else.

This seems to be a safety interlock item that prevents unintended gear changes in an unattended (by and adult) vehicle that might have a child inside. Never mind the fact that when the driver gets out of the car, it ought to be shut off, there are people <raising hand> that have gotten out of cars with the motor running and a child is sitting in a position to operate the gear selector. The kids in my world do not operate gear selectors, but BMW has no way of knowing about all kids, so they put in an interlock that should keep the kids from selecting gears at a time when there is no vehicle operator present.








"richie" <richard.w.davies@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:1180138576.795969.205960@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,

I'm about to buy a 3 series BMW (318i SE Auto). This is a second hand
model and is a 2002 UK model. (The model just prior to the new angular
one).

I know these are generaly very sound cars. My friend has a similar
model that I've driven, when I am in neutral (from memory) the gear
lever can simply be slipped down directly into drive gear. There is no
need to push the stick slightly left then slip it down.

My problem is the car I'm about to buy requires a slight left movement
of the gear stick and at the same time a downwards movement in order
to go from neutral to drive mode. I don't remember any beemer
requiring this motion. Usually BMW are simplicity itself to drive, and
anything quirky is strictly not in BMW's book.

So I am concearned that

either:

1. My memory is completely going, and all BMW 3 series auto boxes
require this "left slide and downwards shift" motion to select drive.
I have simply forgotton that from the previous times I've driven
similar models.

Or.

2. The 3 series autobox does not require anything more than a simple
shift straight down from neutral to drive in order to select the
driver gear. Which means the car I'm about to drive has a damaged auto
box?

Please let me know your experience of the gear select on the 3 series
auto.

Thanks


.

Relevant Pages

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