1 Series Reversing Problem - Urgent

lassykk

Hi

My friend has a lend of a car in the UK and its a 6 speed 1 series BMW and he can't get it into reverse. I know that sounds ridiculous but is there a trick to it?

Reverse is located beside 1st gear (obviously on the left side of 1st gear)

He's tried pushing the gear stick down/lifting the gear stick up and just normally but can't get any good of it.

He's stuck in a car park so a fast reponse would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Drummerboy08

You have to lift the gearstick up, and push it firmly into reverse. They are tricky to do.

Stevie Dakota

Not sure about the action, but if he lets out the clutch a fraction (with the engine running) while trying to engage reverse that might help, it could just be a cold and sticky box. BMW's of old you always had to push down forward left.

Stevie Dakota

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

You have to lift the gearstick up, and push it firmly into reverse. They are tricky to do.

I guess I've been driving autos too long!

Drummerboy08

I thought the older ones were up and to the left too???!:rolleyes::D

My oul one used to have a 316 years ago and i used to have awful trouble getting it into reverse when i was driving around the yard...

I may be wrong, but in the newer ones, its slightly up and to the left? Its been a while since i drove a manual one.

lassykk

thanks for the replies lads... he ended up pushing it out of the space as he couldn't wait any longer... told him to try the suggestions above in the morning

Stevie Dakota

lassykk wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

LOL! The Ultimate Driving Machine (but only forwards)

mickdw

I drove one of them ages ago, reverse is very odd to say the least. It was a brand new 118d and it was cold but you really had to just push it hard to the left almost like pushing it through a slot thats not quite wide enough. There was no push down etc IIRC.

Yakuza

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

LOL! The Ultimate Driving Machine (but only forwards)

Naah, reverse is an optional extra on the 1-series

Johnny Utah

mickdw wrote: »

I drove one of them ages ago, reverse is very odd to say the least. It was a brand new 118d and it was cold but you really had to just push it hard to the left almost like pushing it through a slot thats not quite wide enough. There was no push down etc IIRC.

On the E46 3 series, reverse is left and up. You don't push the gear lever down or pull it up, as on other cars, such as the Astra for example.

Owen

There's a right and a wrong way to do it. The wrong way is to go to the position to the left before sliding up to first and try to push it further to the left again. This will require mammoth strength, and makes me look like a wuss every time I do it.

The right way to do it is to take a running jump, push it to the left really hard and quickly and you'll feel it go through the gate where reverse is.

Johnny Utah

ned78 wrote: »

There's a right and a wrong way to do it. The wrong way is to go to the position to the left before sliding up to first and try to push it further to the left again. This will require mammoth strength, and makes me look like a wuss every time I do it.

The right way to do it is to take a running jump, push it to the left really hard and quickly and you'll feel it go through the gate where reverse is.

Eh? I never have difficulty finding reverse.... although maybe I'm just a lot stronger than you, and I don't know my own strength? :P

ottostreet

my reverse (e36 3 series) is up beside 1st gear. top left. you have to do it in one move. from neutral through the "gate" and then up into reverse. as previous poster said, ya cant do it in two different moves. i put my car into reverse more often than 1st gear too, which is annoying.

L-M

I've driven a good few manual Bmws and reverse seems to be a bit funny. It's a kind of, push over to the left with a slight push forward type of move. Nothing sophisticated lol:D

Seth Brundle

I have to say that I do it every day and I've never noticed anyting unusual about selecting reverse.

Wheresmejumper8

Ive never had a problem getting my 1 Series into reverse, but my sister borrowed the car and had the exact same problem your having!

You need to focus on moving the gearstick horizontally left before moving it forward into the reverse gear - thats the trick. From memory you might even have to move left, then back slightly towards 3rd while keeping pressure to move the stick left... Hope that doesnt sound like mumbo jumbo!! Maybe my use of words is off!!

Maybe its a chic thing?!?