89 735il - Not moving after emissions test!!!
astralchanteuse
11-29-2005, 03:41 PM
A month ago, out of desperation, I purchases an 89 BMW 735il for $1700, thinking it would be a reliable car for a couple of years til I could buy something newer or just buy another temp car.
After the hurried sale, I find out how many miles it has, as the odometer did not work. In 2001, it had about 250,000! But these cars last, right?
I've only had it a month. It's already had electrical glitches (ie. gas gauge isn't accurate... all of a sudden I'm out of gas!), and the driver's electric seat is now twisted, as it won't raise up on my right side. But now the doozie!
I was getting it's state inspection Saturday. It passed, and I was about to leave when it wouldn't go in reverse or drive forward. The gear would change but the car wouldn't. On other attempts, it would go... just to remain stationary on the next attempt.
I've been told the emissions test may have been the culprit, but the guy that he performed it corrrectly and that it didn't have the engine to be wary of.
After calling a couple of BMW service centers, I was told it was the transmission and would cost around $2,000. I was told with the high mileage, the transmission may have been about to go. I think it may have been a combination of the emissions test AND the mileage.
I just moved to this city and was supposed to start a temp job next week. The money I used to buy the car was from my recently deceased father's life insurance. I didn't receive much money, but was trying to make a fresh start in a new city. It just makes this that much more heartbreaking. The money's about gone, and I'm scared. I don't have many options.
What should I do? Is it the transmission? Is the inspection shop liable? Should I ask the small dealer to buy it back from me for SOMETHING so I can buy a reliable car so I can work?
Now I wish I had my 83 wrecked Volvo 240 DL back. I just lost interest after I wrecked the front end and was struggling financially, therefore I didn't take care of it. But it still drove! And probably only had around 170,000 miles!
I am devastated!
After the hurried sale, I find out how many miles it has, as the odometer did not work. In 2001, it had about 250,000! But these cars last, right?
I've only had it a month. It's already had electrical glitches (ie. gas gauge isn't accurate... all of a sudden I'm out of gas!), and the driver's electric seat is now twisted, as it won't raise up on my right side. But now the doozie!
I was getting it's state inspection Saturday. It passed, and I was about to leave when it wouldn't go in reverse or drive forward. The gear would change but the car wouldn't. On other attempts, it would go... just to remain stationary on the next attempt.
I've been told the emissions test may have been the culprit, but the guy that he performed it corrrectly and that it didn't have the engine to be wary of.
After calling a couple of BMW service centers, I was told it was the transmission and would cost around $2,000. I was told with the high mileage, the transmission may have been about to go. I think it may have been a combination of the emissions test AND the mileage.
I just moved to this city and was supposed to start a temp job next week. The money I used to buy the car was from my recently deceased father's life insurance. I didn't receive much money, but was trying to make a fresh start in a new city. It just makes this that much more heartbreaking. The money's about gone, and I'm scared. I don't have many options.
What should I do? Is it the transmission? Is the inspection shop liable? Should I ask the small dealer to buy it back from me for SOMETHING so I can buy a reliable car so I can work?
Now I wish I had my 83 wrecked Volvo 240 DL back. I just lost interest after I wrecked the front end and was struggling financially, therefore I didn't take care of it. But it still drove! And probably only had around 170,000 miles!
I am devastated!
zmuff
12-07-2005, 07:53 AM
Things might not be so bad. There are switches in the center console that over time can cause problems, namely erratic transmission operation. Here's a link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_13.htm) on how to gain access and do some cleaning. Check out this link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_11.htm) on how to fix the seat twist problem. It's more common than you would think. There is an issue of e32's built before 02/89 that the odometer quits working at 300,000 miles. There is a fix for it, the code plug on the back of the instrument cluster will need to be replaced with another unit (new or used), or you can reset it if you're electronically inclined. You didn't say inaccurate your gas gauge is, but there are fixes for that too. Hopefully this will at least get you back on the road. Good luck!
astralchanteuse
12-07-2005, 02:10 PM
On my car that control has the letters "S" and "E" (that I recall) for Sport and Econonomy, I believe. Is it still the same thing? I was about to have it towed to a mechanic, as it is STILL sitting at the inspection shop. They have someone that works on car there. Should I just give him this information? Would he be able to do it, or does it take a specialist?
Thanks so much for your help!
Dawn
Things might not be so bad. There are switches in the center console that over time can cause problems, namely erratic transmission operation. Here's a link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_13.htm) on how to gain access and do some cleaning. Check out this link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_11.htm) on how to fix the seat twist problem. It's more common than you would think. There is an issue of e32's built before 02/89 that the odometer quits working at 300,000 miles. There is a fix for it, the code plug on the back of the instrument cluster will need to be replaced with another unit (new or used), or you can reset it if you're electronically inclined. You didn't say inaccurate your gas gauge is, but there are fixes for that too. Hopefully this will at least get you back on the road. Good luck!
Thanks so much for your help!
Dawn
Things might not be so bad. There are switches in the center console that over time can cause problems, namely erratic transmission operation. Here's a link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_13.htm) on how to gain access and do some cleaning. Check out this link (http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_11.htm) on how to fix the seat twist problem. It's more common than you would think. There is an issue of e32's built before 02/89 that the odometer quits working at 300,000 miles. There is a fix for it, the code plug on the back of the instrument cluster will need to be replaced with another unit (new or used), or you can reset it if you're electronically inclined. You didn't say inaccurate your gas gauge is, but there are fixes for that too. Hopefully this will at least get you back on the road. Good luck!
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