HELP - Buggered E36 Gearbox

[dick dastardly]

I was driving along earlier and put my car in second when suddenly there was a huge thump noise. Since then there has been no 2nd gear, when I put it into 2nd it revs as if it was in neutral.

What has happened? Anyone else been here? My old man reckons its a new gear box for me, I bloody hope not!

P.S. J reg. 325 Coupe, 131000 on the clock

[sohlman]

May not be a gearbox, but could be the propshaft snapping. A couple of questions need to be answered. Firstly can any gear be ingadged and any drive gained. If no gear gives drive, but all can be selected using the clutch then it could be propshaft. Secondly if you carefully try to move the leaver without engadging clutch does it crunch or is it ok. Obviously with the engine running. If it crunches then you still have a gearbox. Thirdly when stationary and you engadge first gear and try to move off is there any noise. If the propshaft has gone you will mot be able to move, but it made a lot of noise on the car I was in.

Just quickly my sinario was in a volvo pulling onto the A3 (Mum's car many years ago). I changed into fourth gear and lost all power and the revs shot up and i ground to a halt. Was quite dangerous as had just pulled into the outside lane and had to drift to hard shoulder with no drive. Had to wait for AA for 3 hours. Thought it was a gearbox, but turned out to be a propshaft, which was cheaper, but just as inconvenient as had to be towed home.

Hope all turns out well

[domster]

My guess is a second gear cog has gone if you can get the other gears. The problem is that the cost of a rebuild is likely to be more than the cost of a s/h gearbox.

I lost third on a gearbox in my Caterham once, and the other gears were obtainable.

I'd consider an upgrade to an M£ Evo box. You should be able to get one for 500 quid to a grand.