Wtf?! My 328i Won't Start

[ant]

i havent even had this car for 24 hrs yet. 99 bmw 328i.

I was driving home from work, and i decided to take this back street in my neighboorhood just to have a little fun. I accelerated normally, shifting from first to second...

... then when I tried to shift from second to third, it was as if third gear vanished. My car would not go into the third gear position. I thought I was just missing the gear, so I tried to shift down to surprisingly find that it wouldn't shift down either. I couldn't shift into any gears.

Of course I'm scared, so I pull off to the side of the road and turned off my car. Thats when the clutch and the brake pedal locked up on me. I was stuck. The car wouldn't turn on or anything. I had power everything, but I couldn't get the car on. It was as if the car froze on me. I called a few people and no one could give me a reason on what could have happened.

I had to get AAA to tow me not even a mile to my house and tomorrow, I'm getting carmax to tow my car in and see wtf is going on. Luckily I'm still under warranty, but I'm still pretty hot... I was gonna go out and celebrate tonight now I'm stuck at home with a BMW that won't turn on.

You guys have any idea whats going on?

[jkloese]

Almost sounds like multiple problem. Maybe some more info will help others "diagnose" a possibility.

1. What RPMs were you shifting at?
2. When you went from 2nd to 3rd, what did the engine do (did it just drop down to idle?)
3. When you pulled over, did the engine idle fine?
4. After you shut the engine off, and tried starting it again, did it click or what exactly happened?
5. What do u mean the the clutch and brake pedal locked up? After you turn the engine off it is normal for the brake pedal to be very stiff from built up pressure, but the clutch should push freely.

It almosts seems like a clutch problem, I mean the car will not start unless the clutch is pressed in, you will not be able to put the car in gear with out the clutch (unless you are familiar with it). So by what you say, thats would be my guess.

[The Deuce]

The clutch is 'frozen?'

It does sound like the clutch just took a shit on you. I had the slave cylinder go out on my 944 and the pedal was stuck on the floor. The clutch was engaged, which with a 99 328 would cause the car not to start. You also wouldn't be able to shift with the motor running.

Better info would help, or you could just go raise hell at Carmax.

[rsn48]

Me... I like all the problems to appear while the car is under warranty. You might be out a day or two from your ride, but you car will be better for it. I bought a 318i a couple of weeks ago and the next day the alternator went. Even though there was no warranty agreement - the car was a 1994 - the dealership put in a new alternator for free.

Sounds like your tranny went into the "safety" mode. That happened when the alternator was surging on the 318i, sometimes one thing can set another thing off on the car. After the alternator install and stable voltage throughout the car, no more check lights and trany safety mode.

[ant]

Originally posted by jkloese@Feb 26 2005, 09:13 AM
Almost sounds like multiple problem. Maybe some more info will help others "diagnose" a possibility.

1. What RPMs were you shifting at?
2. When you went from 2nd to 3rd, what did the engine do (did it just drop down to idle?)
3. When you pulled over, did the engine idle fine?
4. After you shut the engine off, and tried starting it again, did it click or what exactly happened?
5. What do u mean the the clutch and brake pedal locked up? After you turn the engine off it is normal for the brake pedal to be very stiff from built up pressure, but the clutch should push freely.

It almosts seems like a clutch problem, I mean the car will not start unless the clutch is pressed in, you will not be able to put the car in gear with out the clutch (unless you are familiar with it). So by what you say, thats would be my guess.

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1. i wasn't looking at my guage but i guess it was around 4000-5000. i just knew it was time to shift.
2. when i tried to shift, the engine sounded normal. nothing out of the ordinary.
3. yep, the engine idled normally as if nothing was wrong.
4. when i turn the key, i everything lights up and stuff except the engine makes no noise at all. no click or anything.... i guess because the clutch isn't pressed in, which kinda defeats the purpose because the clutch seems to be stuck. ;/
5. the clutch is resisting hard core. i can press it in, but it takes like 10x more strength then usual, but i still get no results from it as far as trying to start the car or shift it into a gear. the break is also very stff

i'm extremely new to standard cars so i wouldn't even know where to begin diagnosing my car. i asked a couple of people. 2 of them said the clutch might have went out. one said something about 'popping' the clutch back in where i would have to have someone push the car and press the clutch or something (i dunno, didn't try it). and then another person said something about the clutch pad. i dunno, it's all german to me and i didn't pay attention i world civics class. ;/

and the great news is, the carmax service dept won't be open until monday. YAY! i got an awesome car that I can only look at and sit in until the beginning of next week. go me!

[The Deuce]

The brake is stiff because the car is off and the brakes are 'pumped' for lack of a better word.

It almost sounds like you've got a problem with the linkage or the throw out bearing. It's definatly not disengaging, which is why the car won't start. I had a similar problem with an old VW, but it was a mechanical clutch that I could just adjust until I found a sweet spot.

Really the only thing I can imagine is that your disk just grenaded and that's why you can't get it to move. Basically, the disk (which looks like a record) shattered, and instead of having a .25" disc, you have a 1" wide pile of crap in the bottom of that space.

That would actually be on of the better scenario's since they would just replace the disc and resurface some stuff. Easy fix. Anything else could mean some serious down time.

[ant]

Originally posted by The Deuce@Feb 26 2005, 12:57 PM
The brake is stiff because the car is off and the brakes are 'pumped' for lack of a better word.

It almost sounds like you've got a problem with the linkage or the throw out bearing. It's definatly not disengaging, which is why the car won't start. I had a similar problem with an old VW, but it was a mechanical clutch that I could just adjust until I found a sweet spot.

Really the only thing I can imagine is that your disk just grenaded and that's why you can't get it to move. Basically, the disk (which looks like a record) shattered, and instead of having a .25" disc, you have a 1" wide pile of crap in the bottom of that space.

That would actually be on of the better scenario's since they would just replace the disc and resurface some stuff. Easy fix. Anything else could mean some serious down time.

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thanks for some hope man... ;] monday morning i should know something. carmax sent a tow truck to my house, picked up my bimmer and took it back to them for service. and they gave me a loaner for free.... so thas pretty cool... i can't wait til i get my baby back though cuz this civic is shit. i cant believe i used to want one. ;/