Manual Transmission Synchro Problems?

[Kirby]

I am thinking about getting a mid 90's E36 for my 16 year old daughter and getting rid of the Volvo 740. I came across a 96 328i for $5995 (low price!), private sale in the paper, but never got an answer when I called. As fate would have it, I stopped in at a used BMW specialist today to look around, and he was familiar with the *exact* car, he had called about it.

He said that up through 1996, E36 synchronizer problems were fairly common. This car had the problem, hence the low price.

Does anybody have any specific knowledge of this problem? How difficult is a BMW manual transmission to rebuild?

 

[m50POWER]

I have never had any problems with the syncro's in my car, but it's prob. cheaper to find a used one than to have it repaired. Here is one on ebay I saw:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33733&item=2458464459

 

[jcblaschke]

They synchronizers' (1st, ,and 2nd especially) are pretty bad in my car (93 325is), and i have heard many stories similar to mine, and that E36's are known for this problem. The easisest and probably cheapest thing to do would be to get a used Tranny.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Kirby,

Modern manual tranny rebuilds are not a weekend project for your typical DIY'er. Lots of stuff in manual trannys are pressed in or will need to be pressed out. Sometimes, some specialized tools are needed as well.

It almost undoubtedly would be cheaper to buy a used tranny like has already been suggested, but you have no assurances that the used tranny doesn't have the same problem or won't develop it shortly after putting it in the car.

 

[Kirby]

Kirby,

Modern manual tranny rebuilds are not a weekend project for your typical DIY'er. Lots of stuff in manual trannys are pressed in or will need to be pressed out. Sometimes, some specialized tools are needed as well.

Rats... That's what I was afraid of. I like working on my cars, but there are very few things you can work on with the newer cars, compared to the older ones. If it was a shade tree rebuild for the manual tranny, I would consider buying one with a bad transmission. But if it requires lots of pressed work, I don't have the tools to do that.