My automatic shifter is stuck in park. I don't mean the transmission is stuck in park, I mean the shifter. the transmission has about 500 miles on it since a complete rebuild. The nice burlwood handle (that I thought was stock until finding out otherwise) came off in my hand today. When I put it back in and got it seated back down on the shift lever the shifter will not shift out of park. The button on the bottom of the shifter is locked into place and won't release.
What's involved here a new shift handle and parts or the whole shift mechanism? When the shift handle first came out it had a white plastic shaft inside it that ended with about a quarter inch of steel. Now the handle comes off without the plastic shaft. Does this plastic shaft come with a factory or aftermarket shift handle?
I have noticed prior to this that it's very easy to have it in performance mode in third gear and when shifting to fourth it overshoots fourth and lands in neutral. Making me think something is worn in there.
If I pop 80 bucks for the Bentley service manual will it provide the instructions I need to tear the center consule apart and repair the shifter?
So far my BMW mechanics experience is limited to replacing the door handle release cable and fixing a power window. This is the first BMW I've had a chance to work on I'm impressed with the construction. Beats most of the GM and Honda vehicles I've owned hands down.