# 2008 BMW X3 manual transmission won't move in gear

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** x3, bmw\
**Created:** [March 19, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993 "2018-03-19T15:14:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MikeKazimer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MikeKazimer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeKazimer)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993/1 "2018-03-19T15:14:21Z")

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I have a 2008 BMW X3 with a manual transmission. The car starts, but when I put it into gear and let out the clutch, it will not move, not even in reverse. It is like the car is in neutral.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993/2 "2018-03-19T18:17:50Z")

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Bad news, something is seriously busted in the driveline. Likely inside the transmission. Time to tow it to the local transmission shop.

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**Author:** ![MikeKazimer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MikeKazimer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeKazimer)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993/3 "2018-03-19T18:24:25Z")

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Thank you for the heads up. I was expecting to hear something along those lines…

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-bmw-x3-manual-transmission-wont-move-in-gear/113993/4 "2018-03-19T18:32:01Z")

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It could be a simple shifter linkage problem that may take quite a bit of labor to reach and repair. If you lived a clean life, maybe a broken driveshaft is the problem. Easy to reach and replace. Or it could be internal to the transmission or transfer case and THAT could get expensive. Good Luck!