NHTSA Complaint #10286031 — 2000 BMW 323I

I OWN A 2000 BMW 323I WITH ONLY 21,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS KEPT IN AN INTERIOR GARAGE AND DRIVEN MOSTLY WITHIN THE CITY. UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NEVER HAD ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION (OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER). I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE, DROVE TO A STORE, DID MY SHOPPING AND RETURNED TO THE PARKING LOT. I TURNED THE IGNITION ON AS NORMAL, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AND TRIED TO BACK OUT, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL BUT THE DASHBOARD CLEARLY READ THAT I WAS IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON, NO NOISE OR SOUND OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE CAR DID DRIVE FORWARD, SO I WAITED UNTIL THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME LEFT AND DROVE MY CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THE CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF A TRANSMISSION REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT UNTIL I GAVE THEM $300 TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I DECLINED AND BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THE MECHANIC REMOVED A PAN AND SHOWED ME THE LIQUID WHICH WAS BLACKISH IN COLOR. HE SAID THAT IT HAD ALUMINUM POWDER IN IT, INDICATING THAT SOMETHING INSIDE PROBABLY BROKE AND CAUSED BURNING. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHAT TO DO NEXT: EITHER GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED OR HAVE IT REBUILT. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE BMW DEALERSHIP I GOT THE CAR FROM REFUSE ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR