New guy looking to buy an e53

[rmepilot]

Originally Posted by Crowz

Bad part now is a new clutch and pressure plate for a bmw cost the same as a replacement automatic transmission and requires the same effort to swap them

Not to mention the banjo lever action on a bmw's shifter isn't going to hold up well to a newbie learning to shift gears for the first time. Expect a few wrecker trips or a call from the kid where they are stranded from the shifter not doing anything when moved

My first was a celica manual but like anyone else with stories of learning to drive a manual on Japanese cars they were top loader transmissions. You could grind on them all day with no damage and the shifters are practically indestructible within reason.

You can pop the shifter linkage off a bmw if you are rough with them.

How much is a transmission?

I can't argue with you on the Celica, as I learned on '80 Datsun 210 and 310's. Driver's Ed the year before got to drive '79 T/A's.

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by rmepilot

How much is a transmission?

I can't argue with you on the Celica, as I learned on '80 Datsun 210 and 310's. Driver's Ed the year before got to drive '79 T/A's.

You can get a wrecker yard auto trans around here for $500 to 750 with a guarantee. I have bought them $250.

Clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing oe is over $300 from looking just now. I paid over $400 for the last one I bought so they have come down some. Aftermarket quality you can get down to $200 now it seems.

That said you will be doing this every 100k miles or so vs may never have to change the auto trans.

Hard to know for sure. Expect the first learner clutch to fail fast of course.