IX E30 Auto

[peteri]

So I know hardly anything about cars. I am looking at an 89 325ix with 175000. Unfortunately it is auto. Is there any way to check the transmission? I've heard on autos they go out around 150k.

Any advice would be appreciated

[nando]

the 4HP22 isn't really a bad transmission and won't neccesarily die at 150k, but it does have a weakness in the design. If the car is ever reved in nuetral or park (like doing a nuetral drop or something) it can burn out the clutches quick like.

mine made it to 181k before I put in a 5 speed, and I beat the shit out of it - hundreds of 1st gear autox runs, downshifting/upshifting, etc. But I never really reved it out of gear, either.

[peteri]

Thanks for the reply. How difficult is the swap and if you dont mind me asking the cost to do so.