is $2500 reasonable for a complete auto trans rebuild?

[MozMike]

I have an 89 325i e30 ive spent about $3k on fully rebuilding the motor, the transmission started acting up the other day, i took it to the shop and my mechanic who does all my work told me the trans pump went out and it was pretty much fried.

He gave me two options.

1. a complete rebuild for about $2500 out the door including labor with a 2year warrantee.

2. He has an e30 that was rear ended, it has a motor and trany that has 70.000 miles, he said he would install on my car with a 1year warrantee or 24.000 miles for $1900.

im wondering if these are fair prices or if im getting ripped of please help.

[Sagaris]

I have auto trans parts I can sell you super cheap if you know what you need.

I would probably find a good automatic out there for cheap from an enthusiast
because you just cant give the things away. I didn't even try putting my healthy automatic trans. for sale. I took it apart so I could see all the voodoo inside. You should be able to get a healthy automatic for under $100. I wouldnt pay for a rebuild.

[bernzpeed]

i have one for sale for $200, ready to bolt on.

[cabriodster87]

I have an 89 325i e30. He has an e30 that was rear ended, it has a motor and trany that has 70.000 miles, he said he would install on my car with a 1year warrantee or 24.000 miles for $1900.

What year is his? Is it a manual trans? Do you get to keep your original eng/trans? Can you get anything else off His car? Will He take less $$? Weigh your options, Good luck.

[JasonC]

Most of those prices are labor. Too bad you couldnt work on your own car, cause it would be far cheaper to fix your problem.

[MozMike]

His car is a 90 e30 with an auto trans and as far as I know he is selling other parts but I don't need anything else.

I can and would fix it myself but I honestly have no time to do it and I need it done ASAP other wise I would fix it myself, my question is do these prices seem reasonable to you?

[ButtJuice]

My automatic transmission was rebuilt 2.5 years ago for $1800. If I knew what I know now (about e30s & the awesomeness of r3v) before I got it rebuilt, I would have either spent the same amount of money to have a shop do a 5 speed swap or bought an automatic transmission from a member & swapped them out.

So to answer your question, based on MY previous experience, yes. Those prices are seemingly accurate for your run-of-the-mill mechanic to do that kind of work. But would I suggest going that route, no. I would never pay over 2k to have my autotragic transmission rebuilt. I'd either swap it out, or pay to have someone do a 5 speed swap. Honestly, for that amount of money you could almost buy another e30.

[Draco02]

auto trans

Mike,
I have low mileage 99k kilometers. I just pulled with torque converter for 5spd swap on my C1. Drove excellent without any issues. Im in Ontario.
Le
626-497-3773

[bloodshot-e30]

just manual swap takes no more than 5 or 6 hours

[bastianshaw]

just my opinion but you are either really wealthy or really stupid.
by an auto from another car and pay a mobile mechanic ~3-400 to install
auto trannies are like the cheapest major e30 component

[mkcman17]

just manual swap takes no more than 5 or 6 hours

LOL get real.


and $2500 is more than i've spent on my past 3 e30s combined. you could just about 24v for those kind of numbers.

[LEANE30]

I agree with the overall consensus.
that is ridiculous. I would shop around for a mechanic that will quote you labor only on the assumption that you can pick up a used one for no more than $300, maybe $400 from a general-make salvage yard. You could just buy another e30 or as mkcman noted an m50 with auto trans attached from salvage with $1500 or less in bolt-up mechanic labor to have a running 24v e30 for less.