Replacement Costs of Cutting-Edge Transmissions

[The Critic]

Occasionally, I would see people post their estimated repair costs for the new 6-speed and CVT transmissions. Some users would quote ridiculously high figures and needlessly scare owners away from purchasing vehicles that contain these transmissions. Actually, I have concluded from my research that these transmissions do not cost significantly more to replace compared to a conventional five speed automatic.

For example, I asked a reputable discount Nissan and Toyota online parts dealership for the price of a factory remanufactured unit Toyota U660E and a Jatco JF010E. The U660E is the 6-speed automatic that is used in the latest Toyota Camry V6, Lexus ES350 and this year's Toyota Avalon. The Jatco JF010E is a CVT that is used in the Nissan Altima V6, Nissan Maxima (2007+) and the Nissan Murano.

I discovered that an U660E costs $2827.68 and a JF010E costs $2953.93. In comparison, the popular U250E 5-speed auto that is used in the 2005 and later 4-cyl Camrys costs $2423.04.

In conclusion, there's no need to be concerned about the high repair costs with the new 6-speed automatics or CVTs. When the unit fails, it is unlikely to cost you significantly more to replace compared to an older five speed automatic. Parts and labor for a factory remanufactured unit should not cost you more than $4000 total, based on my research.

 

[d00df00d]

Interesting.

Have you by chance come across comparable figures for manual transmissions?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Interesting.

Have you by chance come across comparable figures for manual transmissions?

The 6-speed Manual that is used in the 2006 Nissan Maxima costs $1813.86.

 

[simple_gifts]

Those numbers, plus many rusted cooler lines convinced me never to own an AT again....

 

[The Critic]

Here are some additional figures:

The 02E DSG transmission that is used on the high performance VWs, costs $4019.39.

The extremely popular Aisin TF-60SN compact 6-speed automatic transmission that is used on the Mini Coopers and many of the new VW Jettas and Passats costs $3860.92.

So yes, a DSG will cost about $1000 more than some automatics, but the price is likely to drop significantly by the time replacement becomes necessary around the 150k mark. Same applies to the compact Aisin 6-speed unit.

 

[Cutehumor]

is the common man or woman going to search high and low for the discounted trans rebuilder to get that price?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
is the common man or woman going to search high and low for the discounted trans rebuilder to get that price?

The more work you put into it, the better the price is going to be.

This isn't a discount transmission rebuilder. I got these prices from actual Toyota, Nissan and VW dealerships.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
is the common man or woman going to search high and low for the discounted trans rebuilder to get that price?

The more work you put into it, the better the price is going to be.

This isn't a discount transmission rebuilder. I got these prices from actual Toyota, Nissan and VW dealerships.


Thanks for the research on this. Very interesting. I like manual transmissions for a reason, just wish more of the vehicles I like came with them. I wonder what the comparison prices would be on standard transmissions. Probably half the cost I would guess.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
is the common man or woman going to search high and low for the discounted trans rebuilder to get that price?

The more work you put into it, the better the price is going to be.

This isn't a discount transmission rebuilder. I got these prices from actual Toyota, Nissan and VW dealerships.


Thanks for the research on this. Very interesting. I like manual transmissions for a reason, just wish more of the vehicles I like came with them. I wonder what the comparison prices would be on standard transmissions. Probably half the cost I would guess.

I posted the price of a 6-speed Nissan manual transmission earlier in this thread. It's only a few hundred dollars less than some of the even older four-speed automatics, such as the Toyota U240E that is used in the 02-05 Camry I4. That automatic costs $2099.72.

 

[JTK]

That's just the current price for a remanufactured transaxle. Having to replace expensive pieces of exhaust system that need to be removed and fall apart in the process will add another grand or so.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JTK
That's just the current price for a remanufactured transaxle. Having to replace expensive pieces of exhaust system that need to be removed and fall apart in the process will add another grand or so.

Not all transmissions require exhaust removal for R/R. Besides, even if it did require removal, it isn't something that is exclusive to 6-speed autos or any transmissions that employ cutting-edge technology.

 

[The Critic]

Just to add more #s to this:

GM 4T45E: $1805.50
GM 6L80E: $2068.85
GM 4L80E: $2047.00

Notice how a 6-speed auto for a GM RWD application costs the SAME as the four-speed version.

 

[levi]

Parts and labor for a factory remanufactured unit should not cost you more than $4000 total, based on my research.

That's about what I spend to buy a whole car!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: levi
Parts and labor for a factory remanufactured unit should not cost you more than $4000 total, based on my research.

That's about what I spend to buy a whole car!

I know people who spend that amount on entertainment in one year!

 

[levi]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: levi
Parts and labor for a factory remanufactured unit should not cost you more than $4000 total, based on my research.

That's about what I spend to buy a whole car!

I know people who spend that amount on entertainment in one year!

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: levi
Parts and labor for a factory remanufactured unit should not cost you more than $4000 total, based on my research.

That's about what I spend to buy a whole car!

I know people who spend that amount on entertainment in one year!

I've met people who spend that amount on entertainment in a weekend...

 

[The Critic]

Now this is interesting. A 5-speed automatic for a 2006 and newer Hyundai Sonata V6 only costs $1303.22.

 

[bdcardinal]

thats not bad at all. its interesting being a parts person and being bored at times and looking up random prices for random parts. people yell and scream about how much my dealer charges for Ford Reman engines and transmissions, we go list. however there is a 3 year 75,000 mile warranty that you would not get from a lot of other rebuilders.

 

[Spector]

Does the price include labor, so the real question is what is the total price of a replacement . I had a remanufactured (not a rebuild) done two months ago in a 96 mystique, dealer cost 3600 all inclusive, I thought that was exceptionally high. Yea, the local Ford dealer with the 3 year 75,000 mile warranty good at any Ford location. (they missed many details though, forgot to replace the dipstick, lost the battery hold down, lost a clip on the air filter housing, shift mechanism did not work when first retrieved, poor service manager quality control issues)

As someone noted also, when it fails you do not have many choices, a lot of hassle to find the low price and if out of state need to assure some kind of warranty that will be honored where you actually live. My problem occurred for a child at college. I probably could have save 1000 if I had a local reputable independent transmission place but find one and what about a warranty once the child leaves the area, so several things to consider

 

[JTK]

Spector, you must really like that Mystique! That car is not worth $2K in good working order. Then again, that $3600 would just buy you another headache of a used vehicle anyway so it's a [censored]-shoot.

Joel