not sure if it's an option for you, but having someone who knows how to drive a stick is much easier than peoples posts on a forum, it seems more intimidating then it is, once you get the basics down by actually practicing, you're well on your way to it becoming second nature when you drive
you're lucky you didn't post this on bimmerforums, those guys would have bashed you non-stop
but the truth is, we've all been just as clueless about it as you are now