How many of you guys actually do work on your own car?

[BMW BMXER]

That piece on early models is just a strip, it's not a part of the valance. An ac/fan line wraps around the back of it. Took me 30 minutes to get it to come off when I was parting my eta. Could be the reason he didn't take it off.

Winner! Besides masking stuff is easy to me now.

Wish I knew how my valence got so bent though. I will blame PO's..

[lucky7]

well, i used to own a civic, so the only things i really had to do was change the oil. and toss new mods on it when i bought them ofcourse. im not all that balsy when it comes to working on my own stuff. i bought a 97 240sx and an RB25DET. its been at the shop for over a year now, they're kind enough to let me store it and all the parts there. an engine swap scares me, as does wiring up a power FC, and dyno tuning. so basically, im a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles and took it to a shop.

i am now an ashamed owner of a DSM. a 1st gen to be more specific. holy shit, im learning all sorts of new crap. i dont plan on having this car too much longer, but it has been somwhat enjoyable trying to figure out how to get this car to run correctly. swapping ECU's, MAS's, IC piping. i need to change out the struts cause there fubared. i also will be doing the rear hubs shortly. well, as soon as i track down some junkyard parts. already put new brakes on it. i need to bleed the brakes, the pedal is really soft. i also need to build a boost leak testor. im not sure if the turbo is going, or if i have some serious boost leaks. this damn car is a headache. but i kind of like it!

anyhow, im getting more and more confident everytime i tackle some small project on the DSM. i plan on doing all my suspension on the 240, and all the maintanence ofcourse. im getting more and more comfortable as time goes on. i really want to learn how to do a clutch/flywheel. thats next on my list of things to learn.

[volgapower]

i've done everything except putting the engine and changing tyres on the rims... oh yes aslo needed help installing my 325 exhaust tube (its so heavy LOL)

[silversleeper]

I love wrenching on my own cars. A feel a lot of satisfaction when I complete something. I just wish I wasn't so lazy... getting started is the hardest part for me.

To add to DEV0's last sentence, I say I like my old E30 because it has that classic look and a lot of character. But I think people hear "I am too poor to buy a new car".

[DEV0 E30]

That piece on early models is just a strip, it's not a part of the valance. An ac/fan line wraps around the back of it. Took me 30 minutes to get it to come off when I was parting my eta. Could be the reason he didn't take it off.

I work on my cars, most of my friends are way too lazy to work on their own. Or have brand new cars and don't understand why I like my old e30s.

[Sean]

I do some stuff. I don't like messing around behind my dash though. Some things under the hood, not all, belts, alternator, fuel filter, thermostat, rad, fan. Little stuff.

I do however love to sand and paint.

Why didn't you just remove the valance? In the amount of time taken to tape it off, you'd have the valance off. ;)

[Axxe]

I do everything minus machine work and mount tires.

[BMW BMXER]

I do some stuff. I don't like messing around behind my dash though. Some things under the hood, not all, belts, alternator, fuel filter, thermostat, rad, fan. Little stuff.

I do however love to sand and paint.

[Kruzen]

Gig harbor/Tacoma crew does each others work :D

One guy to wrench, one guy to make shitty e30 jokes, one guy to eat pringles, and another guy to hand the wrencher tools, and then 3 guys to stand around saying they're hungry and want food.

Washington crew for life <3

[Graham325]

I do most, it just depends on financial situation and free time when things come around, I do pay to have my oil changed by a local guy, I'd rather pay $18 and have it done in 20 min. than deal with doing it at home. I am however replacing the cooling system in my jeep, especially since the dealer quoted $1700 to put in a new radiator

[dude8383]

sort of a mix, big ticket stuff (paint, built-up motor, rebuilt tranny, new door, tire mounting / balancing) I had done at shops... little stuff (suspension, engine install, lighting, interior, electrical resealed LSD, body trim bits, bolt-ons, fluid changes, etc. etc.) did myself, with help from friends etc.

upcoming shop items include

- rear subframe crap
- rear wheel bearings
- dyno tuning

ez stuff on my list

- ss brake lines
- front end (tierods, control arms, control arm bushings)
- rear swaybar links
- other little mods

werd...you know who to call for the "ez stuff" lol...

ill talk to rohan about getting both of our cars up on the lift for the subframe bushings..

[bmw_e30]

diy ftw shop ftl + its cheaper, and its not hard. 625$ quoted from Bavarian Workshop for installing SS brake lines, not included. Pvc coated brake lines are 85$ at my local e30 shop. It will cost me 85$. Simple. Not 625$. Oh and 318is cam gear advance/retarding, 320$. I hear it takes about 45 minutes. And its free. I shoould open my own garage....damn.

Bavarian Workshop is one of the most expensive independent shops in LA.

The guy knows his stuff. But charges an assload. He goes by book prices only, which is a very wrong IMHO.

[AdironRider]

Febi, I just read your thread over on m42club. You are my m42 god at this point. That is all.

[Febi Guibo]

sort of a mix, big ticket stuff (paint, built-up motor, rebuilt tranny, new door, tire mounting / balancing) I had done at shops... little stuff (suspension, engine install, lighting, interior, electrical resealed LSD, body trim bits, bolt-ons, fluid changes, etc. etc.) did myself, with help from friends etc.

upcoming shop items include

- rear subframe crap
- rear wheel bearings
- dyno tuning

ez stuff on my list

- ss brake lines
- front end (tierods, control arms, control arm bushings)
- rear swaybar links
- other little mods

[german g]

luckily up until now, i havn't had to do any work on my E30, beside regular maint., which I will only do myself..
I am having my friends shop do my timing belt, thats about the only thing I am cautious to do myself...I'll be tackiling my springs/shocks in a week or so hopefully.