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

[nando]

I've done a 5 speed swap, hand built stroker motor, head rebuild with a P&P, painted several spoilers, refinished my wheels, rebuilt my transfer case, complete suspension, replaced most of my drivetrain, misc. wiring and electrical, made custom parts, etc. etc. The only times my car is touched by a shop is for new tires, and the exhaust I had done a while back.

The E30 really lends itself to DIY - they are simple to work on, fairly reliable, and parts really aren't that expensive. even somebody with average skills should be able to keep their E30 running for a long time.

[ldsbeaker]

I do all my own work. My wife USED TO gripe at me about buying tools until I had her call the dealership to find out how much service costs. She doesn't bug me anymore.
(well, I take that back, she bugs me about other stuff now) :D

[87Blue325iC]

You can get a pair of cheap spring compressors at harbor freight that get the job done for $10

Advance Auto Parts rents them + other tools - you buy them at full price, use them, and then return them for full credit...no fees!

[Jand3rson]

I do 99% of all the work on my car, but almost always with the help of Andrew, Jordan, or my friend, Seth. Work on your car goes a lot faster when you've got help and people with the know-how to learn from.

I've done my engine swap, installed my full suspension kit, replaced my entire driveline, rebuilt my shift linkage, adjusted my valves, changed my brakes, replaced my transmission seals, replaced my front wheel bearings, replaced control arms and bushings, and countless other small shit. I've also parted out 4 E30's to the bare frame. Over the winter, I'm rebuilding my diff and doing a few other things. Pretty much the only time my car will see a shop is when I have the rear wheel bearings replaced.

Advance Auto Parts rents them + other tools - you buy them at full price, use them, and then return them for full credit...no fees!

Really? That's lame. Autozone rents tools for free with a small deposit that gets put on your credit card, and refunded when you return them.

[Sean]

Damn, M42 Sport, that oil pan is looking good. Good clean running engine, it seems! Shoulda seen mine. Yuck. caked on oil...yuck yuck yuck lol

Oh, and regarding this. I think I've replied before, but now I can add rebuilding my engine on to that list. Sure was a project! :D

[AndrewBird]

Damn, M42 Sport, that oil pan is looking good. Good clean running engine, it seems! Shoulda seen mine. Yuck. caked on oil...yuck yuck yuck lol

Oh, and regarding this. I think I've replied before, but now I can add rebuilding my engine on to that list. Sure was a project! :D

My question is, why didn't he clean out the oil before he put it back on? Even if it was just dumped through the engine and never ran on, the oil would still be dirtier then out of the bottle. Might as well get out as much dirty oil as you can.

[Sean]

My question is, why didn't he clean out the oil before he put it back on? Even if it was just dumped through the engine and never ran on, the oil would still be dirtier then out of the bottle. Might as well get out as much dirty oil as you can.

Oh yea, I'd clean it thoroughly too. Mine was clean when I put it on my new engine, but that's a given. heh

[typhong_e30]

I do mostly all of my own work especially when it comes to classics.

[blueapplesoda]

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.

[MR 325]

(well, I take that back, she bugs me about other stuff now) :D

That made me lol :p

[87Blue325iC]

Really? That's lame. Autozone rents tools for free with a small deposit that gets put on your credit card, and refunded when you return them.

What is lame about it? Both are free in the end, but at Advance if you decide to keep the tool you just never return it. What happens at Autozone if you don't return the tool - do they charge you for the tool plus the fee?

[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.

[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

[AdironRider]

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

[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.