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

[E46toE30]

I know that many of you do...

What repairs have you done yourself? What kind of repairs would you leave to professionals?

i dont have a garage so I am limited in my ability to work on my own car but since ive owned the e30 I am itching to buy tools! What should I do??

[MR 325]

Other than the machine work during the motor build and mounting tires on to rims, I have done everything.

[bwanac]

Work on your car... tahts where most of the enjoyment comes from for most people on this board. Or maybe not... but I know a lot of people think that way.

[s52e368]

me

[Dave]

The only thing I have paid to have done to any of my e30s was to have tires mounted onto rims, and on my 325eS I had briefly, I paid a friend to install a clutch. I could have done it, but I was very busy at the time, and he was out of work, so it worked out for both parties.

Otherwise, i have replaced full suspensions, and am about to rebuild an engine. If I only had a lift, i could get more done more easily.

[E46toE30]

Can I do most maintenence jobs without a lift?

I do not have previous experience beyond changing oil,replacing fluids,changing my radiator and flushing the cooling system in my old car. HOWEVER I do consider myself to be fairly adept in learning and know my car termonology pretty well.

Is the bently manual a good resource for noobs as well as pros?

[E46toE30]

The only thing I have paid to have done to any of my e30s was to have tires mounted onto rims, and on my 325eS I had briefly, I paid a friend to install a clutch. I could have done it, but I was very busy at the time, and he was out of work, so it worked out for both parties.

Otherwise, i have replaced full suspensions, and am about to rebuild an engine. If I only had a lift, i could get more done more easily.

My concern with full suspension work is the major $$$ id have to spend on special tools. Wouldnt you need a spring compressor to do jobs like that?

[bimmer8604]

Wouldnt you need a spring compressor to do jobs like that?

Yes, you get rent one at autozone for free.

Kyle

[Rob]

everything, including mounting tires. Farm out the balancing, and luckily havent had to do any machine work type shit.

[Dave]

My concern with full suspension work is the major $$$ id have to spend on special tools. Wouldnt you need a spring compressor to do jobs like that?

Or you can buy a set of them for pretty cheap at Sears or Harbor Freight. Sure, they take more work to use than what shops have, but they do the trick.

[Jon325i]

I've done plenty. Yank complete drivetrains, swap out entire suspensions, clutches, brakes, fuel system stuff and I've completely gutted an E30 once. The only stuff that isn't done by me: mount/balance tires, recent custom exhaust work (not knowledgable with welding) and smog tests.

E30s are pretty straight forward and easy to work on. I've done some wrenching on E36s and E46s and those cars are a bit more of a pain due to the tighter packaging of everything.

Jon

[1991 318is]

It's all good.

I am fortunate to have access to the fab & prep shop I was associated with for 25 years. Lift, tons of tools, drill press, lathe, boring mill, welder, tire machine, etc. Old racing parts and all kinds of stuff laying around including a complete inventory of nut. bolts, rivets - everything you need to build a car from the frame up. The main resource is talent.
I do everything except change oil. I go to Quick Lube. Oil changes only - I tell them that if they don't take anything off the car, they won't have to put it back on.

[Eric Giles]

I pretty much started off in 2000 with an 80 piece Craftsman metric/standard socket/wrench set and a combo Larin 2.5 ton jack with two jackstands. For basic work, that will probably suffice-although you will invariably have to run down to the local tool store to get something else as the need arises.

Before that year (which was when I bought my first E30), I had mostly just done very basic car maintenance-change oil, plugs, filters, etc. Six years later, the only thing I have not done is pull and rebuild a motor-although I did change the rod bearings in my M3 a few months back.

Buy a Bentley manual, read how-to articles online-whatever you can do to familiarize yourself with the proper procedures and gotchas that each job has. Start off with a few easy jobs such as brake work and suspension, and take it from there. It becomes pretty easy after you get the hang of it. Once you have a good place to work, I highly recommend buying an air compressor and some air tools. It really makes things go much quicker, and will help when you just can't get enough muscle on something that might be stuck.

And regarding the cheaper jacks like the Larin that I bought-these will work fine, but take longer to lift the car. I would personally buy one of the steel/aluminum jacks from Sears for around $100 or so. Not the best available, but are relatively light weight and have better lifting capability.

[Dave]

The Sears Jacks are all available at Harbor Freight for less $$$$.

[h0lmes]

I was in a hurry for work and really needed an oil change so I took my car to the quick lube place up the street. I only did it that once though. All the other work on my car has been done by myself and sometimes with the help of friends.