what tools should i buy??

[E46toE30]

Okay. I realized that now that I own an e30 i will need to buy some tools. I have about 500 dollars id like to devote to a nice set of tools I can use for basic repairs and maintenence. Any advice on what stuff I should start with?

[assoutE12]

what tools do you already have?

[bades2001]

torque wrench

[ColdAccord]

11 and 13 mil open end wrenches and sockets, and torx sockets

that is all.

lol

[Rigmaster]

A good place to start would be one of those big tool assortments from Sears (Craftsman)- something like a 200-300 piece set. You can often find them on sale, in fact, I wouldn't buy one unless it was on sale.

This should be a good starting point, then as you work on your car, you will find that you need some other tools, and you can buy them as you go.



Bret.

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

-3/8in drive 8mm through 21mm metric sockets
-3/8in drive 10mm - 19mm deep sockets
-1/4in drive 7mm - 14mm deep sockets
-1/4in drive 10mm - 14mm sockets
-1/2in drive 15mm - 24mm sockets & deep sockets
-open + box end 7mm - 19mm wrenches
-open end 32mm wrench, thin, with 1/2in drive square on the other end, if possible.
- 1/2in torque wrench, 10ft-lbs to 150ft-lbs should be sufficient
- 4" 3/8in extension
- 12-24" 3/8in extension
- 4" 1/2in extension
- 12-24" 1/2in extension
- Most complete torx set you can find (probably like fifteen bucks)
- Channel locks
- BFH + Rubber Mallet
- Crowbar (at least two sizes)

[DEV0 E30]

17mm hex socket (for tranny and diff drain/fill plugs) Got mine at Checker amazingly. Those and torx sockets are probably the hardest to find, and yet they aren't too hard to find. Everything else is pretty much a regular tool ... I think. No man can have too many tools though.

Floor jacks, jack stands, pressure bleeder (1 person brake bleeding yayo), I could go on I guess.

[asubimmer]

breaker bar and sawzall :twisted:

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

/\/\/\+BFH+torch+patience these are pretty old cars anyways!

[Febi Guibo]

the above is a great list, I'd add:

bentley manual
pb blaster
jar of anti-seize
red loctite
carb cleaner
bag of shop rags
magnetic pickup wand
3/8" wobble adaptor socket
grade 8 (min) metric nut, bolt, washer assortment
rubber gloves

[S14E30]

shop Lights! and beer

[Febi Guibo]

shop Lights! and beer

aww... huffing the carb cleaner beats beer... :)

[Avus E30]

a large set of metrick everything. eventually youll need it all

[george graves]

And a metric set of flex head gear wrenches if you have money left over. They can get into some really strange places.

[X2theZ3]

I agree with Rigmaster. A good place to start is one of those sets from sears. That should give you most of the sockets you need.

Here's what I'd buy:
Set from Sears
Good set of metric combinations wrenches
Breaker Bar
Universal joint set 1/4, 3/8, 1/2
extension set
screwdriver set

This will take care of most jobs. You can buy a torx set later when you need them. And also, obviously a jack and jackstands if you dont have them already.