what are some jobs you refuse to do on your car?

[brandondan1]

At some point, there are diminishing returns on busting your balls doing a job you don't really have the know-how or tools to get it done.

That said, I do everything except tire mounting and alignment.

I agree. Especially if it's your only car, and you can't afford to have it on jackstands for more than a weekend... You never know when you're going to run into snags(like finding out you need to go get a torch and a pirate hook to get bushings out, rusted parts etc.), and end up spending more time than you expected.

I've done every job my E30s have needed as well, but the rear subframe is just one of those pita jobs that I'm not looking forward to doing at all, until I absolutely need to.

Unless you said body work, tire mounting, or smog checks...............you're a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles.

Why? Because you lack the tools/experience to do them yourself? There are tons of jobs on an e30 that are a lot more physically involving than spreading some filler on a panel.

[peerless]

I do everything except body work, exception being windshields, I do those too. I just changed out the center rear brake lines over the rear subframe, that kinda sucked, but I got it.

I work on not just my own cars but everyone else's E30s. In the last month I did a custom 2.9L + 5 speed swap into a 82 323, M30 swap into a 89 E30, head gasket and lowered a 93 cabbie, I am currently doing a full front and rear suspension rebuild on a 91 Mtech Cabbie, after that I get to do a clutch and LSD swap into a 91 318is. Before all that I rebuilt 2 90' 318is M42's back to back.

I do dashboard swaps, electrical, engine rebuilds, steering rack swaps, lowering, timing belts, cooling system work, driveshaft rebuilds, all driveline and suspension work, everything!

I do anything and everything you could ever want done to your E30, hell I don't even have a rack. And that sucks and costs me time. But until I can afford my own shop, and I will, I just have to suffer for a little longer.

I was at one point thinking of offering full frame up restorations. But I can't see many people dumping $20K into a 20 year old car.

I am in SoCal, I do honest quality work, have tons of reputation and feedback. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything done to your E30, let me know. If I can't do it myself, I know someone who can. Have 20 yrs automotive service experience. Almost all of it in SoCal, so I have connections for almost anything.

Robert
E30 Motor Werks

[gearheadE30]

Dang robert, if I ever am out in Cali, I'll have to hit you up.

I do or have done everything except bodywork, mounting/balancing tires, alignments, and enigne rebuilds. The only reason I've never rebuilt a motor is because I don't have all of the right toos or space; I'm sure I could do it after enough time spent on the internet ;). I also don't rebuild driveshafts or steering racks because I can't machine stuff to get a fresh surface.

BTW with the tool I made for rear wheel bearings, its cake. The rear subframe wasn't that bad eighter, but maybe I was just lucky.

[Miasma]

I have done and will continue do everything except tire mounting and balancing, And I only don't do that cause the shop I have free access to is primarily a boat shop so it doesn't have some automotive tools, But it still has a lift!

[dashboardmonkey]

I have an idea. We're all good at SOMETHING. Jean is good at rear subframe bushings, Raxe is good at detailing cars...

we should get together 12 people who are good at various things and have everybody work on one person's car a month until it's running perfect. The person whose car is being worked on buys pizza and beer

+1

Andy

[madjurgen]

oil changes cause i'm lazy

that's sad.

[NC325iC]

i would say body work is the only thing i won't do, there are things i dont like doing, mainly cause something always goes wrong:

anything removing the valve cover, i always manage to over tighten it back on
tranny/clutch work is a pain in the ass but ill do it on an e30, nothing else though

[808BMW]

I don't mind wiring or bodywork.
Bodywork is pretty boring but not that bad, wiring is actually fun (when you do it really well and get to showoff to all your friends with rat's nests)

[Jand3rson]

I don't do anything having to do with wiring or electrical. That's what Andrew is for. :D

He and I will do pretty much ANY job on my car, and we have. He's helped me with everything, my car wouldn't be what it is without his help.

Something that needs to be done that I'm not doing though is replacing the rear main seal, and re-sealing the whole tranny. I could do it all, but I seriously just don't want to. I'm having it done pretty soon, once I have some money again.

[Jean]

I hate removing WATER spots as well...PITA.

I want to take my e30 to a DEALER for an oil change one day, just to see their reaction since they only work on newer cars pretty much...

[Aptyp]

paint work, no can do

[cferb]

Engine rebuilt, tranny rebuild, changing my differential(it was worth the money...), and oil change, yes I said oil change, it's just not worth it to me to save a couple bucks. I'll do, and have done on my last e30, simple body work and paint work, but no welding.

[SpecM]

yes I said oil change, it's just not worth it to me to save a couple bucks. I'll do, and have done on my last e30, simple body work and paint work, but no welding.

-its worth it to make sure its done right

[NC325iC]

oil change takes 5 minutes

[Aptyp]

i would never let some ass-lube place change my oil. Especially after seeing so many aluminum pans go to waste after some lube-boy fucks up.