Where do I gain more knowledge of car repair?

[razorcobra]

I have or have borrowed books regarding many makes of BMWs, so I know quite a bit. As I near purchasing an e30 or something similar I was wondering where I could get hands on experience. Do places like community college offer it, for a teenager?

[Nygdup]

Another on the shelf, ready for a quick sale. PM me for details, and remember I can custom make shift knobs too.

[EatsHondas]

No school will specialize in older cars, but there are definitely schools for automotive mechanics you could attend. You probably have to be at least 18 though.

Honestly the best thing to do is buy a car (hopefully an e30) and just start doing maintenance. You'll learn a shit ton as you start to learn how to solve problems and do repairs.

[Komzorz]

Buy an old junker for cheap as your only means of transportation.

Fear should do the rest. :p

[Brezzi]

I know your thinking about and e30 as a first car they are great cars to learn basic stuff on, they're simple.

As to where you can learn stuff from its just like school different people learn in different ways. Speaking with someone who actually knows what their talking about helps, for me physically getting in there and turning wrenches was the best.

Yes you can take auto classes at a community college I believe most of them offer some kind of intro and advanced courses.

the link above isnt working but I'm sure its a picture of a Bentley manual, trust me you want one they can answer pretty much anything you want to know about an e30. -edit- turns out its not a bentley, you should get one anyway.

[lolcantturn]

Buy the WORST e30 you can imagine, if its automatic the better. fix it up, 5spd swap, you will learn A LOT. it will completely break down and you're going to redo shit over and over most likely. but you will learn a lot.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Buy the WORST e30 you can imagine, if its automatic the better. fix it up, 5spd swap, you will learn A LOT. it will completely break down and you're going to redo shit over and over most likely. but you will learn a lot.

Like alignment of the drive line and it's effect on components such as transmission output shafts?

This is horrible advice. Start small, a botched swap of any kind could do some serious damage.

If you really want to learn, go around your local shops and get a job as a helper, you have direct guidance and get to make money to boot.

EDIT:

If you don't want to get stuck working on cars for a living, only work in a shop until you graduate. Any longer, and your stuck. Ask me how I know.

[Holland]

Grab a wrench. That's all you need.

[matthugie]

Grab a wrench. That's all you need.

This. You learn by doing.

[Roysneon]

I learned by doing. My father is a mechanic so that helped when I had specific questions, but mostly fucking with shitty old cars and general internet/forum reading helped me learn.

[BobombETA]

Do, or do not.

There is no try.

[evandael]

read, do, talk, repeat.

[asetliff]

Fox Mustangs were my first 3 cars... easy to work on, cheap parts which are plentiful in junkyards, not a bad way to learn. If you are serious about working on cars for a living going to school is a pretty good option... if you just want to know more and enjoy the hobby, get to wrenching. The best learning is hands on, bleeding knuckle fun.

E30's are fairly simple, grab a couple books, or just read online, most everything has been covered by someone, somewhere online. Ask any questions here, but attempt it on your own, as I said earlier that will be the best way to learn.

[Nsquared97]

Buy 2 project E30's with a friend, parts ways after completely dismantling first car, and find yourself with an E30 with a blown motor, parts coming out of your ears, and a 10x20 storage unit with no light/power to work out of. Did I mention your going to school in the arctic north of Michigan (same place as TurboJake) thus its pointless to attempt working on said car for 5 months straight? You'll learn a lot, ask me how I know.

Seriously though, my situation was a bit on the extreme side of what your looking at, but buying a project E30 will teach you a lot. Nothing will teach you better than getting out and just doing it. I would highly recommend getting something that does drive first. I bought my car and it was 14 months before I finally got to drive it for the first time. Very rewarding yes, but it is much harder to stay commited to a project when you haven't experienced the joy of how the car feels when running. Also a good assortment of tools makes a huge difference. Do not under estimate the importance of having the right tool for the job.

[5Toes]

make some friends :p