Does a TRUE e30 enthusiast need to wrench on their cars?

[ELVA164]

I'd say this is an unequivocal "no."

I mean, all our customers are definitely enthusiasts or they wouldn't have vintage race cars. They spend time researching the history of their cars, reading about the events they ran in, what types of cars ran with them, how the different cars work, etc. Definite and obvious passion for automobiles. If they had to work on their cars in order to be "true enthusiasts," I wouldn't have a job.

[cgk_iii]

I wouldn't stop wrenching. If I were rich I'd have all the tools/shop equipment necessary to make each job I do easier. Plus if you break anything you're still "mega rich" and it won't be a problem to fix it.

[F34R]

There's a way to change that?

User CP top left, then select 'options' in the bar on the left and scroll down to posts per page drop down box and set to 40 posts per page...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[e34john]

If I had more money I would do more of my own work. Because I would have the proper tools to do it. Right now it sucks crawling under the car, not having all the right equipment and knowing if I screw something up its going to even cut more into the rent money, plus if the car is down, I need it done as soon as possible to be able to drive to work again.

But I was never huge into working on my car, I get impatient and I am not the most tedious careful worker. I do some stuff and general maintenance but not too much.

Once I come into money, I would be able to make it more into a hobby, would love to dial up the car myself to take to autocross or build up a Factory5 or Caterham in my free time.

[slammin.e28]

User CP top left, then select 'options' in the bar on the left and scroll down to posts per page drop down box and set to 40 posts per page...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey guys....there's only two pages here.

KTHXBAI

;)

[Dj Buttchug]

bye felica

[LateFan]

I had this conversation with a buddy of mine the other day.

To be a car enthusiast, one would assume they like to work on their cars.
A true gear head to me, is someone who gets their hands dirty, and knuckles beatup working on their rides.
It's an extension of themselves.

If you were mega rich, would you still do your own work on your E30 (or any other car for that matter?)

I do, for several reasons:

It's hard to justify paying a good shop more than the car is worth fixing an old car.
I often can't afford a $1500 repair that I could do for $500.
I like it.
I learn things.
It can be relaxing - WHEN THINGS DON'T GO WRONG!
I know it was done well - sometimes even good shops don't do the job any better, they just know the tricks and shortcuts and have all the tools so they can do it quickly. Takes me 10 times as long, but everything is cleaned, clamps are checked, old hoses get replaced…

But to me the biggest part of being involved with your cars is when you've been under there with it all apart, you completely understand the machine. Then when you're driving the machine it makes sense. When there's a funny noise and something suddenly goes Code Odd, you have a sense of what's going on, which system, what's normal and what's not.

EDIT - Pride. My neighbors can't BELIEVE I put a new engine in my Audi by myself, and it runs.

If I had plenty of money, I'd buy only the best parts (no more beat up used r3v shit!), and I'd have the nicest tools. And heat….I'd have heat in the garage.

[ELVA164]

sometimes even good shops don't do the job any better

[LateFan]

^^^ hope I didn't insult your shop…….

[E30HV]

My personal opinion and I guess is a question to all. If you had no mechanical knowledge will you still be interested on an e30? And will you consider yourself a TRUE e30 enthusiast
I have no mechanical experience but I try. Even if I didn’t I’m still in love with my car. My first e30 and have owned it for a little over a year now. I’m not a mechanic, that’s not my field but I have tried to learn as much as I can about the car.

[LateFan]

When we bought this project E30, my son could use a screwdriver well.

Now a year later he's discussing whether the signal the ECU is getting might be screwed up and it's being fooled by that sensor not reading consistently - should we test the old sensor again or just spend the money on a new one.

"Give me that wrench, Dad, your fingers are too fat!"

He loves that car and has learned so much.

[ELVA164]

^^^ hope I didn't insult your shop…….

Haha, just pulling your chain.

[UlrichFennec]

I feel like the term "enthusiast" is thrown about with very different meanings from person to person.

If you have a passion for cars, I consider you an enthusiast. If you love to drive all sorts of cars, read into their history, work on them in your free time and research about what you can do to it, I consider you to be an enthusiast.

Some people don't necessarily have the tools to do everything with their car and repair everything, regardless of how easy it is. Sometimes, the only option is to take it to a specialist and save up some money on the side to buy your own tools so you can do your own maintenance.

[E30HV]

I feel like the term "enthusiast" is thrown about with very different meanings from person to person.

If you have a passion for cars, I consider you an enthusiast. If you love to drive all sorts of cars, read into their history, work on them in your free time and research about what you can do to it, I consider you to be an enthusiast.

Some people don't necessarily have the tools to do everything with their car and repair everything, regardless of how easy it is. Sometimes, the only option is to take it to a specialist and save up some money on the side to buy your own tools so you can do your own maintenance.

if have a strong interest and love for my car than i guess im a enthusiast. i envy everyone here that can work a wrench (and good for you) but that does not take away the love i have for my car. i try to maintain it and keep it clean and i hope i make all of you proud as an e30 owner.

[bikerjim2000]

BMW
" Making mechanics out of automobile drivers since 1929!"

I'm a total motorhead, can fix anything,weld,paint,plumb etc but I know when to say when!
Usually transmission work or serious paint and body I say when!:devil: