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

[reelizmpro]

Yeah, but those are very specialized jobs best left to professionals that are setup to do only that.

[UlrichFennec]

Yeah, but those are very specialized jobs best left to professionals that are setup to do only that.

Personally, I won't dare mess with the wiring in my car. I let an auto electrician handle it, because I'd rather not end up "fixing" an electrical niggle only to have another one pop up.

Now, oil changes, detailing, replacing filters, hoses and bodywork, I can do. I'm learning how to weld metal so if I ever have rust, I can cut out the rusty spot and weld new metal to make it good as new. :3

[ForcedFirebird]

Hmm, my shop is full of enthusiasts cars. Some of them can do the work themselves, some can't. Some are race car drivers, not mechanics.

At the end of the day my neighbor at the shop put is in a good way, he is a cabinet maker.

"Sure I can fix my truck myself, I built it. BUT, you will get it done faster and I will make more money than I save by working in my own shop on cabinets."

[Rib Daddy]

I purchased my first car, a 1976 2002, when I got out of college. Didn't know how to wrench then. Had that car 2 years, until an unfortunate engine fire ended it's life. Got a 1980 320is and drove it for 3 years. Traded it in on a 1986 325es that I drove for the next 24 years, until last October when I got a 1988 325iC. Probably put 250K on the 325es, (bought it with 106K in 1990).

I have never wanted to "graduate" to a newer BMW (or go back to a 2002 for that matter). I LOVE e30's !!! It does have to be a 5-speed, though.

Still can't wrench... Done a few things here and there over the years. I remember switching out the A/C switch in the cabin and "fixing" the A/C for the cost of the part after being quoted $750 to fix it. Made me pretty happy.

I don't have the time to wrench as the e30 is my daily. If I got into a project and f#%*&ed it up, I couldn't get to work. I have a house I'm restoring. The house gets the free time.

I come to R3V almost every day and lurk around. I like to see what others do to their cars and make plans for mine. I love seeing what some of you guys have done!!

I am enthusiastic about my e30, but to some that doesn't qualify me as an "enthusiast"
since I don't dirty my hands much.

I envy those of you who have the mechanical inclination. I don't have a clue as to how fuel injection works or how to bleed the brakes. It just doesn't make much sense to my brain. I take my car in because I want it to run right and stop when needed.

Have had an e30 in the driveway for 25 years but can't wrench... Enthusiast ???

[E30HV]

I think a real enthusiast needs to have passion, love and respect for the car they are driving. It has nothing to do weather they know how to use a wrench.

[Gerta]

I echo the sentiments about being an enthusiast and having the love for the cars. Everyone's skill level is different ... I'd love to learn how to weld, but I am not keen on learning on my car. I've done most things to my car and had help or paid for some others to be done based on time, funds, etc ... an enthusiast loves learning about the cars and never stops doing so.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Tyler The Creator
Frank Ocean
Action Bronson

think any of those guys actually truly turn wrenches on their Bmw's?

I doubt it.

I honestly thought the first two guys (both black I presume?) were the same person. Not that I have ever sought out either of their "music".

For the last one...Action Jackson, or Pierce Brosnan? never hear of the fellow posted above


As for the question...I dont' really care for labels

[reelizmpro]

Who is old enough to remember Charles Bronson?

Action Bronson is a rapper. He's one of the few new artists that I like.

people will have different definitions of enthusiast. I have met people who have owned e30's since new but wouldn't call them enthusiasts....they just really like the car. Mention chassis codes and they have no idea what you're talking about.

[Mr. Burns]

https://youtu.be/-Bt4Ly9_9Qg

[Massimo]

let's think of it another way.

You really like video games. except, you don't like to play them much or don't have time - solution! pay somebody else to do it for you!

or, you want an education, but that's too hard. I know! pay somebody to take your tests and go to lectures for you! (yes, it happens).

you might be a driving enthusiast. or maybe you like going to car shows, showing off the garage queen and BSing with other people. but how can you be a car enthusiast if you don't know anything about how it works or how it was built?

How "enthusiastic" can you be about any subject that is a black box that you don't understand?

How can you call someone who enjoys cars not a car enthusiast, I am sure there a plenty of people out there who love their cars but simply do not have the time to work on them.

Like myself I currently am working 10-12 hour days, plus I am also on call. My weekends are occupied with house renovation and maintenance, I get practically no time to work on my cars these days.

So am I not a car enthusiast?

[MoreMayhem]

How can you call someone who enjoys cars not a car enthusiast, I am sure there a plenty of people out there who love their cars but simply do not have the time to work on them.

Like myself I currently am working 10-12 hour days, plus I am also on call. My weekends are occupied with house renovation and maintenance, I get practically no time to work on my cars these days.

So am I not a car enthusiast?

Nope!

[Kevinl]

A true e30 enthusiast needs to work on their own car and it needs to be a manual

Just kidding

If I was loaded I would probably pay someone else to do the work. I like tinkering with cars but not really interested in doing major work although i still do.

If I could pay someone to do an engine swap I would because I don't really have the time thats why I'm still rocking the M20

My uncle owns a shop and I paid him to do subframe bushings in the e30 since I had no press and didn't want to fight it, it was worth every penny

[cwatt]

What constitutes as 'wrenching'? Is that changing the oil? What about rebuilding an engine?

What's the difference between a 'true enthusiast' and an 'enthusiast'?

[gtdragon980]

I think the problem really comes from, and it was mentioned above, car enthusiasts who claim or pretend that they do the work themselves. You can be a car enthusiast without knowing how to work on a car, but don't go around boasting that you installed this and that. You didn't do shit but open your wallet and throw money at a mechanic.

Basically, all gearheads are car enthusiasts (whether they like it or not), not all car enthusiasts are gearheads.

[TurboJake]

let's think of it another way.

You really like video games. except, you don't like to play them much or don't have time - solution! pay somebody else to do it for you!

or, you want an education, but that's too hard. I know! pay somebody to take your tests and go to lectures for you! (yes, it happens).

you might be a driving enthusiast. or maybe you like going to car shows, showing off the garage queen and BSing with other people. but how can you be a car enthusiast if you don't know anything about how it works or how it was built?

How "enthusiastic" can you be about any subject that is a black box that you don't understand?

This is a pretty poor analogy. A much better one would be

You REALLY like video games, but don't know the foggiest about how they're coded. I know! Pay other people to make them for you!

You really want an education in a specific field, but don't have the time to learn it yourself or is not your strong point. Solution! Pay teachers to teach you the most important stuff so that you can be more efficient at what's thrown at you! Or even better, pay those who did learn to do what you want done!

Both pretty logical things, and much more in line with paying a mechanic vs learning. Other than that, I know people that know makes and models of a car inside and out, having never turned a wrench. More specifically, knew a a guy named Shawn from my boy scout days. He was autistic and had cerebral palsy, but that guy knew EVERY single thing you could ever know about any Chevy vehicle. Right down to rattling off spark plug numbers, distributor cap part numbers (His favorites were the different numbers between the chevy 350, and pontiac 350, which was everything) and bolt threads on nearly every single part of any Camaro. First engine I rebuilt was with him, and that engine still kicks 14 odd years later.

I would absolutely say he was a die hard car enthusiast, having never turned a wrench in his life, and never wanting to either. He HATED being dirty in any way (As one would expect it's a little more difficult for him.) AND he can't even drive! So yes, you CAN have a true enthusiast without wrenching, which was the question that was asked.

It put a whole lot into perspective for me, and over the years realized just how high horse/soap box lecturing car enthusiasts can be.