Anyone bought a cheap runaround to learn spannering on?

[hotchy]

Faust66 said:

I'll be interested to read how you get on.

Tip: us tall chaps tend to have manly sized hands… which is fine until you drop a tiny washer or bolt into an inaccessible recess in the depths of your engine bay (it's almost like they do it on purpose). Get a magnetic pick up tool - they start from a couple of quid and believe me, it's money very well spent!

Iv never even thought about that, thanks. im off to order one to try get that lost, brand new lightbulb back out a tiny we space that a small child couldnt get his finger in, let alone my gigantic hands.

[geeks]

Crosswise said:

I'd suggest something without an ECU so you don't have to buy too many tools, it's not just the electronics, cars of that age start to require a lot more specialist tools in general.

Bullst! Sorry but thats complete tosh.. I can't think of one "specialist" tool I have needed for a car with an ECU of that age with the exception of the odd sump plug tool..

[kambites]

I find modern OBD equipped cars far easier to maintain than older cars. One £5 dongle to read fault codes and half your diagnostics are done for you.

[Collectingbrass]

PomBstard said:

I've just been thinking the same. Used to do all my own spannering, making great use of a friends mechanic business for guidance and tools, but haven't really done much since moving over here. Have still got an itch to do it as a hobby - buy a car with the intention of doing everything on it, whatever it needs. My only stipulations are that its got to be a bit of fun to drive, and be a 2+2 as a minimum.

I'm thinking 6-cyl 3-series - E30 or E36. I know the 4 pots will give a bit more room under the bonnet, but I would want a 6. Perhaps an E34 or E30 5-series. Would like a 944S2 but I think that might be a bit of a stretch or perhaps leave me wanting someone else to fettle it properly! Whilst a Saab 900T16S would tick lots of boxes, I've worked on one of those in the past - gearbox problem. Never again - proper PITA. 306 GTI6?

Any other suggestions out there?

Good 6 pot E36's are rare as many are converted to track & drift cars, for those very reasons. There are plenty of poor ones now, because they have been adulterated as track & drift cars...

I would suggest an E39 as an alternative, they haven't been so abused and you will fit better. like the E36 there is plenty of knowledge out there and they are relatively simple for what you get

geeks said:

Crosswise said:

I'd suggest something without an ECU so you don't have to buy too many tools, it's not just the electronics, cars of that age start to require a lot more specialist tools in general.

Bullst! Sorry but thats complete tosh.. I can't think of one "specialist" tool I have needed for a car with an ECU of that age with the exception of the odd sump plug tool..

Well for a start you need a fan clutch spanner for an E39. Depends what you mean by specialist I suppose.
Again I give you the E39

[jamieduff1981]

As a fairly handy spannerer, I'd encourage you to buy something you're actually enthusiastic about.

Just buying "any old st" to learn on is not good psychologically. They tend to come apart and never go back together. Having something you're looking forward to fixing and driving again is a massive motivational boost.

[Goldmember1]

I did the same last year. Bought a '98 Volvo V70 2.5T. Good cars to learn on , plenty spares suppliers , new and used , and specialist user forums with people breaking cars . Plus as Kambites said if you buy one post 98 its OBD2 compliant so very handy to diagnose .. especially when you break down at Stafford Services on the M6 having just bought the damn car!
My mate has done a bit more spannering than me so he showed me how to do oil and filter, gearbox oil , brake and suspension changes on my driveway , with basic tools and it is very satisfying.

[PomBstard]

jamieduff1981 said:

As a fairly handy spannerer, I'd encourage you to buy something you're actually enthusiastic about.

Just buying "any old st" to learn on is not good psychologically. They tend to come apart and never go back together. Having something you're looking forward to fixing and driving again is a massive motivational boost.

Very true - having been forced to do crap jobs on lots of piles of crap in the past because (a) it was transport and (b) I couldn't afford to pay someone to do it means I want something that I'm going to like, not just need.

To the response above re 6-cyl BMWs, I meant E28 5-series - E39s with manual gearboxes are like rocking horse poo out here. Other than 540s and M5s - which misses the point of something simple to learn/relearn spannering I've driven a few E36 coupes and, at 6'2", I fit in fine with room behind for the kids.

[geeks]

Collectingbrass said:

Well for a start you need a fan clutch spanner for an E39. Depends what you mean by specialist I suppose.
Again I give you the E39

You can diy a tool for that with 5 minutes of googling IF you need to remove it. Also a viscous fan is far from being an ECU engine specific part, in fact almost completely the opposite!

I stand by my remark, bullst!

[crofty1984]

Halfords do a good basic toolkit in a little suitcase. It's usually £150 but is normally on offer for £100. Especially around Christmas/Father's day!

I think it's a very good set for someone just starting out. Mine's done me proud over the last 7 years!

[Rickyy]

Sort of!

Most of my cars have been sheds that needed spannering, so I learnt as I went along.

But I did buy a £400 Ka for my brother with a bit of MOT left, that it failed miserably on!

I rebuilt the front suspension, have it a service and a few other things. The parts were dirt cheap, IIRC it cost me less than £50 for two springs, top mounts and anti roll bar link arms. It transformed the way it drive and passed the MOT and the one the year after with ease.

[Willeh85]

crofty1984 said:

Halfords do a good basic toolkit in a little suitcase. It's usually £150 but is normally on offer for £100. Especially around Christmas/Father's day!

I think it's a very good set for someone just starting out. Mine's done me proud over the last 7 years!

tadaaa, http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/...

earlier this year I managed to get the 200piece one for £125 based on an extra 10% off during a certain time period (12-2pm) for all online purchases and cashback.

[Sump]

Learnt it all on my main cars :eeK:

[Crosswise]

geeks said:

Crosswise said:

I'd suggest something without an ECU so you don't have to buy too many tools, it's not just the electronics, cars of that age start to require a lot more specialist tools in general.

Bullst! Sorry but thats complete tosh.. I can't think of one "specialist" tool I have needed for a car with an ECU of that age with the exception of the odd sump plug tool..

Wow, that's a particularly strong view you have on the matter. I can't say you've changed my opinion though. Having worked on cars for a living and still being involved with vehicles on a daily basis, I definitely stand by my statement. I can think of numerous tools I've needed from front shock top mount sockets to crank locking tools to head bolt sockets which have the form of a torx bit but with a special angle or tamper proof fasteners. If you've ever worked on a Mercedes and done anything to the canbus system you need very expensive diagnostic software before you can reset it, a £10 OBD II code reader will do nothing for you and that's not an isolated example. Even some alternators have a special socket to remove the pulley which from memory cost the garage I worked for over £100. And try rebuilding a modern autobox without needing at least one specialist tool.

Having worked on many classic cars, this just isn't such an issue, even where there is a requirement for something you can usually make it cheaply and easily. The things you need might be different, but it's a lot cheaper to buy a timing light than buying a diagnostic tool with all the licences.

[Sump]

Crosswise said:

geeks said:

Crosswise said:

I'd suggest something without an ECU so you don't have to buy too many tools, it's not just the electronics, cars of that age start to require a lot more specialist tools in general.

Bullst! Sorry but thats complete tosh.. I can't think of one "specialist" tool I have needed for a car with an ECU of that age with the exception of the odd sump plug tool..

Wow, that's a particularly strong view you have on the matter. I can't say you've changed my opinion though. Having worked on cars for a living and still being involved with vehicles on a daily basis, I definitely stand by my statement. I can think of numerous tools I've needed from front shock top mount sockets to crank locking tools to head bolt sockets which have the form of a torx bit but with a special angle or tamper proof fasteners. If you've ever worked on a Mercedes and done anything to the canbus system you need very expensive diagnostic software before you can reset it, a £10 OBD II code reader will do nothing for you and that's not an isolated example. Even some alternators have a special socket to remove the pulley which from memory cost the garage I worked for over £100. And try rebuilding a modern autobox without needing at least one specialist tool.

Having worked on many classic cars, this just isn't such an issue, even where there is a requirement for something you can usually make it cheaply and easily. The things you need might be different, but it's a lot cheaper to buy a timing light than buying a diagnostic tool with all the licences.

Your first post was hilarious.

[QuattroDave]

The car I bought to introduce myself into the world of spannering was a 1987 Audi UR Quattro. Somewhat of an unusual/brave choice but I did successfully refit the interior, remove/replace turbo and intercooler and rebuild the engine top end and ancilliaries. Even worked after I did it all too!

Wouldn't have been brave enough though if it wasn't for the help of the guys at classic audi.

Since then I've fettled with gearbox linkages on an Alfa 147, an Octavia vRS and most recently been brave enough to strip a large portion of the front of a BMW 530d down so I could replace the main termostat.

Although the Quattro has moved onto more specialist hands now I'm glad I did it (despite massive dispair many times) as it's conquered my fear of oil bits!

[Wizardskills]

I did this a couple of years back. It was one of the best things I have done. My exploits can be found here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...

[996TT02]

jamieduff1981 said:

As a fairly handy spannerer, I'd encourage you to buy something you're actually enthusiastic about.

I was going to say just that.

I could not really get stuck into something that I could not care less about.

To the OP, buy something that you are interested in, run it, and fix it up as you go along. Or modify/ track-ise/ whatever. As long as it's not your only set of wheels, which in any case a "practice" shed was not going to be anyway, if your fixes take longer than anticipated then it's no sweat.

Re the previously suggested MX5, they are not difficult to work on, straightforward, spacious engine bay (an absolute luxury nowadays), and the aftermarket for upgrades is huge so you can turn it into what you want it to be and have something you actually enjoy driving.

Edited by 996TT02 on Friday 31st July 14:59

[patmahe]

Whatever you get I'd say make sure you can get a Haynes or similar manual for it. You'll learn a lot by simply doing a service or brakes etc... I did this when skint a few years back, but as I had to rely on the car for daily transport I went for reliability with a 98 Corolla. I'd say if I didn't do a thing to it it would have still stayed going but I learned a lot from it and have been able to apply it to other cars, it also made me more confident when tackling jobs I'd never done before.

[Captain Muppet]

Cars I've bought as projects never get on the road. Cars I need for transport I have to fix.

[Limpet]

Captain Muppet said:

Cars I've bought as projects never get on the road. Cars I need for transport I have to fix.

This

Nothing focuses the mind like needing the car you have in bits on a Sunday afternoon, to get to work on Monday morning.

Edited by Limpet on Friday 31st July 18:20