So is working on your own cars a dying art

[B'stard Child]

I thought about a poll but I'd probably never cover all the options :-)

No
Probably
Maybe
Hell Yes

ETA

Oh Sod it - Poll it is - Looking forward to the number of posts that discuss the lack of options in the poll rather than the subject being discussed

Poll Subject

Anyway I won't link to the thread on another forum I use but a member posted up a request for someone to fit new slightly lowering springs to his car and offered £120 for fitting

I replied saying for that money you could buy a jack, pair of axle stands, spring compressors and a small socket set and DIY with a little instruction and I linked to a thread I'd done on a similar car fitting coil overs as a way of saying it's not hard or complicated and if you invest in a few tools they will be there for you when you want to tackle other jobs.

The response was polite but along the lines of I don't ever intend to work on my own cars.

Now I know it's often said that cars are becoming harder to work on with so much black boxes involved but I refuse to allow that to beat me and there are ways of getting the "technology" so that shouldn't stop others but this was a really basic nut and bolt job.

Got me into thinking that maybe the UK's throwaway culture and obsession with keeping up with the latest reg numbers probably means few people are even attempting maintaing their own cars.

In advance

0/10 for a rant BTW (wasn't intended as a rant just interested in what other people think)

[cheesesliceking]

I like turtles.

[Super Slo Mo]

I tend to put my car into the garage for routine servicing, just because of time reasons, but I've done it myself on more than a few occasions. The latest car has had a new intercooler, a service, and new rear dampers all fitted by me, but then, I've got a garage full of tools, and quite enjoy it. Did a cambelt change and replaced several suspension arms on my previous motor, and did a light rebuild of a Discovery a few years back.

However, I'm probably the only one amongst my peer group who does their own maintenance.

[JAHetfield]

Been to a garage 3 times. Once the front wheels fell off and once I got the car back with the steering wheel upside down.

Wouldn't let anyone near any of my cars now. You can do anything yourself if you have the right tools and put your mind to it.

[B'stard Child]

cheesesliceking said:

I like turtles.

And Cheese it seems

[kambites]

I do everything I can, but things like regassing air conditioning are beyond me.

[Codswallop]

I think it is a dying art because cars are generally so reliable these days that most people don't bother to learn even the basics of car maintenance as it's not necessary day to day. Then again, I think most people are also getting lazy and couldn't DIY either.

I'm working on my car more than before, mainly because I now have;

a) a garage
b) more access to tools

[Contigo]

It all depends what you own. I can't see many people working on a brand new Porsche or BMW M5 now for that matter without voiding a warranty etc and these cars need inspection services otherwise it invalidates warranties. It should "Is working on your old car a dying art?"

[crofty1984]

I went for only DIYing a little. Mainly because I have nowhere to work on my car, and as I don't have another method of getting to work I have to have my daily running, so I only really do servicing on it myself. I don't have an option of not getting a job finished by the weekend.

However I have done a load of work getting my boat up to scratch, another in the pipeline and I'm about to try to bring an old Lotus back from having one foot in the grave. So I guess that counts.

[Baryonyx]

For newer cars, yes I would say that it is a dying art, at least on newer cars.

[B'stard Child]

kambites said:

I do everything I can, but things like regassing air conditioning are beyond me.

I'm a bit lucky on that front a group of localy pool skills and tools - we have a fair range of tasks covered





Pic taken on a mates driveway

And NO we didn't dump the old gas to the enviroment unfortunately the BMW safety system did that for me when the pusher fan decided it wasn't going to push

[v8will]

Super Slo Mo said:

I tend to put my car into the garage for routine servicing, just because of time reasons, but I've done it myself on more than a few occasions. The latest car has had a new intercooler, a service, and new rear dampers all fitted by me, but then, I've got a garage full of tools, and quite enjoy it. Did a cambelt change and replaced several suspension arms on my previous motor, and did a light rebuild of a Discovery a few years back.

However, I'm probably the only one amongst my peer group who does their own maintenance.

Similar situation for myself.

[aka_kerrly]

I love working on cars but would never dream of being a full time mechanic.

It is reassuring that the poll seems to suggest that there are still plenty of PH who are prepared to get stuck in and have a crack. Threads like the current one regarding the 6n Polo have me worrying that too many members have a strangely negative attitude toward people fabricating custom cars for the simple reason that they enjoy working on cars and have the required skills.

[davepoth]

I send my cars in for servicing mainly because my driveway is too steep to change oil and I like stamps in my book, but I'll quite happily do other stuff at home. Example was an idle control valve on my fiesta - garage quoted £100 to do the job, a pattern part off ebay was £22 and it was two bolts and a wiring plug, perched on the top of the rocker cover, to remove the old one. It took about ten minutes.

[0000]

I'll do oil and filters, spark plugs, brakes, which is generally all it needs. Anything else I don't mind paying a garage to do.

[iva cosworth]

I do quite a bit of my own repairs.

Last year i replaced most of the transmission,some of it twice

But recently i got a specialist to replace the cambelt and a front wheel bearing.

[MG CHRIS]

I do everything on my car actually in the process of building a kit have the tools, garage etc but im a mechanic by trade so that does help. But i can see why a lot of people don't work on cars, with new cars trying to even remove a front light on some cars renault the worst requires either removing the bumper or removing the wheel and accessing a panel in the wheel arch it is a ball ache on some cars.
But its good for me means more jobs more money.

[BrewsterBear]

I do a lot of my own repairs and maintenance, but like to maintain a full service record on my cars so take it to a specialist to get a stamp when required. Things like brakes, suspension, clutches are all within grasp. I've dropped a 911 engine twice to sort leaks, but never rebuilt one, however, I wouldn't be averse to doing one if it needed it. I wouldn't attempt a gearbox rebuild, but would gladly remove it from the car to send away.

[Eighteeteewhy]

I do most of my own DIY.

However I do take my M3 to the garage just to keep the stamps in the book.

[sturobturbo]

I do everything myself, bar the Renault sport which is a year old so had to give it to Renault to service it for warranty purposes.
Selling that now, to get a 25+ year old car instead... Lol.
If that dude brought the car to me, I'd have done the springs for that price.