First drive after a spot of tinkering...

[delays]

...does it always feel so good?

This morning I picked up the spanners for the first time, armed with a workshop manual, and set to work on the Boxster. Normally one to head to the local mechanic if I want something done, but today I changed the coil packs and prepped the hood mechanism to take a hardtop (winter is coming, after all).

Small jobs in the grand scheme of things, but cost me just the parts, a few grazed knuckles and a Sunday morning - a massive saving over an OPC or Indie garage. Took the car out for a spin afterwards and it feels great - probably entirely psychological, but it has given me a great feeling of satisfaction.

Just had to share - working on your own car is a great feeling!

[IntriguedUser]

Always.

I feel happy even after checking tightness of all wheels, and checking tyre pressures!

[Fartgalen]

Heh heh - had just that drive a little earlier today. Serviced my S60 and gave it new (hand)brake shoes, pads and discs. Put on my winter tyres and took it out for a test drive, bed in brakes and check pressures. Nice to have vibration free braking and a handbrake lever that doesn't need pulling to the roof.

[Baz Tench]

It's like nursing a sick animal back to good health, and it loves you even more for it...

Probably.

It is very satisfying to feel the improvements, and yes, I would say a lot of it is psychological, but it still feels good.

[Tje]

I recently did my rear discs and pads. Normally enjoy doing things myself but I'm always nervous after doing brakes.

[StuntmanMike]

See my thread in the BMW forum, mine is giving me the bk ache.