Car for learning simple DIY skills
Discussion
Looking for suggestions for a 'first DIY shed' where I can learn some basic mechanics skills. Currently I can check tyre pressure, top up oil and fill the washer bottle.....keen to progress these skills with a <£1000 shed that allows for such skills to be (more) easily learned, without running into unnecessary hurdles to overcome. RSVP.
Edited by k6chris on Thursday 6th December 12:39
E46 BMWs are also good. Plenty of room in the engine bay, especially the 4 cylinder models.
One of the biggest plus points for doing any DIY on a BMW is the community support. bimmerfest and bimmerforums are great forums with lots of guides and helpful members.
I do work on other family cars and there's far less help out there for the likes of Mercedes and VAG group cars.
One of the biggest plus points for doing any DIY on a BMW is the community support. bimmerfest and bimmerforums are great forums with lots of guides and helpful members.
I do work on other family cars and there's far less help out there for the likes of Mercedes and VAG group cars.
k6chris said:
Thanks for input on suitable cars so far. The good news is the house we moved to recently has a garage with a pit in it. What basic tools do I need? I'm guessing a good spanner / socket set, axle jacks and a hydraulic jack of some description. What else? Recommendations??
Torque wrenchBreaker bar
plenty of WD40 or other penetrating spray
pick up tool of some sort ( dropped nuts always find a good hiding spot )
Halfords Proffesional range are good for the price ( lifetime Guarantee )
Plenty of plasters.
k6chris said:
Thanks for input on suitable cars so far. The good news is the house we moved to recently has a garage with a pit in it. What basic tools do I need? I'm guessing a good spanner / socket set, axle jacks and a hydraulic jack of some description. What else? Recommendations??
I'd also look at cars which have a Haynes manual available for them as it's a handy reference. Tools...thinking that if it's a practice car then a lot of stuff will be rusty and seized then:
- I prefer 6 point sockets as opposed to twelve
- A torque wrench is also handy but mind to slacken off to zero when not in use
- One of those extendable magnet things for picking up nuts and bolts dropped into the depths of the engine bay
- Magnetic dish is handy for nuts, bolts and screws when working underneath
- What can be very handy is a twister ratchet socket wrench
- Small Angle Grinder (handy for drop links but also good for other seized/rusted suspension components)
- Multimeter (always handy)
- And of course a couple of decent work lights or LED torches, ideally with magnetic bits on them
Perhaps even:
- Decent impact wrench with a set of impact sockets or....
- Possibly even worth looking at a blow torch for seized stuff, I'd recommend Rothenburger and forget Butane and go for MAPP.
Also for servicing could be worth looking at a few things like:
- One man brake bleeding kit (cheap as chips)
- Coolant tester
- Big Syringe (handy for filling transmission fluids, rear diffs etc)
- Oil filter removal tool (chain is a pain, I'd go for the three prong gripper or if willing to spend more the cup set both of which you can torque correctly)
Good mole grips and a big f
k off hammer.
In all seriousness. Rusted fasteners which round or shear as soon as you look at them is probably one of the biggest problems when working on older cars. I've found a blow torch, cans of plus gas and good 6 point sockets are essential. The Halfords professional tools are great and they often have bits on sale so add to your kit when you can.
For the reason above (rusty nuts) I'd personally avoid an MX5 to learn on. For 1 thing they don't break much so you'd be taking things apart just because. Secondly, they are terrible for rust. Not just the body panels. All the nuts and bolts start rusting as soon as they leave the factory. I've had 5 of them and they've all been an absolute pain in the arse to work on for this reason.
I'd personally go for something common so parts were cheap and easy to get. The newer the better as well.
k off hammer.In all seriousness. Rusted fasteners which round or shear as soon as you look at them is probably one of the biggest problems when working on older cars. I've found a blow torch, cans of plus gas and good 6 point sockets are essential. The Halfords professional tools are great and they often have bits on sale so add to your kit when you can.
For the reason above (rusty nuts) I'd personally avoid an MX5 to learn on. For 1 thing they don't break much so you'd be taking things apart just because. Secondly, they are terrible for rust. Not just the body panels. All the nuts and bolts start rusting as soon as they leave the factory. I've had 5 of them and they've all been an absolute pain in the arse to work on for this reason.
I'd personally go for something common so parts were cheap and easy to get. The newer the better as well.
in my experience, German cars are very easy to work on. Apart from anything with the VAG TDI. They have a stupid design where the Turbo and oil filter is at the rear of the engine making even simple jobs like an oil change needlessly difficult.
The simplest car I have ever worked on was a Suzuky Jimny. So much space all round the engine, you don't even need a jack for half the work.
The simplest car I have ever worked on was a Suzuky Jimny. So much space all round the engine, you don't even need a jack for half the work.
DaveTheRave87 said:
Krikkit said:
Peugeot 106 is ideal - find a non-rusty one and tinker away. Very simple to fix.
Either this, or an MX5.very easy to work on, loads of parts around and lots of builds threads, comments and videos of the vast majority of what you can do to them are out there.
Interesting thread. I'm looking for a car to learn on too. I have a drive that has a thin layer of gravel on, so will need to invest in some good wood panels too to rest myself and the axle stands on.
I have bits of tools that I use for working on my bicycles. Will need to invest in a bigger torque wrench though and some heating products.
I have bits of tools that I use for working on my bicycles. Will need to invest in a bigger torque wrench though and some heating products.
nunpuncher said:
The Halfords professional tools are great and they often have bits on sale so add to your kit when you can.
This sort of thing? ("Advanced" rather than "professional"??)https://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/sock...
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