Car / motorbike to work on

[junglie]

Good morning,

I am looking for a car to work on to develop my basic DIY skills!

Currently working away from home during the week and have access to full garage facilities (ramp, tools, compressor etc) and thought it might be fun to do up a car.

Looking to do ‘oily’ bits rather than bodywork.

I know that searching online for something is the obvious answer but thought I would ask on PH incase someone is looking to get rid of something.

Cheaper the better, 5+ cylinders and petrol.

[RazerSauber]

You're pretty much in 3 series BMW territory there. They're cheap for a rough one but if you get a popular one that's a bit tatty and tart it up, you should be able to sell on for a profit or at least break even. 3 series parts are typically cheap and plentiful. Not the most exciting car in the world but it'll give you good experience on brakes, suspension, basic engine work, cooling systems, all sorts.

I noticed you put Motorbike in the title of the thread too, they're usually easier to work on due to access being pretty great both sides. I did my first ever engine swap on a 125 motorbike without instructions, they are that easy. Not all the skills line up with car work but some do and bikes are getting cheaper towards winter time so you might find a bargain.

[junglie]

Was thinking an E36 / 46 as I already own an E46 330ci but it does not need anything doing to it (fingers crossed!).

Trying to find something that would be fun to work on but people are still asking silly money for stuff.

[ZX10R NIN]

Iconic B1H ZX6R:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394282885455?hash=item5...

R1:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165724708024?hash=item2...

GSX-R 750:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175452271325?hash=item2...

SRAD:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225184463519?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255742483070?hash=item3...

These bikes will need fettling but they're easy to work on & spares are sensible.

[PositronicRay]

ZX10R NIN said:

Iconic B1H ZX6R:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394282885455?hash=item5...

R1:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165724708024?hash=item2...

GSX-R 750:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175452271325?hash=item2...

SRAD:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225184463519?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255742483070?hash=item3...

These bikes will need fettling but they're easy to work on & spares are sensible.

If you don't like bodywork I'd go for the bike option too.

[TheInternet]

junglie said:

I already own an E46 330ci but it does not need anything doing to it (fingers crossed!).

Are you sure? I'd be surprised if there wasn't a decent list of things you could do to refresh it at this age, even if non-essential. How many miles on it?

[junglie]

TheInternet said:

junglie said:

I already own an E46 330ci but it does not need anything doing to it (fingers crossed!).

Are you sure? I'd be surprised if there wasn't a decent list of things you could do to refresh it at this age, even if non-essential. How many miles on it?

81,000 miles on it.

Drives really well and no rust. I could do the cooling system refresh (preventative) and suspension bushes but it does feel really good at present. Did the DISA upgrade recently.

[Mr Tidy]

junglie said:

TheInternet said:

junglie said:

I already own an E46 330ci but it does not need anything doing to it (fingers crossed!).

Are you sure? I'd be surprised if there wasn't a decent list of things you could do to refresh it at this age, even if non-essential. How many miles on it?

81,000 miles on it.

Drives really well and no rust. I could do the cooling system refresh (preventative) and suspension bushes but it does feel really good at present. Did the DISA upgrade recently.

I bought a 2002 E46 325ti Compact in 2014 just short of 80K miles. By the time it got to 82K it had a leaking bowed radiator so it got a cooling system refresh so if nothing else it might be worth looking at the bottom of the radiator!