What do I need for a good start?
Discussion
Hello all,
I have currently no prior experience with working on cars.
I want to however but an old Mercedes or BMW and try to teach myself via Haynes Manual and Youtube how to work on cars, starting with fluids, filters, spark plugs, etc
My problem is that I have absolutely no equipment.
I want to buy the equipment now and do now really know what I would need to have a good start into this new hobbby.
I would be working on the car in my garage.
I have currently no prior experience with working on cars.
I want to however but an old Mercedes or BMW and try to teach myself via Haynes Manual and Youtube how to work on cars, starting with fluids, filters, spark plugs, etc
My problem is that I have absolutely no equipment.
I want to buy the equipment now and do now really know what I would need to have a good start into this new hobbby.
I would be working on the car in my garage.
a good quality trolley jack and axle stands, a combination socket set, Halfords do a decent set with 1/2 3/8 1/4 inch ratchets and sockets and a few spanners, a good breaker bar and pry bar. a decent hammer and vice grips. other odds and ends you will pick up as you need them. the list of tools that will make things easier on you is endless.
If you want to learn, rather then begin fixing broken stuff from day one, then start simply. To change the oil, you'll need something to catch the oil in.
You'll need a spanner for the sump plug (some need a spanner, some a hex key, so its worth checking). To change the oil filter, you wight want a filter wrench, and to change the plugs you'll want a plug spanner (again they come in different sizes, so check first). And some feeler gauges.
The sump plug spanner and plug spanner might prompt you to buy a socket set, and that would be a good thing, but you can usually buy dedicated tools for those two jobs. A set of screwdrivers is always worth having (flat blade and Philips, possibly Torx).
Eventually, you can work your way up to include all kinds of other stuff. There is something to be said for dropping £700 on a complete tool set, although I'd suggest buying what you need when you need it, because that way, you won't end up with stuff you never use.
There are exceptions, and the socket set is a good example. You'll eventually need several sizes (but rarely all the sizes in a decent set), so buying a complete set (with ratchets, extensions, knuckles and so on) will be better value for money that buying individual sockets as you need them.
Depending upon your access, and the car, you won't necessarily need a trolley jack or axle stand to change the oil, and you certainly won't need them to do the plugs. So you could delay purchase of those.
It does all depend on the car, your budget and how excited you get by shiny stuff.
You'll need a spanner for the sump plug (some need a spanner, some a hex key, so its worth checking). To change the oil filter, you wight want a filter wrench, and to change the plugs you'll want a plug spanner (again they come in different sizes, so check first). And some feeler gauges.
The sump plug spanner and plug spanner might prompt you to buy a socket set, and that would be a good thing, but you can usually buy dedicated tools for those two jobs. A set of screwdrivers is always worth having (flat blade and Philips, possibly Torx).
Eventually, you can work your way up to include all kinds of other stuff. There is something to be said for dropping £700 on a complete tool set, although I'd suggest buying what you need when you need it, because that way, you won't end up with stuff you never use.
There are exceptions, and the socket set is a good example. You'll eventually need several sizes (but rarely all the sizes in a decent set), so buying a complete set (with ratchets, extensions, knuckles and so on) will be better value for money that buying individual sockets as you need them.
Depending upon your access, and the car, you won't necessarily need a trolley jack or axle stand to change the oil, and you certainly won't need them to do the plugs. So you could delay purchase of those.
It does all depend on the car, your budget and how excited you get by shiny stuff.
Bdevo3 said:
a good quality trolley jack and axle stands, a combination socket set, Halfords do a decent set with 1/2 3/8 1/4 inch ratchets and sockets and a few spanners, a good breaker bar and pry bar. a decent hammer and vice grips. other odds and ends you will pick up as you need them. the list of tools that will make things easier on you is endless.
Plus one for that, and that while they can get you Imperials, Halfords sell metric spanners and sockets off the shelf - which is what you need for a Merc or BMW!Talk to Halfords staff/manager. If you want to spend some money, then set a budget and talk about a discount, or wait - Halfords have frequent discount sales. For instance: http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools?cm_re=mmwor...
If you can persuade them to give you a 'Trade Card' even better, you get a discount every time, on many items
Halfords' "Advanced" spanners and sockets are good quality, and they have a "no quibble" replacement policy for life!
John
(No connection with Halfords - just a satisfied customer)
For some reason, I gave somebody a pictorial list of what's in my 'travelling' tool kit. That's the one that goes in my classics whenever we go out.
Other than the aforementioned trolley jack, axle stands and torque wrench, this serves me for 90% of my needs, and I often use this toolkit when I'm in the garage too, as it contains what I need. Some garage-based tools are easier for certain tasks, but as I say, this covers 90% of situations.
Sockets:
Adjustable wrench, wheel brace:
Screwdriver, selection of shafts, selection of bits (flat, Philips, torx)
Spanners (ratchet ring, and OE, lube, magnetic lamp:
Pliers, knife, glue, tyre pressure gauge:
Electrical stuff:
Zip ties, vinyl gloves, paper, pen, knife blades, roll of velcro, roll of insulating tape:
And because I have different sized front and rear tyres:
Other than the aforementioned trolley jack, axle stands and torque wrench, this serves me for 90% of my needs, and I often use this toolkit when I'm in the garage too, as it contains what I need. Some garage-based tools are easier for certain tasks, but as I say, this covers 90% of situations.
Sockets:
Adjustable wrench, wheel brace:
Screwdriver, selection of shafts, selection of bits (flat, Philips, torx)
Spanners (ratchet ring, and OE, lube, magnetic lamp:
Pliers, knife, glue, tyre pressure gauge:
Electrical stuff:
Zip ties, vinyl gloves, paper, pen, knife blades, roll of velcro, roll of insulating tape:
And because I have different sized front and rear tyres:
If you own an Alfa Romeo GT Selespeed I would have thought you would be an expert on how to fix cars 
If this is just for a hobby then I would suggest start with a high quality/professional 200-250 piece socket set with other basic tools which Doofus suggested.
Then as you do different jobs buy the additional tools required - so you do not spend lots of money on tools you may never use.
These are good suggestions; https://tinyurl.com/ycvkanvw - I have all of those except for an impact wrench, drip pan & desiccant.
The only thing which I would love is a car lift - would make doing home mechanics so much more fun
EDIT: I forgot to say avoid cheap Chinese tools - pay the extra or double the amount, but you will get a tool which works properly and will last you a long time!
If this is just for a hobby then I would suggest start with a high quality/professional 200-250 piece socket set with other basic tools which Doofus suggested.
Then as you do different jobs buy the additional tools required - so you do not spend lots of money on tools you may never use.
These are good suggestions; https://tinyurl.com/ycvkanvw - I have all of those except for an impact wrench, drip pan & desiccant.
The only thing which I would love is a car lift - would make doing home mechanics so much more fun
EDIT: I forgot to say avoid cheap Chinese tools - pay the extra or double the amount, but you will get a tool which works properly and will last you a long time!
Edited by markie76 on Monday 19th June 16:22
markie76 said:
If this is just for a hobby then I would suggest start with a high quality/professional 200-250 piece socket set
At the risk of derailing this thread, what exactly is in your 250 piece socket set?I use sockets from 8 to 19mm, and a similar number of imperial, a ratchet, two extensions, a spark plug spanner and a sump plug spanner, a couple of drive adaptes and, very rarely, a knuckle. That's barely 30 pieces.
I do have complete socket sets, in 1/2", 3/8" and, I think 3/4" drive, but with a drive adapter, I don't use them. I do have sockets from 6mm to 13mm which fit a ratchet screwdriver, so that's another 9 pieces, but I'm really strugling to see what I'd find in a 200 piece set, unless it includes truck sockets.
By the time you put a 75 piece screwdriver bit set, 20 piece screwdriver set, 50 piece (AF/Metric) socket set, 30 piece (AF/Metric) allen key set, 20 piece (AF/Metric)spanner set there isn't much left to pad it out to 250.
I dread to think how many I have in my tool chest but I have 19 drawers & a tool box with 2 drawers & top all crammed full with other larger tools elsewhere.
Must have around 100 spanners alone.
I dread to think how many I have in my tool chest but I have 19 drawers & a tool box with 2 drawers & top all crammed full with other larger tools elsewhere.
Must have around 100 spanners alone.
Doofus said:
At the risk of derailing this thread, what exactly is in your 250 piece socket set?
I use sockets from 8 to 19mm, and a similar number of imperial, a ratchet, two extensions, a spark plug spanner and a sump plug spanner, a couple of drive adaptes and, very rarely, a knuckle. That's barely 30 pieces.
I do have complete socket sets, in 1/2", 3/8" and, I think 3/4" drive, but with a drive adapter, I don't use them. I do have sockets from 6mm to 13mm which fit a ratchet screwdriver, so that's another 9 pieces, but I'm really strugling to see what I'd find in a 200 piece set, unless it includes truck sockets.
About 187 pieces I have never used but it makes you look professional when people walk past the garage I use sockets from 8 to 19mm, and a similar number of imperial, a ratchet, two extensions, a spark plug spanner and a sump plug spanner, a couple of drive adaptes and, very rarely, a knuckle. That's barely 30 pieces.
I do have complete socket sets, in 1/2", 3/8" and, I think 3/4" drive, but with a drive adapter, I don't use them. I do have sockets from 6mm to 13mm which fit a ratchet screwdriver, so that's another 9 pieces, but I'm really strugling to see what I'd find in a 200 piece set, unless it includes truck sockets.
I have the halfords pro one; https://tinyurl.com/ybz65t5l - only ever buy these new when on offer and keep the receipt. If you see a secondhand set use the offer price as a haggling tool.
To be honest I have never counted all the bits but expect the big box, little bit box and allen key holder count as a 'piece'.
But depending on which car you're working on, it might not have all the sizes you need for all jobs or for cumbersome jobs where you need two of the same size to get something done.
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff