Car to learn car mechanics on

TripleT · 6 Jul 2012 at 07:15

Partly the reason why I can't wait to get a new car so I can fiddle with this one. Never attempted it in the past as it my only mode of transport etc.

Matt82 · 6 Jul 2012 at 08:07

if its your only car then that sort of limits what you can attempt. if its your first time with a big suspension overhaul, that normally over runs days if not weeks (or months for my BMW!)

shoes · 6 Jul 2012 at 10:24

Matt82 said:
if its your only car then that sort of limits what you can attempt. if its your first time with a big suspension overhaul, that normally over runs days if not weeks (or months for my BMW!)

Really? What were you replacing? The only thing which took a while for me was taking off the rear subframe and replacing the bushes.

Can do all 4 shocks in 2-3 hours, front wishbones in 2-3 hours including polybushes, rear lower arms are an hour each at most - and those figures include jacking and removing wheels each time - if you jacked it and did the lot in one go then a day should suffice easily really.

TripleT · 6 Jul 2012 at 10:29

I was more going only the lines of, if I knacker it up, I'm screwed

Pick a car with a good owners club too. Hayes are good but the amount of knowledge forums have is mental!

shoes · 6 Jul 2012 at 11:18

TripleT said:
Hayes are good but the amount of knowledge forums have is mental!

Ignore the spanner rating too - some 3/4 spanner jobs are easy, some of the 1 spanner jobs will have you throwing tools across the garage and swearing like gordon ******* ramsay.

Matt82 · 6 Jul 2012 at 11:19

shoes said:
Really? What were you replacing? The only thing which took a while for me was taking off the rear subframe and replacing the bushes.

Can do all 4 shocks in 2-3 hours, front wishbones in 2-3 hours including polybushes, rear lower arms are an hour each at most - and those figures include jacking and removing wheels each time - if you jacked it and did the lot in one go then a day should suffice easily really.

the lot. front ball joints, front bushes, springs, dampers, top mounts

all rear bushes (incl camber arms ones and spring platform) blah blah blah

i have also done a complete cooling overhaul (water pump, fan, stat, flanges) a kitchen, back bedroom, staircase and one hallway since then too (and thats the excuse im going to rely on) and in the middle of building a garage too

so as much as id love to put more time into the BMW, i just dont have it.

shoes · 6 Jul 2012 at 11:27

I know what you mean, they can be a PITA too, as soon as you fix one thing, something else breaks on the test drive lol.

The cooling system is fragile and well worth doing - actually one thing I like about the M52 is how easy it is to get to the alternator, tensioners, water pump, fan, cooling hoses, radiator, thermostat, coil packs, spark plugs, throttle, maf and airbox. It could be a lot worse but thankfully not.

Matt82 · 6 Jul 2012 at 12:58

shoes said:
I know what you mean, they can be a PITA too, as soon as you fix one thing, something else breaks on the test drive lol.

The cooling system is fragile and well worth doing - actually one thing I like about the M52 is how easy it is to get to the alternator, tensioners, water pump, fan, cooling hoses, radiator, thermostat, coil packs, spark plugs, throttle, maf and airbox. It could be a lot worse but thankfully not.

oh no, i bought mine like this! drove it 180 miles back from shropshire without a working stat. no water temp and it was as cold as -11*C that night, i kid you not!

i bought it fully expecting an almost total restoration but didnt quite anticipate how little time id have to work on it

once all the bits underneath are done, a bilsteain B12 kit will be going on, four new arches. i have pretty wheels for it already. should be a lovely car when its done.

Clarkey · 6 Jul 2012 at 13:24

B12 kit? Knowing how you drive and like to tinker, I think you'd be barking to buy that over an HSD HR kit.

Matt82 · 6 Jul 2012 at 13:39

theres a good reason... my experience with coilovers on the mk3 golf. even really posh stuff like eibach pro street can be very hit or miss. i then fitted damping adjustable spax coilovers and it took forever to get it "right" and i wont be driving the BMW anywhere near as much

almost every set of coilovers that have been on a car ive driven have been very very heavily sprung and i dont think that makes them compatible with our roads due to the level of damping you need to control that spring

(plus im just getting old, fit and forget and lasting forever, would be really nice!)