Halfords Advanced Pro tools

Ant84

Ant84

Ant84

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Joined
20 Feb 2007
Posts
1,094
I've seen a lot about these lately and I really want to start getting my hands dirty and tinkering with the car myself rather than paying extortionate labour charges.

I'm torn between the 150pc and the 170pc sets as I don't really know how useful the 20 additional pieces are that come with the 170pc kit. Anyone know the difference between the two and whether it's worth paying the extra cash for the bigger kit?
 
My advice for tools is to buy once and buy good quality, so I think you will be fine as either are decent tool kits.

I bet the extra 20 pieces will just be bits that you will not miss, but I have nothing to base that on.
 
I went for the 120 piece a while ago, wish I'd gone for the 150 though. Doubt you would notice the extra in the 170?
 
It would help if you posted the links... :p

Halfords Advanced Professional 170 £124.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_862463_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

Halfords Advanced Professional 150 £99.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_862421_langId_-1_categoryId_255215


They are probably good value, but I doubt you'd use a tenth of the sockets in there. The plus is that they are all in one box which is probably the best reason to buy the 170 one.


I could get away with this £19.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_525109_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

Some Torx bits and a diamond bit screw set. That will get you through every oil refill, bulb swap, spark plug and brake disc change.

My £14 Chinese socket set has lasted 30 years so far without a problem, but if I had the money I'd get the posh one just for the sake of it. Lugging around a crate of old assorted spanners gets old after a while.
 
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I bought the bigger set about 5 years ago when I was an apprentice, and I bought them second hand. I'm now a full-time mechanic and I've only broken 2 torx bits in 5 years. Only other complaint is the ratchets are feeling a bit 'loose' now but they will eventually get replaced with higher quality ones.

I'm going to buy another set to use at home, they really are brilliant for the money. I still use mine every day and they get plenty of abuse.
 
My only concern is whether either set would be overkill for a total novice? I guess it doesn't hurt to have too many tools at your disposal, but I was wondering whether any of the smaller sets would be much more suitable.

Having said that, I want to do an oil change on my E39 and that requires a 36mm socket, which isn't included in any Halfords set by the looks of it. Typical!
 
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Ant84 said:
My only concern is whether either set would be overkill for a total novice?
Click to expand...
Must car manufacturers took a lead from the 2CV which only needed one 10mm? spanner. So yes they are overkill in a sense, only a few sizes are needed for 99% of the basic maintenance jobs.

I once needed to borrow a deep socket for a spark plug, but I think that's the only odd bit I was missing. Apart from that it's the one purpose tools like an oil filter wrench or cir-clip pliers that I've had to get.

If money is a consideration, get the basic 18 set and use the savings to pick up all the other stuff as needed. An additional cheap spanner set is handy for holding the other side of the bolt, but that's the only time you'll need an extra spanner.

Ironically if you want to service a modern bicycle you'd be looking at hundreds of quid for all the blinking tools they require :mad:
 
I bought a 3/8" draper set years ago and they've been brilliant. Some jobs I've wished I'd got a 1/2" set (don't even think about that crank bolt!). What recently shafted me was bolts for the propshaft mount needed a deep socket, or a nightmare with an open-ended spanner.

Nothing worse than not having the right tool. Straining under a car I'd pay double for a socket I needed!
 
The 150pc set is brilliant. Add a torque wrench and some swan neck spanners and your set for everything a novice mechanic might run into. I did exactly what you did, bought a set to start tinkering and have done quite a bit with it. They are really good quality for the price.
 
Another vote for the 150 pc set. I've had mine years, definately a good set to start with and add to, as and when needed.
 
I've got the 150 and it's great. If the 170 set was around for that price back then I'd have gotten that, as I think the extra is well worth it to get more ratchet ring spanners, more 6-point impact sockets and the drive adaptors - all useful stuff.

I wouldn't agree to get a really basic set and add to it later. When you consider adding really useful stuff like extensions (essential), UJs (damn useful), 6pt impact sockets (also damn useful), ratchet ring spanners (absolute god send in those ridiculous places where you can only move a spanner about 2 degrees then, without ratchet, would have to remove it, turn it, put it back on - aarrghhh!!), Torx and E-torx (all over the last two cars I have worked on), deep sockets (pretty close to essential), etc etc, then you'll have spent much more and have loads of individual boxes (or loose tools). These big Halfords Advanced sets are fantastic value so get one if you can afford it. All I'd add socket wise to the 170 set is a nice 2' 1/2 drive breaker bar.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Just arrived home with the 150pc set which I got for £85.

Really happy with it and it feels like quality equipment. Hopefully I'll get my money's worth out of it.
 
An absolute steal for £85. I've had my 150 set for 5-6 years now, and its been brilliant, infact over the years i have collected almost the whole halfords pro range :p
 
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