Do you do your own maintenance?

Poll Poll Do your own maintenance?

  • 1. I do nothing! My baby gets treated only by professionals.

    Votes: 12 31.6%

  • 2. I do the oil changes, but that's it. To the shop for everything else.

    Votes: 3 7.9%

  • 3. I can fix the small stuff, but anything above oil changes and brakes, and off to the shop I go.

    Votes: 9 23.7%

  • 4. I do some stuff, just nothing too major - gaskets, suspension, clutch, tuneup, water pump... any

    Votes: 11 28.9%

  • 5. If my baby needs the work, I do it. You name it I can do it!

    Votes: 3 7.9%
  • Total voters
    38
H

halcyon

Member
 Flori-duh
Just a thought. I am curious if Z4 owners like to get their hands dirty, or prefer the professionals to have at it. Of course many of our cars are still under warranty, but I'm talking about in general, not just on the Z4.
 
I pretty much do everything on all my cars from rebuilds, repairs, mods, etc. I'm a true motor enthusiast and just love messin' even though I can could afford to simply take them to the garage. I do entrust it to my local garage for basic servicing as they have some special equipment and frankly they charge abou thte same as I can buy materials for...
 
I'm the opposite - completely useless with the car. Happy to play around a little with the non-mechanical parts.
 
I feel I could do anything required if it doesn’t require a special tool. But my time is worth more to me in many cases, so many times I would rather pay someone else to do the work. :)
 
I'll change the oil, replace brake pads, rotors, filters, and other stuff like that. If I'm upgrading I can handle most of the installs except for tapping oil pans and other turbo install related items. If it's electrical I won't mess with it at all.
 
I really want to learn to change pads and do the oil because I'm hopefully keeping this coupe a long time. Most I've done so far is change the wheels and torque them up and fiddle with the sound generator.
 
Oil changes, anything to do with wheels and tires, brake pads, and brake fluids. All things drivetrain are grounds for heading to a shop.
 
I have learned after having owned numerous BMW's and working a few shops, that our cars (BMW's that is, I don't know about the Z4 yet) are quite easy to work on. Everything is laid out logically and is well designed.

For instance on a mid to late 90's Pontiac Grand Am you have to remove a wishbone engine mount and partially support the engine in order to change the serpentine belt. That is poor design. If I remember correctly, flat rate quoted 3 hours to do that that belt change. You can change a belt on most BMW's in about 20 minutes - especially the modern ones.

Another example: Chevy Cavalier (I may be wrong on the model - its been a few years) windshield wiper motor. Its mounted under and inside the passenger side front fender. If it goes out (and it will eventually - its American) you have to remove the fender. That's insane.

I am not saying everything on our cars is easy, but overall they are quite easy to work on. I appreciate that. Its one of the many things that has kept me coming back to the model. I know no one cars, but I wanted to reminisce about the old times.
 
I have too many other things to do with my time (work full time and run my own business on the side) so it's in the shop for me.

Cheers, Al
 
I am looking for which gear fliud and diff fluid to use. DOes anyone know the factory fluids and which aftermarket fluids to get?
 
Sephanite said:
I am looking for which gear fliud and diff fluid to use. DOes anyone know the factory fluids and which aftermarket fluids to get?
Click to expand...

I personally would only use 100% synthetic.

I do not like the BMW fluids.
I use Royal Purple in the diff, tranny and engine.
 
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