[VibeBmw]

I see a lot of people on here work on their car themselves. Do you do it to save money or because it’s not hard to do the maintenance on a BMW?

[Shirazkhan]

I do it myself because i have peace of mind that its done properly without any shortcuts.
Bear in mind something easy for me wont be easy for the next person,so for example if u decided to do a brake job and u had no clue at what u doing,u will then cost yourself more money in the end.

[Wires]

Both. Oil changes are super easy and require minimal tools + skill. Air filters, etc are all the same.

Dealer will be charging that $160-200/hour to do things that you can do when holding a beer.

[Orion4]

I've been doing it since a teen with my first car 62 Plymouth w/3 spd on column. Multiple reasons: I enjoy it, save $$, know who to blame if not done right! Only time I go to dealer if still under warranty or don't have the required tools or time.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by Orion4

know who to blame if not done right! Only time I go to dealer if still under warranty or don't have the required tools or time.

Tough to kick your own a$$ when it's wrong though.

I usually go on the premise if there is a tool I need, will use it more than once, then it's worth buying and doing the work myself. Time on the other hand is a different beast!

[visionaut]

I do 80% myself cuz I enjoy working and tinkering on all my cars, and understanding how everything works together on each of them. Yeah, it can save a ton of labor too (of course, you work in it more because, so...). Being BMW-engineered - some stuff’s easy, a lot is medium (and sometimes more difficult than it needs to be), and I only do about 20% of the most difficult things myself (used to be almost 50%)… I’ve got a ‘76 and a ‘16, one’s mostly easy

Lotsa accumulated tools, great jack/stands/ramps, repeated OTJ experience, and most key — information (manuals, RealOEM/TIS, forums like this for each vehicle, and other available www), so I feel confident wrenching on them.

[VibeBmw]

Awesome! Thank you guys for your replies! I’ve had mine for a few years and I’m just starting to want to do things myself. To save money and learn about my car! I currently have a temperature problem with my air conditioner. I’m told it’s the actuator so I guess I’ll start there.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Wires

Both. Oil changes are super easy and require minimal tools + skill. Air filters, etc are all the same.

Dealer will be charging that $160-200/hour to do things that you can do when holding a beer.

Here in the US they are offering $225 for 3 years of oil changes

[Billfitz]

I do it to save money and because I like doing my own work. Not just on my car, on everything.

[bconleyf30]

Originally Posted by VibeBmw

Awesome! Thank you guys for your replies! I’ve had mine for a few years and I’m just starting to want to do things myself. To save money and learn about my car! I currently have a temperature problem with my air conditioner. I’m told it’s the actuator so I guess I’ll start there.

If your just getting into it get yourself a bi directional scan tool. It dosent have to be a fancy one but make sure it bi directional. You can do actuaton test in all areas of the vehicle. I haven’t checked the a/c actuations tests for f30 but it more than likely will. I paid $150 creder elite pro on Amazon can do almost anything with it

[PETED678]

Both, most jobs on my F36 are fairly simple tasks if you know what you are doing and you save money primarily on labour doing it. Obviously echoing other people here if you don.mt know what you are doing and start tinkering then the financial cost will rise.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Here in the US they are offering $225 for 3 years of oil changes

That's a great deal! Way more money up north for sure. I haven't checked in a while, but that's probably the cost of a single oil change.

[chowser51]

most maintenance is pretty easy on these cars and look into FCP Euro's return program. It's a massive money saver.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by chowser51

most maintenance is pretty easy on these cars and look into FCP Euro's return program. It's a massive money saver.

I think they give store credit rather than refund now.

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by Wires

Both. Oil changes are super easy and require minimal tools + skill. Air filters, etc are all the same.

Dealer will be charging that $160-200/hour to do things that you can do when holding a beer.

this.

never worked on a car before. Started with oil. Moved on on to suspension and brakes, after youtube, of course! i find it very gratifying. and yes, big cost svaings. simple tools and good bit of time, at first. thsi car not complicated as most think

Took half the day for first rear shock replacement, few hours for the rest.

[Wires]

My only recommendation is do a little research up front (YouTube is great for this) to make sure you have the right tools. Nothing is more frustrating than getting into a project, and not having what you need to proceed.

BMW likes to use large metric sockets that are not typically part of the SAE/metric sets, e-torx and hex socket bolts. Amazon has decent sets for not a lot of money.

[Orion4]

I've learned how more than once (figurative speaking) to my wife amusement!

Originally Posted by Wires

Tough to kick your own a$$ when it's wrong though.

I usually go on the premise if there is a tool I need, will use it more than once, then it's worth buying and doing the work myself. Time on the other hand is a different beast!

[Orion4]

Thats correct. Since the middle of last year, I beleive. Over the years since 2013, my adjusted average cost of an oil change kit is down to about $14.50 via FCP.

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I think they give store credit rather than refund now.

[Orion4]

Yup! BMW has become Torx and E-Torx happy!!

Originally Posted by Wires

My only recommendation is do a little research up front (YouTube is great for this) to make sure you have the right tools. Nothing is more frustrating than getting into a project, and not having what you need to proceed.

BMW likes to use large metric sockets that are not typically part of the SAE/metric sets, e-torx and hex socket bolts. Amazon has decent sets for not a lot of money.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by Orion4

Thats correct. Since the middle of last year, I beleive. Over the years since 2013, my adjusted average cost of an oil change kit is down to about $14.50 via FCP.

Do you return the old filter and oil?

[Orion4]

Yes. Oil, filter w/ o-rings and Drain plug washer.

Originally Posted by ADHD

Do you return the old filter and oil?

[chowser51]

Originally Posted by ADHD

Do you return the old filter and oil?

yep. they've taken back old brake pads too.

i haven't done rotors yet. not sure it will fit in a usps large flat rate box. that's usually how i ship oil back. But now with my UPS account, it's pretty much cheaper shipping stuff back via UPS ground.

I miss the days of free paypal return shipping