Oppo's That Do Your Own Work - Do You Feel Defeated Having To Go To A Shop?

"sefeing, actually bought an E46" (sefeing90)
11/12/2019 at 09:05 • Filed to: e46, BMW, driveway mechanic, 3series

So, since I bought my E46, I’ve done every feasible repair that I can myself, in the discomfort of my friend’s driveway with homemade wood ramps & harbor freight jack stands -

The whole driveshaft, front wheel bearings, calipers, brakes, trans fluid, oil change, gluing trim pieces (lol), and more. Literally everything I can - that was the promise I made to myself.

But today, I dropped the car off at a shop for something that I probably COULD do myself, but would be hard to given time, and weather.

The car was at a dealer this past weekend to have an alignment done (yes, I know), when I got a call that they couldn’t complete the alignment due to a bent driver’s rear lower control arm. They charged me a small diagnostic fee, which is fine since it was their time, and even gave me a loaner for the day while it was there. They didn’t have the part and I wasn’t close to home, I was visiting family, so I didn’t have the work done there.

I picked the car up, and started doing research on how to replace it. The driver’s lower is particularly a pain because of the need to move the rear diff over to get access to a bolt. And then you have to get a 4 wheel alignment anyway, something I need regardless.

So today, I dropped the car off at my local shop. I know I saved thousands doing a ton of work myself, but I’m getting crushed (in my head) with their parts cost. That said, they’ll have it done while I’m at work, and have a 4 wheel alignment done which I cannot do myself.

Should have the car back soon. I’ve spent more on it than I already wanted to this year, but I guess now it’s going to be a longer term car to make the cost make sense. I enjoy it, and I like fixing it, I just feel bad for spending the money sometimes.

Do any of you feel a bit defeated when you have to bite the bullet and have a shop do something you know you can probably do yourself, but are limited but time and weather?

Pic of me & the car (and drone) for reference.

DISCUSSION (36)

Sovande > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:16

I certainly don't feel defeated. To me, it's better to know what I'm capable of and what I'm just not interested in doing.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Sovande
11/12/2019 at 09:22

That’s a great way to look at it

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:26

I typically provide my own parts and tell them "hey you, put this on that car". I don't want to pay the markup and I want to have a say on what goes into my cars.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:27

I wish I could say otherwise but I always do, and it’s usually after I’ve tried to do something myself and literally fucked up like broken a bolt in a control arm

jimz > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:28

not really. if it’s something that needs a hoist/lift, I pay someone to do it.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
11/12/2019 at 09:29

Yeah, I was hoping I’d be able to do this, but I asked and they said sorry, but we can’t- which I understand. They make money on the parts too. This shop is the only reputable one near me that doesn’t totally wreck my commute, so it’s hard to argue with - there IS one shop near me that I couldn’t get a straight answer on though

They’re a German-focused shop, and use OEM parts, so that’s good but also I know I can get them for LOADS cheaper.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
11/12/2019 at 09:30

haha, I’m always afraid of this, but also why I have a friend help me typically. My exhaust bolts were rusted so bad we had to cut them & then drill them out and I was convinced I’d have to tow the thing. Instead, we went through like $80 in carbide drill bits.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > jimz
11/12/2019 at 09:31

Fair- this repair is certainly EASIER with a lift for leverage & access, but not necessary, that’s what was kicking me but I’ve accepted my expensive fate with this repair.

Maxima Speed > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:33

I used to, but I realized that that time is money in many respects. I will do everything I can to repair my car myself. However there are somethings, “ like changing the CV axle” which is a very simple task but has large time cost to it. A mechanic can have it done in a few hours but for me it turned into a 16-20 hour job because I don’t have a lift and I don’t have the pro per equipment. I enjoy working on my car as well. It’s relaxing, and it’s comes with a pleasant feeling of accomplishment. However when the repair is so immense that it becomes a huge burden then I realize that the mechanic is the smart way to go. One of the reasons I’m so glad that I finally have two cars is that if one breaks I can jump in the other one, go to work and repair the car at my own pace instead of pulling a 10 or 12 hour stint of trying to repair something in the rain without the proper tools or time because I have to drive it to work the next day.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:38

No because I love my car that I’d rather have someone more experienced work on it. Or give it the attention that I don’t have time to give.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Maxima Speed
11/12/2019 at 09:39

This is exactly my mentality going into this, really appreciate this response. Time = money and vice versa. And while I don’t have a second car to fall back on, I ONLY use this car on the weekends. During the week, I’m on the subway. So losing use of the car during the week isn’t so bad. In fact, that’s kind of why I wanted to have a shop take care of it this week - I need it this weekend, and don’t want to cancel plans because I have to fix something again.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:42

And so can they, and mark them up considerably. Its called Worldpac. Used the heck out of them when I had my shop. OEM parts for like 1/4 the cost of getting them through a dealer.

CobraJoe > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:43

Yes and no...

Yes, I would feel defeated if I attempted a project and could not complete it (but that hasn’t happened since I got a full garage.)

No, because if I chose to go to a shop to do something I wasn’t eager to work on because of weather or schedule or whatever. That was a choice to avoid the annoyances, not because I couldn’t do the task.

Though I would be very annoyed if I paid a shop to fix something and they screwed it up. I can screw it up by myself!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:44

Yeah, it's one of those things you have to find the right shop.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:45

That’s the route I’d rather go, especially when buying the ‘expensive’ tool you need to do the job/extraction right is usually way less than paying the shop. And you get to keep the tools

ranwhenparked > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:49

I feel slightly defeated any time I have to go to a professional to work on my car or house. Usually, it's a matter of working 6 days a week and just not having the time to deal with anything.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:49

Its been 20 years since I have paid someone to work on my car. I became a tech beacuse I got ripped off, once. Never again.

adamftw > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 09:58

Nope, never. Can’t afford it. Except for tires/alignments/inspections; o nly time I’ve had a shop do work was warranty or recall for my wife’s car, and when I had a short lease on a VW oil changes and whatever were covered. I actually did the alignments on my Jeeps and Discovery myself since they were solid front axle tru ck and you can do that with a tape measure and a plumb line.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > adamftw
11/12/2019 at 10:04

Makes enough sense. Are you a LI local? Guessing by your avatar :) Nassau?

DutchieDC2R > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:04

I don’t feel defeated, however, since I try to do everything myself, I do have problems finding a proper shop that I trust when I do need one. I used to have a trusted mechanic (Honda specialist), but he moved away 200 km’s from where I live.

I have peace with the fact that I don’t have the space, the time and the tools to do absolutely everything myself. On top of everything, I wouldn’t want to screw something up because of my lack of knowledge. In the end, I want whats best for the car, if that means paying a proper mechanic to do the work , the n that’s what has to happen.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > ranwhenparked
11/12/2019 at 10:04

I get it - but the time is money theme here is definitely applicable :)

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
11/12/2019 at 10:05

Haha, fair, but as a tech, do you have access to lifts?

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > CobraJoe
11/12/2019 at 10:05

Agreed there :)

Urambo Tauro > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:06

I put a lot of effort into making sure that I can finish the job before starting. I have yet to reach a point where I had to give up a nd let a shop finish my work . Tire mounting, alignments, chassis welding... I’ve gone straight to the shop for those .

But th ere was one time when my old Th underbird developed a shudder shortly after I rebuilt the transmission myself (my first automatic rebuild) . The list of possibilities that I had screwed something up was so long, that I paid an ho ur of shop labor to let a shop diagnose it for me. I only had a code reader anyway , not a proper scan tool n or the means to tap into the pressure test ports on t he transmission. Th e problem turned out to be a loose spark plug (installed about 2k prior to the rebuild) , and nothing was wrong with t he transmission at all .

So yeah that was a little embarrassing. I just don’t want to be the guy who has the car towed to a shop with a box of parts in the back in need of reassembly. I don’t know if I could handle the shame.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > DutchieDC2R
11/12/2019 at 10:09

I completely feel ya here.

We had a local indie that my dad had been going to since the 80's. Trusted him with everything, and he was always fair, never ripped us off, and even would say “this doesn’t need to be repaired yet”. Loved that guy. It’s been tough finding a new shop that I feel like I can trust. I try to strike up a fast convo to let them know what I PERSONALLY have done to the car, to hopefully let them know that I know what I’m talking about.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Urambo Tauro
11/12/2019 at 10:11

I feel this, I’ve had a few close calls but managed it in the end- it’s a scary, anxiety inducing feeling when you hit that brick wall and go “crap... Can I actually finish this?” Even leaving my car on stands overnight at my buddy’s because we got snagged on the exhaust bolts was tough, because I didn’t know if we’d get them out.

thejustache > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:27

I used to feel that way, but then 2 things changed.

Number 1 was that I’ve gotten more comfortable with my wrenching. I don’t feel like I have much to prove to myself or anyone else, so I do all the wrenching I’m comfortable with. If something comes up that’s bigger then I would like to get into or if the weather is bad (I live in a place with winter and wrench in an uncovered driveway) then I don’t mind calling it.

Number 2, and perhaps the biggest change, is that I’ve got a mechanic I really like and trust. It wasn’t always this way, and I did tend to do more myself when taking my cars to a shop felt like giving somebody an open chance to rip me off. But a few years back I found a guy about 15 minutes away with a small shop surrounded with old Subarus. Since that’s primarily what I’ve been owning recently I was intrigued and gave him a call. It turns out he worked as a technician for Subaru for maybe 15 years, and recently opened his own shop. He also is a crew chief for a couple of rally teams, and has helped build a few rally and hillclimb cars. While I still try to do everything I can myself, I actually look forward to the once a year or so times I’ll bring something in. I’ve texted him for advice while wrenching on things and he’s helped, and once he even lent me a tool for a pack of beer. Obviously this example is specific to Subaru, but I have the feeling if you like any one type of car there is probably a specialty shop run by a gearhead that can be found. Now if I’m really stuck I know who to call, that it can be fixed right, and I don’t mind paying for something to be done right.

adamftw > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:35

Grew up in Huntington , I live out east now.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > thejustache
11/12/2019 at 10:36

This is amazing :)

Same, I wrench in NYC, which has winter and limited space, so having a buddy with a garage full of tools (but literally full of tools, no space for a car) and an uncovered driveway I’m trying to do as much as I can weather and time permitting.

Loved your story about finding your shop though- that’s what I’m hoping to find, but it ain’t easy around here.

thejustache > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:49

I’m in upstate NY and for a while lived in an apartment with street parking so I feel your pain. I started wrenching in my parent’s gravel driveway. Now I’m thankful to have my own house with a paved driveway, a shed to hold my jack and stands, and a warm basement with a bench and vice and tool chest. It feels amazing, and I still don’t even have a lift... or even a roof.

Nothing builds wrenching fortitude as much as starting a job only to snap a rusty bolt or two... and realize it’s supposed to get freezing or snow the next day or two so you have to finish. I’ve been there many times but with enough practice it starts getting better - less broken things, quicker repairs, more tools you already have. You’ll get there! And don’t give up looking for a shop. It took me a good 7 years or so before I found mine

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 10:50

Nah sometimes you just don’t have the time, or desire to do things yourself. Especially is it’s your only car. The only time I took my Galant VR-4 to a shop was to get the clutch done. And it was mainly because it had already been in my garage for 2 months for other repairs and I just want to drive the damn thing!

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/12/2019 at 10:54

driving time > wrenching time for sure :) Wrench to drive

Urambo Tauro > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 11:06

Just remembered a coup le more (I tend to forget them because they weren’t my cars ). One was a HHR control arm bolt that was seized to its bushing sleeve. At least I could put that one back together so it could be driven to a shop.

The other one was my brother’s Regal GS with a bad wheel bearing rustwelded to the axleshaft. Broke a puller and stopped whacking it with a sledgehammer before the axle threads got damaged. Put it all back together, and drove it to a shop where they must’ve used an air hammer or something.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 12:42

I’m not a professional mechanic so I have no problem taking my car to a professional when there’s something I just can’t do. If I was a professional I’d be fixing other peoples cars for money instead of just tinkering on my own. So no, it’s not a defeat, it’s a tacit admission that there are some tasks outside my ability. And the flip side is I doubt most mechanics could do what I do for a living (and I’d imagine none of them do it for fun).

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Urambo Tauro
11/12/2019 at 13:09

always seems to be rust, doesn’t it

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > sefeing, actually bought an E46
11/12/2019 at 13:34

Lifts. Alignment. Tire machines. Balancer. Some tools i cant afford. Yup.