Newbie garage tool suggestions

[olsan100]

Hey all. I'm going to start doing oil changes and brakes and basic items like that to my BMW. I guess, I'm just looking for suggestions as good items that are going to be necessary for me to have. I figure most of you have a good idea of whats necessary and what's worthless. I don't really have anything right now, so whatever you can think of will really help me. Thanks!

[DanH]

A good starter kit would be one of the few hundred piece Craftsman mechanics toolsets from Sears.
Make sure it has all of the metric sizes in both wrenches and sockets.

Don't buy any cheap tools or else you'll be looking for replacements with your car half apart.

Hey all. I'm going to start doing oil changes and brakes and basic items like that to my BMW. I guess, I'm just looking for suggestions as good items that are going to be necessary for me to have. I figure most of you have a good idea of whats necessary and what's worthless. I don't really have anything right now, so whatever you can think of will really help me. Thanks!

[olsan100]

sounds good... how about stuff like jacks and ramps and strap wrenches and what not for oil changes and stuff. What's good, and what's crappy?

[DanH]

For ramps I drive up some 3-foot long 2x10 boards that I cut up and stacked. there are many good ramps around from $20 and up.

You can often find a set of jack stands and a jack in one kit for a good price(usually $50-150). I'd suggest one of the larger pump jacks on wheels with about 3" size lifting pad on it. They lift much faster and easier.


The cheaper ones(< $20) creak and groan like they're going to fall apart

I have both types, since I bought the cheap one first, but it comes in handy to have two jacks and 4 stands.

sounds good... how about stuff like jacks and ramps and strap wrenches and what not for oil changes and stuff. What's good, and what's crappy?

[olsan100]

All righty. I assume BMW's have zerks to lube, is that correct? I'll probably need a grease gun or something.

For ramps I drive up some 3-foot long 2x10 boards that I cut up and stacked. there are many good ramps around from $20 and up.

You can often find a set of jack stands and a jack in one kit for a good price(usually $50-150). I'd suggest one of the larger pump jacks on wheels with about 3" size lifting pad on it. They lift much faster and easier.


The cheaper ones(< $20) creak and groan like they're going to fall apart

I have both types, since I bought the cheap one first, but it comes in handy to have two jacks and 4 stands.

[DanH]

No zerks to lube, all of the ball joints and bushings are sealed, unless you have installed some special aftermarket ones.

All righty. I assume BMW's have zerks to lube, is that correct? I'll probably need a grease gun or something.

[olsan100]

Ah, well, that's good to know. Otherwise I would have been looking under there forever. ha ha..

Did I read somewhere that it's not even necessary to get under the car to do an oil change? I thought everything could be done from above for some reason.

No zerks to lube, all of the ball joints and bushings are sealed, unless you have installed some special aftermarket ones.

[SRR2]

What Dan said.

[uscharalph]

Hey all. I'm going to start doing oil changes and brakes and basic items like that to my BMW. I guess, I'm just looking for suggestions as good items that are going to be necessary for me to have. I figure most of you have a good idea of whats necessary and what's worthless. I don't really have anything right now, so whatever you can think of will really help me. Thanks!

Most important BMW tool = Bentley Manual

[bullyd]

Hey all. I'm going to start doing oil changes and brakes and basic items like that to my BMW. I guess, I'm just looking for suggestions as good items that are going to be necessary for me to have. I figure most of you have a good idea of whats necessary and what's worthless. I don't really have anything right now, so whatever you can think of will really help me. Thanks!

i just realised a bentley manual is a MUST