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Just to give an example of maintenance costs, here is what I paid for my last 'checkup' in fall of 2021. Remember that I have the M3 with the V8 engine and go to a one-man independent shop.
Oil change = $170
Spark plug replacement = $512
New front brakes (pads, discs, sensors) and fluid flush = $1265
Out the door was about $2100. Thankfully this fall I should only need the oil change.
Good example of learning to do basic car maintenance yourself equalling HUGE savings.
Oil change takes about 30min, cost about $75-100 in materials
Spark plug replacement probably 2 hours, easy with hand tools, around $100 in materials
Brake change for front, about 2 hours, easy with hand tools, around $650-700 in materials
So, say 5 hours of your time on a weekend, cost $900 (vs $2100), thereby "paying yourself" about $240/hr. Good use of time!
Small extra incentive - if you buy the materials/parts from FCP Euro (not affiliated, just a customer), they lifetime warranty everything, so the next time you need to do these jobs the materials are virtually free.
One thing I loved about BMW's is the oil filter is on top (at least they used to be). Extract the oil through the dip stick hole, replace the filter, done. Don't even have to jack the car up. So easy an m378 can do it.
Good example of learning to do basic car maintenance yourself equalling HUGE savings.
Ah, but you are forgetting the most important parts
1. Spending hours on Google trying to figure out what exact parts I need to do the maintenance
2. Spending hours searching for the best price for these parts and ordering them online
3. Spending hours watching YouTube videos to learn how to do the maintenance
4. Buying the tools to do the maintenance, because I have every size socket known to man, EXCEPT, for the one size that BMW engineers decided to use.
and the biggest one
5. Worrying that I'll do something wrong and mess up my car
I've done my own maintenance before, and I've done my own repairs, but its always been on non-critical systems such as electrical (window regulators, convertible top motors, washer fluid pumps, etc), but I draw the line at engine, transmission, and brakes.
Ah, but you are forgetting the most important parts
1. Spending hours on Google trying to figure out what exact parts I need to do the maintenance
2. Spending hours searching for the best price for these parts and ordering them online
3. Spending hours watching YouTube videos to learn how to do the maintenance
4. Buying the tools to do the maintenance, because I have every size socket known to man, EXCEPT, for the one size that BMW engineers decided to use.
and the biggest one
5. Worrying that I'll do something wrong and mess up my car
I've done my own maintenance before, and I've done my own repairs, but its always been on non-critical systems such as electrical (window regulators, convertible top motors, washer fluid pumps, etc), but I draw the line at engine, transmission, and brakes.
This only applies the first few times. After that, you save thousands from that point forward. I completely understand your apprehension, as I’ve been there. But as you tackle more simple jobs they become easier and faster. Brakes are literally some of the easiest jobs to do. It’s hard to mess up but again I hear you.
This only applies the first few times. After that, you save thousands from that point forward. I completely understand your apprehension, as I’ve been there. But as you tackle more simple jobs they become easier and faster. Brakes are literally some of the easiest jobs to do. It’s hard to mess up but again I hear you.
Not to be insensitive, but the guy who owned the runaway truck in the Raleigh Christmas parade probably thought the same thing and look how that turned out.
Not to be insensitive, but the guy who owned the runaway truck in the Raleigh Christmas parade thought the same thing.
I don't feel this is a fair comparison.
I've been wrenching on my own cars for 20 years. Never once had a safety issue based on something I did wrong. The $12/hr lube techs at the Jiffy Lube are less trustworthy than me doing the work. If you really think you can't do as good a job as a shop on basic maintenance, you should boost your self esteem. Anyone with basic tools can do these things, safely, every single time, without issues. You'd know immediately in your driveway if something was wrong, stop, and fix it before heading onto I540.
Peace and love to all. Just my opinion. I like having nice (older) cars but not the price of maintenance so I learned to DIY and never looked back. We seem to be losing this skill; nobody does anything themselves any more it seems. Or very few people.
I maintain and repair my own computers, electronics, and (to the extent it's feasible) appliances because that's my background, and I've saved a lot of money doing that. But I turn car work over to someone else except for fluid refills and wiper blade replacements. There are only so many hours in the day. Besides, as Dirty Harry put it, "A man's got to know his limitations."
I maintain and repair my own computers, electronics, and (to the extent it's feasible) appliances because that's my background, and I've saved a lot of money doing that. But I turn car work over to someone else except for fluid refills and wiper blade replacements. There are only so many hours in the day. Besides, as Dirty Harry put it, "A man's got to know his limitations."
Totally! I also pay people to work on my car even at times I could have DIY, just because I don't feel like it or don't have the time.
To clarify my earlier comments I was more trying to encourage people reading that these things aren't as hard as you think. Maybe inspire someone to try it sometime. Not denigrating or putting anyone down for not doing so. Hopefully this came across but if not, this clarification should help.
... I was more trying to encourage people reading that these things aren't as hard as you think. Maybe inspire someone to try it sometime. ...
Maybe you have a friend or neighbor who is a Do It Yourself mechanic. When he does a brake job ask to watch and/or help.
Brakes are symmetrical. The left front is a mirror image of the right front. Same in the rear. Your friend might do one front wheel while you watch, and invite you to do the other one while he watches (and coaches).
YouTube is a wonderful resource. A service manual tells WHAT to do; a video shows HOW to do it. The two complement each other.
Maybe you have a friend or neighbor who is a Do It Yourself mechanic. When he does a brake job ask to watch and/or help.
Brakes are symmetrical. The left front is a mirror image of the right front. Same in the rear. Your friend might do one front wheel while you watch, and invite you to do the other one while he watches (and coaches).
YouTube is a wonderful resource. A service manual tells WHAT to do; a video shows HOW to do it. The two complement each other.
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Yes sir, this is how most of us amateurs got started. Get help or oversight and start small, then expand.
I couldn't change my own oil 20 years ago and now I can disassemble an entire car and put it back together, swap different engines and transmissions, and more. I'm no genius or extraordinary, just took my time and started at the bottom.
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