Do You Maintain Your Car At Home?

[developer]

Not that long ago, most cars had engines in the front and a fuel tank/spare tyre at the back.

Fettling was easy.

Not any more - I found this as I was having a clean around today - rear nearside boot area :

 

[stumpy1]

Trabant and 205 yes - everything else, no.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I have found from experience anything Citroen, Mercedes, BMW, Range Rover or Allard don't lend themselves to easy maintenance with a lump hammer, so I leave it to others.

 

[bob6600]

My W210 is old but modern (if that makes sense). There is still a fair amount that can be done. Providing it can be done at home (ie no ramp required or expensive specialist tools for one off job) I normally have a go where I can. I do as much reading on the forums to decide if it can be done by myself.

Unfortunately my next car will probably be untouchable bar a service, which is a bit annoying

 

[automaniaman]

I only fettle my classic's at home...

 

[Fryingpan78]

PCS look after the E55, but the MK1 golf and the fiat I do myself.

Did a cam belt on the fiat on Saturday, 20 minutes all in....

-t

 

[Major774]

Mixed for me... I go to PCS for the tougher jobs.

 

[Peter T]

My Hilux and BMW and my wife's XR2 I look after at home.

My SL goes to MB.

 

[mbenz1]

I have done the last two services of my mum's 2003 Renault Clio 1.2. I use Bosch plugs and Valvoline oil + Normfest Engine flush. I also try to get 'good' brand filters where possible.

Its impossible to service my dad's W221 and my recently-acquired W208 is to be maintained by a MB Specialist.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Not that long ago, most cars had engines in the front and a fuel tank/spare tyre at the back.

Fettling was easy.

Not any more - I found this as I was having a clean around today - rear nearside boot area :

A hot water cylinder and radiator, how thoughtful of MB.

Where's the Baxi Bermuda located?

 

[Steve320]

Only if filling the windscreen washer reservoir counts!

But prior to last two cars (LR and Mercedes) I had done pretty much everything that needed doing on any of the previous vehicles (and kids / wifes too) for the previous thirty years.

I miss it...

 

[markjay]

Yes to my Alfas, BMW, and Vauxhalls. No to any car I owned after replacing the front wheel hubs and brake discs on my 2001 Omega....

(I still have the torque wrench I bought for tightening the hub nut to 320NM.....)

 

[markjay]

Hehe... found it!

(Not that anyone asked... )

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90544.0

 

[MancMike]

So what is that thing in the boot?

And it's mixed for me. Cheap hatchbacks are a breeze to work on, but I've found as I've got more expensive and modern cars, they're complete with undertrays, etc and much more densely packed with stuff I don't understand.

I'll still do service items, and brakes, suspension work etc.

 

[Troon]

I do everything that doesn't need specialist equipment. Oil, filter changes, brake pads and discs, thermostat, "fan" belt, a couple of injector seals etc etc. In the E220, access is really easy — a 4-pot in a hole that fits an IL6 and a V8.

That thing in the boot is the Airmatic compressor I believe — there's a little one in the engine bay for rear-air-only S211s, but you have four-corner air.

 

[whitenemesis]

I maintain the shine on the paintwork....

 

[V12]

The air tank is for the airmatic but the heat sink to the right is the top of the audio amplifier I believe.

 

[whitenemesis]

The air tank is for the airmatic but the heat sink to the right is the top of the audio amplifier I believe.

That location on the (older) CLS is home for the airtank for the comfort/dynamic seats.

 

[V12]

That location on the (older) CLS is home for the airtank for the comfort/dynamic seats.

That sounds like a good shout, it looks about twice the size of the usual airmatic tanks...

 

[GLK]

Only if filling the windscreen washer reservoir counts!

Yup, that's about right for me too. Making sure WinterFit is diluted correctly just about fulfills my desire to "self-maintain" my car
The rest is done by MB on a Service Care Plan