You don’t know me, so you have no idea…but I can’t name a single person that would put me anywhere near the top of any pyramid of intellect. The Internet however, now that’s a totally different story! Consider the following:
I readily admit that I did not make that graphic but I wish I had! If you are the one who made it, I appreciate your work more than you will ever know. Over the last 5 years especially, I’ve endeavored to diagnose and fix as many automotive issues as I can on my own cars. I use the word “diagnose” to describe the process by which I put in my error code or issue into a Google search or AI tool and see what happens. Often, countless videos are returned but if I find one which is remotely close to my issue, game on! What’s the worst that can happen? I know, I know, I could mess it up so bad that I have to tow it a repair shop but I’m willing to gamble to save the cost of repairs. If you can DIY an automotive maintenance task or repair job yourself, you could legitimately save 1000s of dollars!!! Don’t believe me? Consider the following quote I received recently from a local repair shop:
- $605 to change spark plugs (6)
- I can buy (6) spark plugs for my car on rockauto.com for $48. In my case, my car will also require a thin-walled spark plug socket that I found on Amazon for $11. I figure it’ll take me about 2 hours to change the plugs.
- Yes, I’ll need to invest a couple hours of time, but in this one repair, I’ll save HUNDREDS of dollars!!
- $906 to replace the front brakes and rotors
- Again, I can go to rockauto.com and buy one of their premium brake and rotor kits for less than $300. As with the spark plugs, it may take me a couple hours but I’ll save HUNDREDS of dollars once again.
Why this blog?
This blog really has a twofold purpose:
- Personal Record Keeping: This blog was created to document my own auto repair adventures. Whether it’s changing the oil, replacing spark plugs, replacing brakes, performing a compression test, troubleshooting an electrical gremlin, whatever it is, I’ll be sharing my experiences here because we’re prone to forget.
- Helping Fellow DIYers Save Money: Beyond our personal journey, I hope this blog becomes a valuable resource for other DIYers…to give you the confidence to perform a repair yourself (if I can do it anybody can) and to save you money!
What to Expect
- Repair Guides: Guides on common repairs and maintenance tasks.
- Troubleshooting Tips: Issues, causes, and resolutions.
- Product Reviews: Evaluations and feedback on the products I’ve use to help you make informed decisions.
- Community Interaction: I encourage you to share your own experiences, ask questions, and connect with other readers. Personally, I need all the wisdom I can get!
Current Stable
As much as I may like to focus on BMWs, it’s entirely likely that the content of this blog will be “all over the place”. However, the cars I’m most likely to work on right now are:
- 1998 BMW Z3
- 2004 BMW 325i
- 2007 BMW 335i
Let’s Unroll the Scroll!
If nothing else, this blog will serve as an extension of my memory, documenting problems and fixes that may leave my recollection all to quickly. But I do hope that its content will be useful to you as well. Whether you’re a seasoned mechanic or a novice with a wrench, the journey documented here is proof that with a bit of research, some elbow grease, and a willingness to learn, anyone can transform their favorite shady spot into a personal auto shop and save a bunch of money!