Car enthusiasts all over the country found that lockdown provided somewhat of a dream opportunity to play with their cars. Acquiring the skills of changing the oil, fitting the tires, and others are basic mechanic skills that help cars run.

Leaving lockdown behind and getting back on the road, those newly acquired skills might come in handy. If you have had several mechanic hobbies for the last year, here is how to organize a DIY car repair station in your garage.

Lighting

Garages are generally dark rooms with no access to good daylight. Still, you need to have the car visible while working on it.

To establish an at-home mechanics workshop, you must ensure that you have good overhead lighting. Fluorescent tubes with bright fluorescent lights are the best for garage lighting, as they provide a flood of light.

Portable lights, too, will be required. Put your money into top-quality workshop lights that you would need when you are tinkering under the hood and the extension cord required to power them.

Safety Precautions

Prevent home-based injuries by gearing up with the appropriate PPE. This may also be inclusive of coveralls, safety glasses, and hand protection, amongst others.

In order to protect your eyes in the event that you get some harmful chemicals in them while you are working, you should consider getting an eyewash station for your garage. Moreover, ensure that you keep the toxic chemicals required for repairs properly.

It is advisable not to work in isolation on a car as well. The presence of another person to assist you may prevent any safety hazards.

Essential Tools

There are a few basic items that you’ll require for your home car repair workshop. Sure, ratchets, wrenches, and spanners are a must, but in the case of car repairs, one will definitely need some sort of special equipment.

First, you need to purchase a super-fine hydraulic jack, to lift the wheels off the ground when you want to change the oil or one of the tires.

You will most likely need a tire gauge as well, to check the PSI of your tires. Also, an air compressor and a spare paint are must-have tools in a house car workshop. When they happen, you can easily touch up any knicks and scratches without a huge repair charge.

Also, remember a toolbox to keep all the equipment safe as well. Thank you for reading our article and we hope it will help you in setting up a dream garage for your repairs at home.

Remove the Tire

The tire of the E46 BMW 3 Series should be taken off after you have slightly unscrewed the nuts on the wheels with a wheel spanner. Next, jack up one side of your E46 using a car jack so that your front wheel is free from the ground. Later, continue to screw the nuts further until they are completely loose. Remove the wheel from the hub and lay it aside.

Remove the Calipers of The Disc

Unclip the front of the caliper which is connected with the brake pads using a screwdriver. Afterward, take off the two rubber dust caps at the back of the calipers to free the sliding bolts. Now, with a 7mm Allen key remove the two sliding bolts on the back of the caliper and wiggle it out of the assembly. This will enable you to take off the caliper from the brake disc and now you have access to the brake pads.

Replace the Brake Pads

Uninstall the old pads from the caliper. It is a good time now to remove your brake fluid reservoir cap, as the fluid may go back into the reservoir as we push in the piston. Now, using any clamp, push the piston gently back inside so that considerable space for the new brake pads is made. Grease the sides of the piston so it can slide with ease. Now, place grease on the edges and back sides of your brake pads for them to slide with ease and place them in their corresponding positions on the caliper. Slide the caliper back onto the disc, it might need some light taps with a hammer to get back in place with the new pads. Make sure the pads and calipers are back in their place.

Now it’s time to grease the sliding bolts of the caliper and screw them back in inside the socket and thread. Now put back the dust cover over the screws and the clip on the front side of the caliper with a screwdriver and you’re all done here.

Put Your Wheels Back On

Now slide back your wheels onto the wheel hub and screw the nuts in a star configuration lightly with a wheel spanner. Now drop your vehicle back on the ground smoothly by lowering the car jack and now fully tighten the lug nuts in their place.

Repeat the Process on the Other Wheel

Repeat the same process on the other wheel of the car.

Check For Any Brake Fluid Run Over

After replacing both pads, check if your brake fluid has run over the maximum level indicated on the brake fluid reservoir. If the level is exceeding the maximum indicated level, draw out some of the fluid using a syringe or something similar. Shut back the cap of the brake fluid reservoir after checking and you’re now done with replacing your E46’s brake pads.

Conclusion

I can say that it’s a very simple process and if you follow all the steps from above, you will successfully change the brake pads of your E46 BMW 3 Series without any stress. Thanks for reading our article and please stay tuned on Automotivesblog.com for more useful articles that will save you money and time.

In this post, we shall give you some of the Do-It-Yourself car repair tips. Setting up auto issues with a professional repairman differs from car to car so you may have to follow the manufacturer’s manual. The cost range for each also repair differs.

Replacing Old Windshield Wipers Blades

Setting up wiper blades may not cost anything less than $10 if you have to engage the service of a pro. Use these three basic steps to fix the wiper blade of your car:

• Smartly remove the damaged blades by lifting them up in the way you often wash the blades.
• In case there’s a tab – which you find in many car models – push it to gain access to the blades.
• Tightly and securely attach the new wiper blades but be careful not to bend or break the wiper arms or cause a scratch on the windshield.

Replacing Spark Plugs

Typically, car spark plugs are replaced after every 30,000 miles but do well to check your manufacturers’ guide: Depending on the number of the car cylinders, spark plugs can be four, six, or eight.

• Locate the spark plugs around the thick elastic wires
• Unfasten the wires one after the other
• Use the spark plug socket and extension to remove the plug, but maintain the order in which the plugs are mounted
• Install the new spark plugs using the screw to tighten them and a wrench to ensure a comfy fit

2. Attach the spark plug wire back to its place

Changing Oil and Oil Filter

• Jack up your car when the engine is cool and locate the engine oil pan
• Drain all oil inside the drain plug and replace the drain plug
• Remove the old oil filter with your wrench
• Add some motor oil to the rubber gasket of your new oil filter
• Fill the new oil filter to about two-third and screw it back, tighten it firmly 
• Fill the new oil filter while checking with a dip-stick to know the level

Replacing Old Air Filter

After every 12,000 miles, you can replace your car air filter. That again depends on the manual. Within ten minutes or so, you should be done with replacing your air filter.

• Locate the air filter inside the black rectangle-shaped box after popping the car’s hood
• Open the housing and note how the filter is fitted
• Replace the old with the new air filter
• Close the metal clips

Wrap

There are other important issues you can save a lot of bucks by going it yourself way, including battery maintenance, changing the brake pads, radiator flush, fuel filter replacement, and so on. It’s important you follow the owner’s manual at every sage so you don’t end up being pound foolish and penny-wise.

In about few lines, we’ll go through a guide to DIY car wash that’ll not only keep the interior and exterior of your elegant but also save you some cash that you would’ve sunk into the hands of a professional.

General Precautionary Measures

Cleaning the interior of your vehicle comes with some extra care. This is because using a bleaching agent, hydrogen peroxide or any form of dangerous disinfectant has serious harsh and damaging effect on your car.

Hence, caution must be taken when choosing which car cleaners you apply on your vehicle. Instead of bleach, you should go for domestic cleaners, including gentle soap or detergents. These are safe for use on your car surfaces, interior and exterior alike.

Another precaution you have to guide against is hard scrubbing. Using abrasive sponge and rag, or fabric made of cotton materials may lead to scratches, hard frictions, or damage of your car skin. They can also erode car coating. The seats, dashboard, armrest, steering wheel, and buttons require wiping down.

Also, do not wash under the effect of direct sunlight. Get the washing done in the shade. Make sure you rinse along as you wash. Don’t wait until you finish washing an entire section before you rinse. 

Materials needed for a DIY Car Wash

• Water
• Microfiber towel
• Polish or finishing wax
• Suitable formula
• Buckets (at least two)
• Gentle detergent: don’t use dish soap
• Absorbent (microfiber) sponge and rag
• Adequate washing space

 Step-by-Steps Approach to a DIY car Wash

Step 1

The first step to take is do a proper rinsing and thick spraying of water on the car with the hose or bucket of water. This step is to take away deep-seated dust on the car surface.

Step 2

Start with the car wheels. You’ll need to do a not-too-hard scrubbing because the wheels take in much of the mud and dirt that stains the car. You’ll enjoy cleaning the wheels, especially if you’re using alloy wheels. it’s better to pre-apply the soap on the wheels so they soaks it in before you start scrubbing. Typically, they’re pretty smooth to wash with microfiber sponge and rag.

Step 3

After getting done with wheels, move to body parts. If you’re trying to remove bumper stickers, first saturate the sticker with undiluted distilled vinegar. Wait for about 7 to 10 minutes for the substance to soak through. Gently scrub in straight lines rather than in circular form.

Step 4

Dry your car using a drying microfiber towel. Avoid leaving undesirable sunspots on the car by not leaving air alone to dry your car.

Step 5

Finally, allow the car to completely dry before applying your polish or finishing wax.

Conclusion

While it’s desirable to have a professional handle your car wash, it’s not rocket science, either. If you follow the simple rules, avoid using hard substances and materials, and prevent your car against constant exposure to the elements, you’ll have an elegantly attractive car.

Here is the important guide for maintaining a new car:

Periodically Check and Change Oil

Apart from using the recommended oil, make sure you run a check on the car’s engine oil level and condition. As a general rule of thumb, you should change the engine oil every six months or 7,500 miles. The same rule applies to changing the oil filter. However, the procedure may change to every 3,000 miles or three months if your car has a cold start, bad idling, or is frequently on the road.

Besides, check for oil leaks, overfill, under-fill, and oil filter damage, making sure everything is in great condition. Be accurate when using your dipstick reading by ensuring your car is on a level surface.

Inspect Air Pressure

At every point in time, make sure the inflation pressure in your tires (including the spare one) is at normal reading, following the manufacturers’ recommended pressure. It’s advisable that you check this once a month and before you embark on any long distance trip. Also look out for any tears, cuts, bulges, or wear on the tires.

Regularly Wash Your Car

Washing the car is one of the ways you can maintain a new car. Usually, once a week is ideal to wash the entire car body, to remove dirt, debris, and road salt. Take special interest in the fender wells, undercarriage, and hose. 

Look at the Exhaust System

Is the exhaust system rusted? Mere listening to the sound of your car engine or exhaust will tell you whether the exhaust isn’t in good state. You have to know and replace any parts of the exhaust that is corroding. Ideally, you’ll have to carry this out when the vehicle is up on ramps. 

Other Important Routine Maintenance Checks

The air filter needs to be removed once it’s clear that the light is gone. Replace the brake pads or linings if they’re worn out; take care of the wheels, scored rotors, inspect battery terminals,

Once in two or three years, or every 80,000 miles, empty and flush the cooling system, change the timing belts. On the average, the transmission fluid should be replaced every 36,000 miles. To prevent overheating, your car radiator must be rid of debris and dirt.

Conclusion

The list of guides for maintaining a new car is endless. You have to be faithful to the instruction that follows your car when you’re buying it. If you’re not sure of your proficiency in DIY repair, checks, maintenance, and fixes, engage the services of a competent professional. 

We recommend you read the following article if you want to buy a used car, instead of a new one: