Reddit mentions of Craftsman 230-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, 50230, Silver, 1 Set

Yeah, I'd hate to have you stress about that. You'll need to get a jump or a trickle charger or battery jump pack. Packs are super fun to have and you'll find a simple smart trickle charger (even a really old one) is a good investment to have if you own cars and have a garage or storage unit off your parking area.

So you want to learn how to work on your own car? Youtube specific things can help. But I also recommend you get a repair guide for your car. A real one, made by Bentley's if you can get one. They're expensive but worth it.

This is a good starting tool kit. https://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-230-Piece-Mechanics-Tool-50230/dp/B01GWD834I/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=metric+tool+kit&qid=1550301071&s=gateway&sr=8-5


You can also piece stuff together from harbor freight, a little tool box, metric sockets and wrenches. Stay away from power tools unless you want to invest in things like milwaukee cordless socket drivers (A gift from heaven). You'll need long and short screwdrivers, e-torx head sockets, stuff like that.


You'll need jackstands, a floor jack, flashlight, rags, an oil container and catch pans, gloves, rubber mats to protect your knees and feet if you're outside on the car or under it. You get started by buying a few proper tools and teaching and asking mechanics, both amateurs like myself and professionals.

You can look up information and repair steps on Technical Information System cloned and hosted here:

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https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/

As a BMW owner and self-repair person, you'll want to get familiar with REALOEM.www.realoem.com

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Here's an example link to another e70 (since I don't know your precise model) car:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=GY03-USA-06-2011-E70-BMW-X5_M&diagId=11_4184

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I also recommend you get a diagnostic tool or at least a coding cable for your car and if you have a laptop, or can buy a cheap laptop, download BMW Standard Tools for INPA (www.bimmergeeks.net has links and sells cables that are tested). This gives you the ability to start using your cars own internal diagnostics and learning how to do things like reset adaptations, trigger and diangose major systems and subcomponents.

But mainly, get started by doing what you're doing. You'll make mistakes, you'll break stuff, but in a few years of poking around you'll be helpful to someone else. The thing about being handy and learning, is that its often easy to turn right around and help other people. My son and I rebuild motors with people for fun. We swap car transmissions from auto to manual for fun. We swap harnesses, do all kinds of stuff. We learn, we do it, we get better and we can sometimes teach some of these skills to others.

Welcome. There's no stopping you now.

Additional Notes:

I hope this is the right subreddit. Putting this first because it is the important part. I am looking for a sort of project car but one for someone that has no mechanic experience. I have an engineering degree, but have never worked with automotives. My current car is good enough to last at least til december so I am looking for a car that I can work on until then and eventually have it become my daily car. I want this to be a learning experience so by the end of it all I will be somewhat efficent at basic mechanic work as well as tuning, performance upgrades, etc. I have never owned a manual car but desire this so that I learn how to drive stick as well as they seem to have the most viability when talking about upgrades and working on them. I plan on using 3k USD on the inital purchase but if I find something for less then the remainder of the 3k will go straight back into the car being purchased. I also plan on spending between 300-600 USD a month on parts to gradually upgrade performance and eventually apperance. The idea is putting roughly 6-7k into a car and make it a learning experience instead of just purchasing something I wont want to work on. I also have a mechanic that can look at the car during the initial purchase but any links that will help with identifying problems especially for specific cars will be appreciated.


Can you do Minor/major work on your own vehicle:

I just purchased a the following as starter mechanics tools

• Craftsman 230-Piece Mechanics toolset
  
  
• TEKTON Universal Joint Set
  
  
• Neiko 1/2 Inch drive premium Breaker Bar
  
  
• Kobalt 5-piece pliers set
  
  
• Pro-Lift F-767 Grey Low Profile Floor Jack - 2 Ton Capacity
  
  
• Torin T43002 Jack Stands: 3 Ton Lift Capacity
  
  And also a Ball Pein Hammer and Rubber Mallet
  
  
  If you have any recommendations other than what I purchased, I can still return any of these items and purchase others. Any other items I might need let me know. I plan on getting more tools as I need them.
  
  
  
  Location: USA, Texas, Rio Grande Valley Area
  
  Price range: Max 3000 USD for inital purchase
  
  New or used: Used
  
  
  Must haves: Easy to work on; Cost-Performance Efficent aftermarket parts; Ability to Upgrade
  
  
  Intended use: Project car for a couple months; Eventually Daily Use
  
  
  Vehicles you've already considered:
  
  
  
• 2000 Honda Civic EX D16Y8 Engine
  
  
• 1992 Corolla Toyota
  
  
• 1989 Honda civic ef sedan w/D15Z1 off 92-93 civic vx
  
  
• 1999 Honda Civic Coupe 1.6 vtec
  
  
• 1991 Honda Civic Hatchback
  
  
• 1997 vtec Hoonda Civic
  
  
• 1995 Honda Civic
  
  
• Civic Ex D19Y8
  
  
• 2000 Honda Civic Vtec 1.6
  
  
• 1984 vw rabbit gti
  
  
• 1999 Ecclipse
  
  
• 2000 Ranger
  
  
• 2000 Eclipse
  
  
• 1990 Mustang foxbody 5.0
  
  
• 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage
  
  
• 03 Mits Eclipse GTS Spyder
  
  
• CAMARO Z28
  
  
  I am open to suggestions but am more fond of light cars with better mpg
  
  
• Local Craigslist
  
  
• Local Craigslist 2
  
  Is this your 1st vehicle: No, currently have a 99 Toyota Corolla LE with 287k miles purchased at 170k and I put on the rest. I just had regular oil changes and minor things fized like sparkplugs. It had problem with the starter 6 months ago but banging on it made it work with no problems since then. No aftermarket parts and only problems currently is the evap cannister that I havent fixed and paint restoration as the clearcoat is gone aa I was ignorant on washing and waxing regularly as I live in a hot climate. It also has some rust on the roof and around the doors starting the develope. The corolla is okay, but being an automatic I assume there isnt much performance upgrades available. I also have the ability to purchase a 2005 Ford Escape XLT that works fine and just had a new cpu, tires and air compressor installed and has no current problems besides being Ford red in color ha
  
  
  
  Any help, opinions are greatly appreciated. If you would like to mentor me during this process as well, it would be cool to have someone in which I could ask question and get definite answers as no one in my immediate family or friends are car buffs.