Worst DIY car job?

[cleverusername]

I purchased a Rover 75 as a daily driver. Bit old man, but it has leather seats, a BMW diesel and is alot of car for 900 quid.

Alas I have had to replace the front control arm bushes, which is a nightmare of a job, I have never seen anything like it. I managed to weld up the entire back end of the dolly in less time than it took me to force on one poly bush.

There is no access, nothing fits, and now one of the threads is damaged, which means spending a day tapping the damn thing.

Oh for a Triumph Herald with complete access to the front end.

[SprintMWU773V]

The reality with jobs like this on modern cars is that you buy the complete arm and bush assembly rather than fit a new bush which to me seems rather wasteful.

Worst job on my semi-modern MX5 has to be getting to the oil filter. You can see it, you can just about feel it but you still struggle to get it off. When you do it just p155 oil down the side of the block and onto the steering rack which is very unhelpful.

Wouldn't want to tackle anything on the BMW under the bonnet, can just about find the washer fluid reservoir and dipstick, fortunately it has a service plan and warranty so it's not my problem!

[geeksteve]

Wouldn't want to tackle anything on the BMW under the bonnet, can just about find the washer fluid reservoir and dipstick, fortunately it has a service plan and warranty so it's not my problem!

And not all of them have dipsticks!

S

[SprintMWU773V]

And not all of them have dipsticks!

Oddly my new car has both a proper dipstick and an electronic one. To use the electronic one means running the engine when warm for about 90 secs while it reads the oil level. To use the manual dipstick takes half that time. Needless to say I use the proper one.

[cliftyhanger]

I struggled to find the oil filter on our MX5 when we bought it.
Popped out to buy a new one, and it was only when I saw the box that I realised it was so tiny. And black. Easily mistaken for an aerosol lid on the bench......
Once I knew the size I soon found it, and yes, very dribbly.

Recently had to have the handbrake cables off the car, one was seizing. Not too bad, but getting the little clip at teh compensator end was a nightmare, need tiny hands and long fingers.

[Jon Tilson]

I better not crow too much about changing both our Corsa roll bar dop links in less than an hour last week then.

Jonners

[geeksteve]

I better not crow too much about changing both our Corsa roll bar dop links in less than an hour last week then.

Corsa C? How's the handbrake?

Steve

[Carledo]

Too many to prepare an exhaustive list but some of my (least) favourites, Changing spark plugs on V6 Rover 75, changing thermostat on V6 Rover 75, removing rear brake drums/hubs on Volvo 121/122 (if you think Sprint rear hubs are on tight, you know NOTHING) Changing spark plugs and oil filter on facelift mkII V6 petrol Shogun, EGR and Turbo on Renault Laguna Diesel and Grand Scenic diesel, alternator on Renault 19 16v, sump on 1400 Clio, in fact any job on any Renault ever made! Oh and removing injectors from Vauxhall Vivaro/Nissan something vans, though now I think about it this is also a Renault Trafic so I've already covered it!
Ah yes, how could I forget, Stag and 1850 Dolomite head gaskets and Sprint exhaust downpipes!

Steve

[Carledo]

I better not crow too much about changing both our Corsa roll bar drop links in less than an hour last week then.

Jonners

So what kept you? there's only so much tea a man can drink!

Steve

Useless boast now, but I can remove, overhaul and refit a Chrysler/Talbot Alpine 4 speed gearbox in 70 minutes (practice makes perfect and I got a lot of practice in the 80s)

[geeksteve]

Rocker cover gasket on some BMW 3-series or other.. Involved taking just about everything off, including windscreen wipers.

Steve

[bodgerben]

There's not much I do on the missus 9e30, brake pads and oil change, most things are awkward unless you have a two poster.
I'm keen on lifting the engine out on a Sprint as I'm used to it (and have a few spares), but dropping the engine of a 911 Turbo is not something I'm used to. And it must be said doesn't really interest me. You think some bits can look a bit corroded on an old Triumph, but wait till you see the manifolds and turbo hardware on a 911 - they rot like it's a rot competition. It's not the best position, just above the road, in line of salt spray (if you use the car all year).

I used to change the shocks, springs, cam and weber chokes and jets on a Sprint engined TR7 for the relevant weather that weekend and what event we were attending (hillclimb, sprint etc.) That took a couple of hours at most as we (the missus was well trained) were so used to it. If a race engine had to go in that meant an early start. Then back to standard(ish) for the week. My current Sprint - POE - has a spare engine at present that I've had no respect for, I expected it to blow up in a big way on a number of track days and it's kept running lovely. The little b'stard, I'm waiting for the block to crack, crank to break, cam to shear etc. for a couple of years but the little s##t keeps going to 7k (and beyond) and being thoroughly abused. I'm getting lazy and now won't change the engine unless necessary, but it's getting to the stage where maybe I should before I cause other people grief when she finally pops.

After all that, worst diy job was the rear suspension bushes on our E28 M5 without the correct tool, took all bloody day. Never again.

[xvivalve]

Starter motor on a Busso engined Alfa!

[Flyfisherman]

Air con rad on my octy Vrs - stripped all the front end off Inc. the crash bar. Still saved myself a lot of money.



Very nearly as bad as the BWM entered on the 24 HR Brit Car race on Top gear.

Paul

[MIG Wielder]

How about ...
Lotus Elite: exhaust manifold.
Ditto : Power steering pump .
Ditto : Wiper motor wheel boxes & rack.
Lotus Elise : Battery replacement; Yes its right down there at the front almost on the road inviting a strained back.
Tony.

[Jon Tilson]

Corsa C? You must be joking....


In my defence Steve I had to find the trolley jack and I'd never done it before.

Hardest part was getting the new ones out of the polythene bag....

Jonners