Home grown or out sourced

Rikki · 24th April 2017, 15:55

Just wondered, Given there is such a range of people on here, just how many do their own repairs servicing, and how many like me struggle to change a light bulb and prefer to leave the dark art of mechanicals to people who are actually competent?

I do work on the Series but that is a very different beast to the ZT - and when it got rebuilt it was mostly done by a mate with me playing theatre nurse and passing spanners on request.

Can you be a real enthusiast about these cars if you don't get stuck into the oily bits?

Myself - for many years I could do(ahem .. attempt) the spanner work- electrics are something known only to higher beings however-, but with arthritis in my shoulder my days of scraping knuckles and inventing swear words is now in the past. so I will be outsourcing

steve-45 · 24th April 2017, 16:21

I try to do most of my own - garages around here take one look ..... Hmmm Rover .... must be the head gasket .......

neilb740 · 24th April 2017, 16:21

I do my own servicing and any repairs i can.
Not had to use a garage yet in 7 years of ownership.

Gino · 24th April 2017, 16:44

I do most of my own servicing but there are something's I let a garage to do - although this is a sole trader who has been working on mine & my dad's cars for years. He is very good, honest & well priced.

Rob

Stickman · 24th April 2017, 16:47

I certainly do my own servicing as it's so easy on a diesel
Costs me only about £30 in parts and about an hour of my time each time
I try to do most things myself - anything I can't handle usually gets passed on to my son who can tackle most things and has the tools
Anything else that beats me or him I use the forum for help/advice
Regards
Chris

KeithA · 24th April 2017, 17:29

I do a lot but not all of mine. For example I've done on the 75...

Revotec fan
Egr bypass
Fuel pump
Fuel air pcv filters
Clogged washer filter!
Intercooler seals
Handbrake compensator

Etc but let the garage do clutch and full lower front arms.

I don't bother doing my own oil changes either now; cheap enough at out local national not to bother.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

jackatesme · 24th April 2017, 17:58

As above i do a lot of the simple jobs myself, but energy levels are low.
I am fortunate to have a mechanic 6 doors away who helps me with the more difficult,and he charges £00.00.

mileshawk56 · 24th April 2017, 18:52

Rikki, we all have differing abilities and doing the oily bits is not a badge or courage, time also changes things and creaking joints etc are a thing that does or will come to us all. If we let/pay someone to do the work that's a plus to them,making some money, doing something they enjoy. Its the swings and roundabouts of life isn't it. cheers to you Chris S.

Rikki · 24th April 2017, 19:11

Agreed Miles, heartfeltedly so, my passion is driving. others are all about the detailing, some are into the modifications, others simply about restoration- the one unifying factor is the car itself.

I can no longer fix or detail/clean and no interest in modifying, for me the enjoyment is driving something that is different to the rest

I spent too long being part of a group that only had one way that a certain car should be - much to my joy I found another group that has a far more simple outlook, - its your car do what makes you happy- and if your happy then no-one can criticise you. That's why I still own my Series 2A money pit, she is a BITSA in no way concourse - 55 mph flat out in overdrive- she has every dent and wrinkle that her 50+ years of life have bestowed on her- an absolute pig to drive and I have had a chap who owned a showroom condition 1959 Series 1 take a look at her and tell me that in his opinion mine was what a well looked after working Series should be

If someone took a ZT 190, slammed it to the floor, fitted hydraulic suspension to make it bounce, Recaro seats , painted it bright orange - I would not see a car that was ruined, I would see a car that's had a load of passion stuffed into it, maybe not to my taste but I would far rather see a loved car modified/ changed to what the owner wants, than one neglected.

OK off my soap box now - but to be clear this club isn't like the one I mentioned in the opening line of the 2nd paragraph above- if it was I would not still be here

LotusLC · 24th April 2017, 19:39

I try to do as much as i can to my own car's but if there is anything beyond my skill level , people like Trikey then come into play

24th April 2017, 15:55	#1
Rikki Loves to post MG ZT+ 190, Land Rover Series IIA, KIA Pro C'eed VR7 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Redcar Posts: 258 Thanks: 151 Thanked 158 Times in 53 Posts	Home grown or out sourced Just wondered, Given there is such a range of people on here, just how many do their own repairs servicing, and how many like me struggle to change a light bulb and prefer to leave the dark art of mechanicals to people who are actually competent? I do work on the Series but that is a very different beast to the ZT - and when it got rebuilt it was mostly done by a mate with me playing theatre nurse and passing spanners on request. Can you be a real enthusiast about these cars if you don't get stuck into the oily bits? Myself - for many years I could do(ahem .. attempt) the spanner work- electrics are something known only to higher beings however-, but with arthritis in my shoulder my days of scraping knuckles and inventing swear words is now in the past. so I will be outsourcing __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] *GREYSCALE* Born Monday, 14th July 2003 @ 12:51:51 9,940th ZT to run off the production line, out of 18,894 2,948th ZT 190 + to be made out of 4,023 1,042nd ZT in XPower Grey (code: LEF) to be made out of 3,143 XPower Grey ZTs Done: Cam belt and aux belts. Water pump, pulleys and tensioners, Hunter wheel alignment, New thermostat and housing, Plenum guard mod, refix undertray, Bonnet cable mod, upgraded Balance VIS motor, One empty bank account, one nervous breakdown. Last edited by Rikki; 24th April 2017 at 16:00..

24th April 2017, 16:44	#4
Gino Gets stuck in Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Newmarket Posts: 601 Thanks: 384 Thanked 130 Times in 99 Posts	I do most of my own servicing but there are something's I let a garage to do - although this is a sole trader who has been working on mine & my dad's cars for years. He is very good, honest & well priced. Rob __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] MODS DONE; plenum spyhole, bonnet cable divider block (previous owner), chrome wing mirror covers, gold fan resistor (previous owner), s/s bumper bolts, uprated under tray fittings silicone intercooler hose, Viton O rings, Crofts door finishers, boot badge, wood dash, Phil-t4's magic wand, wood wheel, mk2 repeaters, HK tweeters & Angel eye projectors.

24th April 2017, 17:29	#6
KeithA Loves to post Rover 75 Conny Tourer Auto Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Essex Posts: 347 Thanks: 75 Thanked 94 Times in 71 Posts	I do a lot but not all of mine. For example I've done on the 75... Revotec fan Egr bypass Fuel pump Fuel air pcv filters Clogged washer filter! Intercooler seals Handbrake compensator Etc but let the garage do clutch and full lower front arms. I don't bother doing my own oil changes either now; cheap enough at out local national not to bother. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk __________________ 2003 Tourer, Connoisseur Auto

24th April 2017, 17:58	#7
jackatesme This is my second home rover 75 saloon.Renault Captur 1.5 diesel. Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: rhymney Posts: 3,661 Thanks: 2,269 Thanked 1,242 Times in 702 Posts	As above i do a lot of the simple jobs myself, but energy levels are low. I am fortunate to have a mechanic 6 doors away who helps me with the more difficult,and he charges £00.00. __________________ - John B signing out Maralyn was born 9th Sept 2004 14.44.48. 103,597 of 112,381 (75s) 3,021 of 4,744 Connie SE 239 of 1.685 Platinum Gold. "Maralyn": Platinum Blonde,Troublesome,Unpredictable.

24th April 2017, 19:11	#9
Rikki Loves to post MG ZT+ 190, Land Rover Series IIA, KIA Pro C'eed VR7 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Redcar Posts: 258 Thanks: 151 Thanked 158 Times in 53 Posts	Agreed Miles, heartfeltedly so, my passion is driving. others are all about the detailing, some are into the modifications, others simply about restoration- the one unifying factor is the car itself. I can no longer fix or detail/clean and no interest in modifying, for me the enjoyment is driving something that is different to the rest I spent too long being part of a group that only had one way that a certain car should be - much to my joy I found another group that has a far more simple outlook, - its your car do what makes you happy- and if your happy then no-one can criticise you. That's why I still own my Series 2A money pit, she is a BITSA in no way concourse - 55 mph flat out in overdrive- she has every dent and wrinkle that her 50+ years of life have bestowed on her- an absolute pig to drive and I have had a chap who owned a showroom condition 1959 Series 1 take a look at her and tell me that in his opinion mine was what a well looked after working Series should be If someone took a ZT 190, slammed it to the floor, fitted hydraulic suspension to make it bounce, Recaro seats , painted it bright orange - I would not see a car that was ruined, I would see a car that's had a load of passion stuffed into it, maybe not to my taste but I would far rather see a loved car modified/ changed to what the owner wants, than one neglected. OK off my soap box now - but to be clear this club isn't like the one I mentioned in the opening line of the 2nd paragraph above- if it was I would not still be here __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] *GREYSCALE* Born Monday, 14th July 2003 @ 12:51:51 9,940th ZT to run off the production line, out of 18,894 2,948th ZT 190 + to be made out of 4,023 1,042nd ZT in XPower Grey (code: LEF) to be made out of 3,143 XPower Grey ZTs Done: Cam belt and aux belts. Water pump, pulleys and tensioners, Hunter wheel alignment, New thermostat and housing, Plenum guard mod, refix undertray, Bonnet cable mod, upgraded Balance VIS motor, One empty bank account, one nervous breakdown. Last edited by Rikki; 24th April 2017 at 19:29..

24th April 2017, 16:21	#2
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	I try to do most of my own - garages around here take one look ..... Hmmm Rover .... must be the head gasket .......

24th April 2017, 16:21	#3
neilb740 I really should get out more....... MG ZT 1.8 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Crewe Posts: 2,298 Thanks: 110 Thanked 362 Times in 237 Posts	I do my own servicing and any repairs i can. Not had to use a garage yet in 7 years of ownership.

24th April 2017, 16:47	#5
Stickman Posted a thing or two Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bordon Posts: 1,856 Thanks: 250 Thanked 403 Times in 352 Posts	I certainly do my own servicing as it's so easy on a diesel Costs me only about £30 in parts and about an hour of my time each time I try to do most things myself - anything I can't handle usually gets passed on to my son who can tackle most things and has the tools Anything else that beats me or him I use the forum for help/advice Regards Chris

24th April 2017, 18:52	#8
mileshawk56 Posted a thing or two MGZT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,282 Thanks: 1,738 Thanked 299 Times in 216 Posts	Rikki, we all have differing abilities and doing the oily bits is not a badge or courage, time also changes things and creaking joints etc are a thing that does or will come to us all. If we let/pay someone to do the work that's a plus to them,making some money, doing something they enjoy. Its the swings and roundabouts of life isn't it. cheers to you Chris S.

24th April 2017, 19:39	#10
LotusLC This is my second home MG ZT CDTi Auto / ZT-T Trophy Blue Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: York Posts: 3,981 Thanks: 3,329 Thanked 1,644 Times in 1,238 Posts	I try to do as much as i can to my own car's but if there is anything beyond my skill level , people like Trikey then come into play __________________ Lotus Carlton - Number 852 (My old car) https://i.imgur.com/Cwa3376m.jpg