Tag Archives: working on your car

Maintenance

3 Kinds of Storage Options for Vintage BMWs

Collecting classic cars can be an expensive hobby. Owning a vintage BMW is an enjoyable investment that you have to take care of. You have to know how and where to properly store these vehicles to ensure they stay in as pristine a condition as possible. Taking care of them is more than half of the investment, in truth.

No matter what option you choose to go with, there are a few basic rules for storing a vintage BMW. First, you’ll have to choose a dry, dark place that’s indoors to protect your car from the elements.

If a place offers controlled temperature or stores your car on concrete instead of dirt or stone, then that one should be made a priority. Otherwise, the options come down to cost, security and how long you’re planning on storing the vehicle.

1. Your Own Garage

When it comes to a really expensive car, you probably didn’t consider storing it on your own property for very long. The truth is, a car in your own garage is going to be a lot cheaper to store than in someone else’s.

If this garage is on land you live on, then you’ll have the luxury of checking in on the vehicle whenever you like, keeping an eye on pests, changing the temperature when needed and constantly keeping an eye out for criminals.

The only real drawback is that the car will be taking up space on your own land, meaning other things will probably be displaced. Most home garages don’t even have climate control, so that might be a problem, too.

Keeping your vehicle on your own property is probably the best option all around but your residential garage doesn’t have to be the only option.

2. Private Buildings

If you don’t have the space to keep your BMW in your own garage, maybe you have the option of putting in another. A separate building on your land, particularly one built specifically for storing classic cars, is another fantastic option.

This one will likely be further away from your house than your own residential garage, but that doesn’t mean to security has to be lax.

In fact, if you have the money to pour into building your own storage building, you can get as many features put in as you want. Of course, the money put into the garage is all going towards protecting your investment, so you may not want to spend too much.

Jerry Seinfeld, for example, has an extensive car collection housed in his specially built $1.4 million garage that a lot of people probably couldn’t afford. (Don’t forget that Seinfeld earned several million dollars per episode of his show, Seinfeld. He has money to spare.)

3. Storage Facilities

Storage units made for vintage cars are probably the best place to store your vintage BMW. They’re designed to house your car, making it as simple as just driving in.

Some of them come with climate control that could be invaluable to your car, depending on its condition. Not to mention that this option is a lot cheaper than putting up your own private building and takes up less space than your personal garage.

The Best Option for You

There are several factors you have to consider when you choosing how to store your vehicle. You need to know how much space you need, how much your own or several vintage cars cost, how much they mean to you and what your budget looks like.

All of these options are going to protect your vehicles for the long-term, there’s no doubt about that, but you want the option that’s best for you in the end. If you have the money, a private building is probably the ideal option. Otherwise, a storage facility may be the way to go. The choice is yours.

Information

5 Tips for Nailing Your First Summer Project Car

The weather is warm, the sun is shining, school is out, and that all means one thing. Summer is officially here, and that means it’s the perfect time to start a new car project. If this summer is going to showcase your first project car, here are some tips and tricks to help you nail your first summer project car.

1. Beware of Rust

If you’re looking for a budget project car, remember one golden rule: beware of rust. You may find a spot or two here and there — it happens with older cars, no matter how well they’re taken care of — but don’t take on a tremendous rust restoration job as your first project.

It’ll cost you a ton of money and chances are high that you’ll give up half-way through because it’s too much for a beginner to handle. Plus, if you pick up a project car that’s got rust on the frame, you might as well take it to the junkyard. Beware of rust when choosing your new project.

2. Stick To Your Budget

Project cars aren’t cheap but that doesn’t mean you should mortgage your house to rebuild your project — unless you’re planning on living in it, and we don’t recommend that. Set yourself a budget — either monthly or per paycheck, whatever works best for you. — and stick to it, within reason.

If the part you need is on sale and it’s a little bit over your budget for the period, feel free to buy it, especially if the price will be back to normal by the time your budget resets. For the most part, though, stick to your budget and don’t empty the bank trying to rebuild your summer project car.

3. Choose an Easy Build

Don’t pick the most complicated — or the newest — car to restore for your summer project. A lot of more modern cars rely on computers and advanced electronics that it seems like you need a degree in electrical engineering to figure out. Start with something simple, like:

  • Scion xB – The exterior is kind of goofy looking, but the engine is easy to work on and easy to boost.
  • Lexus SC 300 — You can pick up a used early to mid-90s Lexus for less than $7,000, and they’re fantastic beginner resto cars.
  • Any Honda Civic — There are so many aftermarket parts for the Honda Civic that you won’t even know where to start.

Start with something easy and work your way up to the more complicated projects as you gain experience and confidence.

4. Make a Plan

Now that you’ve got your project car on-hand, it’s time to start planning out your project. What do you want to do first — get it running, modify the engine, or improve the exterior?

Write out the big steps first, then break each of these down into smaller projects. If you want to get it running, for example, the first thing you need to do is figure out why it’s not.

5. Don’t Just Bolt Things On

We mentioned bolt-ons for the Honda Civic and while the parts might fit that doesn’t mean you should just start bolting on every add-on that crosses your path.

There’s no guarantee that your stock engine will survive the extra power of a supercharger or turbo, even if you install it correctly. Work up to major power modifications slowly, and make sure that you aren’t going to blow up your engine the first time you rev it up.

Don’t Rush, and Enjoy Yourself

Don’t rush through your project car this summer, especially if it’s the first one you’ve ever done. Enjoy it, because while you may work on new projects over the years, you will never work on your very first summer project car ever again.

DIY

How to Get Your Garage Ready for Warm Weather

It’s finally warming up in most parts of the country, and that means it’s time to start getting your garage ready for nice weather. What do you need to do to make sure that this room — whether you’re using it for storage, crafting or parking your car — is ready for spring?

Organize Your Seasonal Items

You won’t need snow shovels and driveway salt now that the temperatures are starting to climb. Take the time to stow your winter gear — including clothing and jackets, if you store them in the garage — and retrieve your spring and summer equipment.

Don’t just throw everything in the garage as you sort it out. You’ll hate yourself later when you have to go through it all again and clean it up. Instead, organize your spring and summer gear — from beach toys to lawn mowers to trimmers — so you can easily access it without cluttering up your space.

Keep Out the Bugs

As temperatures start to climb, so to do bug populations. If you’re in the garage a lot during the day or keep the door open, you’re inviting six-legged guests into your space. Start by storing food — for pets or humans — in sealed containers.

Make sure you’re sweeping or vacuuming any food spilled on the floor. Spray the inside and outside baseboards of your garage with insecticide to kill any bugs that are already inside and keep any new ones from crossing the threshold.

Just because your garage isn’t a living space doesn’t mean you need to invite bugs to share the area with you. Get ahead of the problem before the weather warms up and you have to call an exterminator.

Clean the Floors

If you park your car in the garage or walk through it after parking in the driveway, chances are high your floor is covered in salt, dirt and other debris you’ve tracked in.

Take the time to give your garage floor a thorough cleaning as the temperature starts to climb. Dirty floors can be a sign of unclean work conditions, and if you’re planning to sell your home, a dirty garage floor could detract from the property’s value.

Clean and Maintain Your Door

Spring cleaning isn’t just limited to the interior of your home. It’s also a great time to clean and maintain your garage door, so it’s ready for the season.

Inspect the hardware both inside and out for any signs of rust or undue wear and tear. Take the time to wash the door — again, both inside and out. If it’s been a while since you painted it, now is the perfect time to add a new coat.

Restock Your Spring Chemicals/Materials

Spring doesn’t just bring showers and bugs — it also brings weeds, and just like the food in your pantry, the chemicals you keep in your garage will eventually expire.

Go through all the chemicals you’ll need for your spring chores and yard work. Make sure they’re stored properly and replace anything that has expired or doesn’t work as effectively.

Enjoy The Warm Weather

Now that the temperature is finally starting to creep up, the last thing you need to do is get outside and enjoy the warm weather.

Once you’ve got your garage ready for spring, you won’t have to worry about it until the thermometer starts dropping and you need your winter coats again.