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[Fox]

Don't think I'd trust those quick valves, anything that makes it easier for oil to leave your vehicle I would be suspect of!

You can get a nice tray, I bought a sealey one which stores old oil however I got by for many years with just a cheap washing up bowl (cut to shape to slide under the sump easier) and then funneling into the empty oil bottle After filling the car. Keep the leftover litre of clean for next time and dump the bad stuff at the local tip.

Cat litter (cheap gray stone stuff) is good for oil drips and/or cement dust.

[Problemchild]

got a huge box of latex gloves..... they normally fall apart after 20mins and i get fed up......may just buy some fast orange

will buy an oil drain tray and a jack and the parts - should still save myself £150-£200

anyone send me the info for changing the aux belt on the BRAB?

obviously i will do a guide for it all as well so others can benefit.

as for brake fluid..... it doesn't get used much. 5000 miles in 2 years. pedal not spongy.

JJ

[basilbrush]

Did I read on here that someone lost the oil because a mechanic didn't screw the plug in correctly?
The quick valve looks a precision piece of kit, but I would pay the extra pound for the spring clip just in case.
As for brake fluid spongy pedal would indicate air in the system. Water content could be an issue if the brake fluid started to boil maybe with spirited driving and them big calipers. Garages can check for moisture content of brake fluid, but is their kit reliable? Much better to err on the side of caution and change every two years if you service yourself.

[CrazyG]

When I used to do my own oil change (before I got into Smarts) I used to use
an empty oil container...cut a large hole in one side...and drain the oil into it.
It was then a simple thing to unscrew the cap and pour the old oil out into
another recepticle/can and take that to the dump.
The othere advantage of that was that there would always be a bit left in the
cut opn container...good for dipping rusty or new bolts into before putting
them to use. (Saved buying CopperEase !)

Oh, and if like JJ and myself, you find that those thin latex gloves tear/split
easily.....see if you can get hold of a bottle of Wurth 'Liquid Glove'.
It really is the 'dogs gonads'.  A small squirt and rub it in and it is a barrier
to all the stuff you hate when doing car maintenance.  When you come to wash
your hands after with the usual cleaner you'll find your hands come out spotless
in no time....and cleaning under the nails is so much easier too.
(Years ago there was a pink creamy barrier cream called Rosalex that did much
  the same...but it has all but vanished from the shelves.)

[Scoobysook]

If not previously mentioned the buy a couple of sump screws and several washers from Merc- very cheap and good to keep some extra for the future. Also an old funnel to poor off the old oil into a spare oil gallon without it going everywhere.

Finally, the oil filter can be stiff to remove and get to if its like the cdi one. You may want a filter removal tool too- just check it fits on the Brab one before purchase. Removal of the filter is what normally creates the oil running down the arm so be careful.

[djames108]

Finally, the oil filter can be stiff to remove and get to if its like the cdi one. You may want a filter removal tool too- just check it fits on the Brab one before purchase. Removal of the filter is what normally creates the oil running down the arm so be careful.

I bought a removal tool but it was rubbish, probably because it was a cheap one. In the end i just rammed a screw driver right through it and turned it with that!

[mr singh]

a pair of water pump grips will come in handy when undoing the oil filter.

there is no harm in using an engine flush in my mind. my forfour had been flushed and so have my mums current focus and the focus before it.

[funkydoodycool]

Well I haven't read all 3 pages of thie thread, but my thoughts are:

1) Definitely on a car over a few years old it's ok to have a self-service history, I only take mine to S2 cos they don't charge much more than the parts would cost me anyway, so I let them deal with the mess.  I always did mine before, and just kept a sheet in my car file to show dates of what I'd done, with receipts for parts and oil.

2) The tools you need last forever and are cheap - my plug remover was £10, and oil capture bin £5.  You empty it down the tip, and take it home to use again.  Stick with djames's advice re the oil filter - I only once ever had trouble removing it by hand (heat being the main problem) and a screwdriver jammed in makes it easy to remove.

3) I usualy flush the engine every couple of years on the oil change, using some cheap thin oil by Comma that I found for £10 a gallon.  I've heard the risks involved... but seriously if it's deposits that are holding your engine together, you've got problems beyond needing to change the oil 

So yeah, I wouldn't worry about doing it, and I DEFINITELY wouldn't pay MB £400 to do it.

[Fox]

I've always liked the oil filter remover chains over the belt ones. Some have little teeth that really grip the can.
I've never had to use a screwdriver.

Look forward to hearing of your first 'self-service' and how it goes.

[Problemchild]

now i have space in my garage i'm going to start setting myself up with a few better quality bits so i can work on my car better.....

thoughts on these...

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_8,cos_8.5,cos_8.6.1/107255

http://www.costco.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/cos_8,cos_8.5,cos_8.6.1/121701

thanks

.... or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Liftmaster-2-25-Ton-Low-Profile-Hydraulic-Trolley-Car-Jack-with-LED-Nut-Brace-/310787721749?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item485c644a15

JJ

[CrazyG]

I have one of those Costco trolley jacks, and they are really light
Plus they fit under my low motor easily as they are ultra shallow.
So l wud say stick/go with the Costco gear.

[nickgsmith1]

Agree with all the posts regarding carrying out basic servicing yourself and saving money - it' not "rocket science"!       Have managed to do all the jobs mentioned and am contemplating attempting the adjustment of valve clearance on my forfour - would appreciate input on how difficult this is to do and procedure involved.

[CrazyG]

.... am contemplating attempting the adjustment of valve clearance on my forfour - would appreciate input on how difficult this is to do and procedure involved.

The Mitsi lumps are VVT (Varliable Valve Timing), that alone would put even me off
touching them. Perhaps Alex (who has done extensive 'self servicing' on his 1.3)
could throw some light on doing this....and also let us know if they use hydraulic
tappets and/or are OHC (OverHeadCam) with shims n buckets or whatever ?

[mr singh]

.... am contemplating attempting the adjustment of valve clearance on my forfour - would appreciate input on how difficult this is to do and procedure involved.

The Mitsi lumps are VVT (Varliable Valve Timing), that alone would put even me off
touching them. Perhaps Alex (who has done extensive 'self servicing' on his 1.3)
could throw some light on doing this....and also let us know if they use hydraulic
tappets and/or are OHC (OverHeadCam) with shims n buckets or whatever ?

i let mercedes do it on my 1.1 at a cost of £114, check and adjust

[Alex]

I haven't done the valve adjustment on mine yet, although now it should be the second time

I think it's done with shims, because the mechanic told me that it would need taking apart, measuring, ordering the appropriate shims and installing. I think there were around 7 sizes, so not really economical to order them all beforehand unless you can return them after