i have a 1988 M6 back home and while i consider myself a car nerd and what not, i really dont know my way around an engine bay or other inner workings of a car.

i'd LOVE to learn how do my own shit on it ya know? so the ? is, how did you guys who can do most of your own mechanical work learn how to do it?

classes? reading some books? just trial and error?

This is my experience and is particular to my 1995 330ti, but I would think it would be no different for any other car. First, this forum is invaluable. You will have access to so much info. If you can't find it after a search, you post a question and more often than not, you'll get a ton of answers. Second, get a book, like a Bentley, and third, once you have the info, just do it. Of course, make sure you have the tools, but nothing will help you more than doing. At first, it can be intimidating, but as you do more, you'll get more comfortable with every aspect of the car. Then, to give back to the forum, you can post your experiences, even better if pictures accompany the writeup.

clex2 is right on.

Follow the Nike motto: "Just Do It."

Of course, it really really really really helps to have a garage and a second car. I have a garage, but no second vehicle.

You learn when you make mistakes, and you'll only make mistakes when you dig in. Just remember - everything is replaceable. No matter what you do, someone can always fix it. I think a lot of fear about working on the car is just getting an idea of how rough you can be with parts of it, and how sensitive you need to be with other parts of it, and not being afraid to break stuff if you manhandle it too much.

That being said, I will never touch the innards of my engine. At least, not until I've rebuilt another engine on my own. I've just assisted a very well mechanically-inclined friend to rebuild my two-stroke Kawasaki engine, and that's a huge help in learning how engines work, but still it's completely different. Until I can work myself around other engines without fear, I will not touch the inside of the most expensive part of my car.

The most important part of taking care of your car is being able to diagnose a problem. Fixing it by doing what other people tell you is relatively easy and is something you can just dive into, but being able to figure out what the problem is in the first place is key -- and that's what you're paying for when you work with a tech from the STEP program, for instance.

classes? reading some books? just trial and error?

Bentley manual and jump in.

Let's face it, with todays electronics, we are all a little intimidated compared to cars from 1975 and earlier. However, mechanically, things stay pretty much status quo. Internal combustion hasn't evolved very much.

It's not rocket surgery! :) Jump in with both gloved hands!

the boards, bentley manual, people, and just diving into some projects and hoping it turns out for the best :D

Bentley manual and jump in.
Let's face it, with todays electronics, we are all a little intimidated compared to cars from 1975 and earlier. However, mechanically, things stay pretty much status quo. Internal combustion hasn't evolved very much.
It's not rocket surgery! :) Jump in with both gloved hands!

I don't think the electronics have made the underhood environment that cluttered, I think it's the emissions vacuum hoses and breather valves and whatnot that makes it look like a nest of snakes! Well, I guess there are quite a few wires too! :D

I started out fairly easy with DIYs, by doing the easy stuff. I did numerous oil changes on the family cars as a teenager, and the random distributor cap/rotor change, and spark plug replacement.

Later, after I got my current car, I started the DIYs off easy. I did a few things like an underpanel install and a brake job. I moved on to the suspension and cooling system.

So it's all about starting out simple and building your confidence. Having a second car does help a lot! Especially for long and drawn out jobs that may take slightly more than a weekend, like a clutch job. That was fun! :shifty

For anyone starting out, I think one of the most critical skills in terms of manual dexterity is tightening fasteners. A lot of people underestimate their own strength being multiplied by a 10" ratchet and overtighten so that fasteners break or are severely weakened. A torque wrench will help you avoid many fastener disasters, but not all of them.

Removing fasteners is often the hardest part of a lot of jobs. When you have rusted old fasteners, they are weak and can break off at the most inopportune times. This is where heat (from a torch) or penetrant (Kroil or PB Blaster, not WD-40) will help you out. If you let penetrant sit for at least ten minutes (the longer the better, and also dependent on the fastener type), you can reduce the likelihood of breaking or snapping something.

Bentley manual
It's not rocket surgery! :) Jump in with both gloved hands!

It may not be rocket surgery but it is your rocket so be careful.

i agree completely with the bentley, the gloves parts, and of course, the forum here is gem mine; sometimes you have to dig to find the gem you are looking for....

and how could i forget to spread the word about www.bimmerdiy.com

Proper research (Bentley/TIS/etc.) and preparation (tools/materials/safety gear) are essential. I was a research nut before I even got into working on my car.

One word of caution regarding Internet forums: While it can be a useful learning tool, there is a LOT of misinformation flying around this and other boards - bad repair techniques, ill-informed guesses at the cause of another member's car trouble, etc. Verify what you read here with other, reputable sources before you start your work.

I had absolutely no background for working on anything when I started. No one I knew worked on anything as it was either too expensive to own a car or beyond the ability of those that did. I just plunged in because I couldn't afford to pay someone to do it. Reading will be a good start. Learn the fundamentals of how an internal combustion engine works. Learn what the components do and how they work in unison with each other. Before you attempt ANY job read about it. I've been building and wrenching for many many years and I still get a manual for the proper specs on that particular vehicle. Start with small jobs that you're sure you can handle and have all the proper tools and materials on hand before you start the job so it will go smoothly (it rarely does anyway). Don't attempt something well beyond your ability as there's nothing worse than a half finished job that just won't seem to end. Start buying good quality tools, a bargain priced tool that breaks or ruins the job is no bargain. Do not buy crappy fasteners from the hardware store either. There is a coding on the top of the fastener for the grade so learn the grading system for fasteners. Replacement with a softer grade of fastener might ruin your whole job out on the road. Torque wrench, volt/ohm meter, electrical tape, Loctite (blue), moly grease, and a magnet on a wand will be required too. Buy things as you're going to need them so you don't break the bank. Start with the usual things that need doing, the things you take to the shop regularly. Read the posts here on the board, it's a good place and there's lots of good folks here that will help you out. I've been a toolmaker for over 25 years and I still learn things almost every time I stop in. It seems like a lot but the self reliance you will learn is well worth the price. One more thing, don't beat yourself up when a job goes bad as it's part of the learning curve. Things don't always go according to the plan even for me either and that's just part of the nature of working on infernal contraptions. Good luck and welcome to the Knuckle Busters Club.

i have a 1988 M6 back home and while i consider myself a car nerd and what not, i really dont know my way around an engine bay or other inner workings of a car.
i'd LOVE to learn how do my own shit on it ya know? so the ? is, how did you guys who can do most of your own mechanical work learn how to do it?
classes? reading some books? just trial and error?
I'm still learning and certainly not as knowledgeable as many of the helpful people that post to forums like this one. But I started learning how to care for and work on my car in late 2003, after I bought my first 2 BMW cars. I think that had I bought something else, where there isn't as many enthusiasts, I probably would not have learned as much as I did about cars in general and BMWs in particular. So, being a part of the BMW enthusiast community, to me, was the best thing I could do to learn about working on cars. Join these types of forums, meet other enthusiasts at your local car clubs....

Next thing, buy a set of good tools. When I finally decided that I wasn't going to be afraid of breaking something and I was going to spend a lot more time under the car or under the bonett, I went out and bought $2000 worth of tools and have probably added another $500 of tools since. That may seem like a lot of money to spend in one shot, but the money I've saved by doing a lot of my own modifications and maintenance has saved me well over $5000+. I'm the type that throws myself into something when I decide I'm going to do it. If that's not you, try to find someone that you can visit that will lend you tools.

Then, get the manuals (Bentley, TIS) and use the search functions on the various forums. I've found that the information on these forums are also more accurate than the Bentley manuals. (I found incorrect torque values in the Bentley manual, but was able to find the correct information in a online forum and the TIS)

Finally, ask questions, even if they seem stupid, even if someone flames you for asking such a retarded question. Eventually, someone knowledgeable and generous enough will help you out.

Do the above, and get under your bonett! (i'd say, get under your car too, but be sure you can do that safely before you do that...) Also, it's helpful, easier, and probably safer if you have someone helping you while you're working on your car. If you end up really hurting yourself, someone can call 911 or drive you to the ER.

Just mess around on your car. Read service manuals. Having experienced friends help.

Having your first car be an old shitbox is a great way to learn how to fix cars, honestly. My first car was a 1964 Volvo 122S, and it defined the term "easy to work on" the engine compartment looked like it was laid out by playskool. The only challenge it presented was dual carbs.
I don't know if an 80's M6 fits the bill of "old shitbox"... it seems like it'd be more of an electrical nightmare than anything.

I learned by sheer necessity combined with stupidity. The stupidity part was swapping a Chevy 327 into a 1976 Pontiac Lemans that was running just fine on the ol' straight 6. The necessity was the fact that I never had any money, but had to have something to drive. I was always working on the thing, and trial and error combined with the kind effort of some older friends who were more knowledgable than I helped me to learn to fix many things. At the very least, it tought me not to fear digging in and attempting repairs.

My 2nd hand car has many minor problems at the time I purchase and I try to cut down the bill. So, I first order a Bentley and goes thru all sources on the internet to learn all the experiences of others. bimmerforums is one of them.

There are many good one and I recommend this one :
member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/
and
realoem.com

RealOEM is a very useful one as they provide all the explode view of the parts inside the car. I can therefore "ping pong" the exact part which create the problems, and then get the replacement parts number, runs to the parallel import BMW parts supplier and buy it at a cheaper price and done the replacement by myself.