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if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:38 pm
by ArthurPE
you may want to consider this option, a DIY hatch, makes it much simpler:
no lift/jack
no having to remove the covering and mess w/ the 1/4 turns...
pics pretty much self explanatory
check out the filter housing, spotless, no sludge/coking/varnish
5.2k miles Castrol 5W-40 Syntec
I initialed the receipt and put the mileage and date on, witnessed by my wife

let them try and mess with the warranty (it's got almost 4 years left w/ the CPO) for doing DIY oil changes, lol
RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:41 pm
by ArthurPE
more
RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:44 pm
by ArthurPE
oil filter housing
RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:54 pm
by bingboybri
that looks like your doing it in some ones front room not a garage!!.....
Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:02 pm
by ArthurPE
bingboybri wrote:that looks like your doing it in some ones front room not a garage!!.....
it's the man cave

RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:04 pm
by ArthurPE
I did the work myself:
paint, new door openers with 'knee bent' brackets
lighting
used an epoxy based cement for the floor, 1/8" skim coat, hard as nails
cabinets, etc,
TV
heat pump & AC
RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:08 pm
by ArthurPE
.......
RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:00 pm
by Outtlaw
Good pics of the garage, hope to be doing mine out this year.
Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:15 pm
by ArthurPE
Outtlaw wrote:Good pics of the garage, hope to be doing mine out this year.
thanks
I've done a few more things that don't show
I lined the garage doors with a foil insulator, makes it brighter too
lights are on a dimmer
a couple of factory Porsche posters also
I bought the heat pump off ebay, installed it myself, had to borrow a vacuum pump to purge the lines...it is such a luxury not having to clean snow/ice off and getting into a warm (I keep it at 59F, lowest setting) car...
if I may offer some unsolicited advice:
develop a budget and a plan in writing, maybe some sketches/layouts
make a list of the stuff you want to do, prioritze it, and shop around for prices
take your time and do it in small increments
you'ld be surprised how far a couple of grand will go
and how nice the results will be
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:15 pm
by sonny
Nice Garage Arthur..
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:59 pm
by Dom81
It's bigger than my flat!
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:23 pm
by ArthurPE
phase II today
washed mine (it was waxed a couple of weeks ago)
checked my oil level, right at the top of the x-hatch
washed AND waxed the good lady Jamie's
before/after/the Mini
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:53 pm
by Billy
Very impressive garage you have there.
I like the heat pump, how expensive was the intial setup and then actual running costs, if you don't mind me asking?
Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes....
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:00 pm
by ArthurPE
Billy wrote:Very impressive garage you have there.
I like the heat pump, how expensive was the intial setup and then actual running costs, if you don't mind me asking?
pump with pre-fabed hoses and shipping ~$1500
misc electrical: disconnect, ckt breaker, wire ~$100
took me about 10 hours to install (needed help for 2 hrs, pull wire, hang unit)
it could be done faster, but I'm 'picky' and took my time, no rush
took <1 hr to purge/pull vacuum
I been watching power and I figure to keep the garage at 60F with an average OAT of 28F (according to my power bill) it costs ~$7/month
I don't know the cooling numbers yet, but they seemed less for the short part of cooling season it ran...I'll set it at 75F, OAT will average 80F at worse, so much smaller differential (32 def F vs 5, so the machine will work less) should keep the humidity low...
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: if you do your own oil changes..
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:08 pm
by ArthurPE
heat pump pics: