Have an 09 x drive....smaller things are repairable as a diy'er with basic auto repair knowledge like any other car. Haven't had to go-to a dealer since I owned and list of repairs I've made over the 6 years of ownership:
Thermostat and water pump....twice because the 1st time I tried to go cheap.
Valve cover gasket.
Brakes and sensors.
Radiator and various coolant hoses.
Battery.
Starter.
Fuel pump module.
Window track.
Plugs/coils.
A\C went out the end of last summer so I'll be doing that this spring.
Basic hand tools and some patience just like working on any auto.
One bit of advice is definitely get some software for anything electrically controlled like replacing modules. INPA is what I used to replace and recode the fuel pump module.
Just dig in when something needs replacing....if something is already broken you won't need to worry about breaking it a 2nd time.
Thanks for the reply
So for replacing certain things i will need decoding device to calibrate it?
And for some repairs have u needed to invest in specialized tools or same as any other cars? (Basic tools)
There are a ton of YouTube videos among other resources for repairs on the e series 3 series vehicles. Over all they are fairly easy to work on but having a quality code reader or laptop is a plus.
I personally use a dedicated laptop with INSTA and INPA loaded. The interface is not great with either but they are good once the learning curve is done. The software can be downloaded and you will need a KDCAN cable.
Others use Icarly but I didn’t like the subscription model.
Have an 09 x drive....smaller things are repairable as a diy'er with basic auto repair knowledge like any other car. Haven't had to go-to a dealer since I owned and list of repairs I've made over the 6 years of ownership: Thermostat and water pump....twice because the 1st time I tried to go cheap. Valve cover gasket. Brakes and sensors. Radiator and various coolant hoses. Battery. Starter. Fuel pump module. Window track. Plugs/coils. A\C went out the end of last summer so I'll be doing that this spring. Basic hand tools and some patience just like working on any auto. One bit of advice is definitely get some software for anything electrically controlled like replacing modules. INPA is what I used to replace and recode the fuel pump module. Just dig in when something needs replacing....if something is already broken you won't need to worry about breaking it a 2nd time.
Thanks for the reply So for replacing certain things i will need decoding device to calibrate it? And for some repairs have u needed to invest in specialized tools or same as any other cars? (Basic tools)
I had a pretty decent set of tools already...nothing over the top but and average diy'er....only thing I had to buy was a set of e torx sockets.
There are a ton of YouTube videos among other resources for repairs on the e series 3 series vehicles. Over all they are fairly easy to work on but having a quality code reader or laptop is a plus.
Can i use a laptop instead of a dedicated coder? Obd?
I personally use a dedicated laptop with INSTA and INPA loaded. The interface is not great with either but they are good once the learning curve is done. The software can be downloaded and you will need a KDCAN cable. Others use Icarly but I didn’t like the subscription model.