I've just bought a bunch of tools to DIY..

Conor

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So I mentioned in a previous thread that I was going to take a leap onto to wild side and attempt to perform various works on my E350 S212.

I did a bit of research I hopped over to Amazon and ordered a bunch of items, which are due to arrive tomorrow and Saturday. I liberally ordered the bits because I can easily return.

I feel like I have ordered the kitchen sink, which given my circumstances is advisable. Basically, I live on a housing estate with no driveway / garage.. so, if I have my car all opened up and mid way through a task I a missing something, what do I do?! I also didn't really mind the cost etc, considering that labour is 100+vat here in London, the first few jobs shall cover the cost.

So with that in mind, here is what I have ordered. Please feel free to comment on anything regarding quality / better deals etc and add items I may have missed. At the end I will list the items that I have not yet bought but plan to. There are also a few cleaning items in there as the first job on my hands with the engine is clean off all the oil, of which there is much!

This post will be useful for me and with a bit of community effort we might be able to come up with a nice crowd sourced shopping list for newbies like me.

It is worth noting that I don't need snap on quality as these items will be rarely used, but if there is something that stands out as being garbage please let me know. I can easily return anything on the list.

What do people think?

Thanks in advance
Conor

(I'm super excited about this toolbox, I should easily be able to transport the tools in my wagon to wherever I want to work or just out of my flat onto the parking lot)
1 x Stanley 1-79-206 Rolling Workshop - £75.00

1 x Makita 90352 P-90532 Tool Kit, Blue/Black/Silver, Large, 227 Pieces £89.00
2 x Sealey WC09 Composite Wheel Chocks 0.3kg - Pair - (£10.03ea) £20.06
1 x Silverline 323710 Hex Key T-Handle Set 2-10 mm - 10 Pieces £6.89
1 x Rolson 62841 Tradesman Knife £3.99
1 x Status 10 m PVC Electrical Insulating Tape - Assorted Colour £2.50
1 x 400 Pcs Nylon Cable Zip Ties 100mm,150mm,200mm,250mm (100 Pcs each) £7.45
1 x Portwest Coverall | Mechanic Garage Workwear £17.28
1 x Tacklife Torque 3/8 Inch Drive 13.6-108.5 NM 10-/80 lb-ft, 2.95-inch Extension Bar, 1/2'' & 1/4'' Adaptor £26.99
1 x GardenMate 2m x 3m Tarpaulin Waterproof Heavy Duty - Blue/Green tarp Sheet £7.95
1 x Amtech A0250 Fibreglass Claw Hammer 16 oz £6.52
1 x Silverline 675089 Oil Drain Clean Pan 6 L £2.94
1 x Disposable Heavy Duty Powder Free Nitrile Gloves - Box 100 (L) £8.90
1 x Fluids & Lubricants Funnel Set 4 pce pieces 50mm, 75mm, 100mm & 120mm £6.66
1 x Silverline 675072 Socket Torx Ext E4-E24 - Set of 14 £11.16
1 x Mechanix Wear - FastFit Gloves (Medium, Black) £13.22
1 x Silverline 675263 Stockinette Roll 9m 800g £7.57
1 x Silverline 129472 Telescopic Inspection Mirror, 166-500 mm £3.05
2 x Silverline 871414 Magnetic Parts Dish, 150 mm (£2.98ea) £5.96
1 x Rolson LED Claw and Magnetic Pick Up Tool £8.00
1 x Portwest KP05BKR Series KP05 Kneeling Pad, Regular, Black £4.48

Engine cleaning items:
1 x Gunk 6868 5L Ultra Engine Degreaser £10.25
1 x Autoglym 21503060 AG 310017 Hi-Tech Wheel Brush £13.99
1 x Silverline 282441 Pressure Sprayer, 2 L £4.41


Total purchase cost: £364.22


I plan on buying the following tools another time, once needed and when I find decent ones:

* MB Spark plug wire removal tool / puller
* MB transmission fluid dipstick
* MB offset engine mount tool
* Oil filter wrench

I am not sure if I need to buy the following also, advice welcome:

* 3/8" Driver - I'm not 100% about the sizing of sockets. I know there 1/4" and 1/2" in the Makita set but not sure about why or if I need to get 3/8" driver (and sockets?)??
* Torx head set female - It looks like there are a bunch of them in Makita set so I need to check that.
* Pry bar set
* Heavy duty screwdriver set
* Flexi driver or some kind of fancy adapters for angles etc.
* Breaker bar
 
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Wighty

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Nice going buddy . Check out the Halfords advanced 200piece tool kit . That's what I would buy if I was starting from scratch .
The trouble for most of us (me included) is that we have been accruing tools for decades so we probably have too many :D
 

LostKiwi

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Nice going buddy . Check out the Halfords advanced 200piece tool kit . That's what I would buy if I was starting from scratch .
The trouble for most of us (me included) is that we have been accruing tools for decades so we probably have too many :D
The answer for too many tools is a holiday home. :)
 

ajlsl600

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same as that ! many thousands of . and yet some git re invents the wheel a dozen times a yr trying to turn us into never ending consumers
 
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Conor

Conor

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Nice going buddy . Check out the Halfords advanced 200piece tool kit . That's what I would buy if I was starting from scratch .
The trouble for most of us (me included) is that we have been accruing tools for decades so we probably have too many :D

Thanks.

Yes, I had been meaning to look at Halfords advanced after somebody else mentioned here. That set is temping... I see the spanners are ratcheting too. There also seems to be a greater selection of sockets. The Makita set appears to be bulking up it's piece count with small bits, which I will probably never need.

Is the quality of the Halfords stuff ok? I know Makita have a great name for power tools, but I don't believe it holds true for their hand tools.

I might swing by Halfords at the weekend and pickup a pack to compare.
 

Wighty

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Thanks.

Yes, I had been meaning to look at Halfords advanced after somebody else mentioned here. That set is temping... I see the spanners are ratcheting too. There also seems to be a greater selection of sockets. The Makita set appears to be bulking up it's piece count with small bits, which I will probably never need.

Is the quality of the Halfords stuff ok? I know Makita have a great name for power tools, but I don't believe it holds true for their hand tools.

I might swing by Halfords at the weekend and pickup a pack to compare.
Halfords Advanced is better than you will ever need buddy . Lifetime warranty , no receipt required
 
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Conor

Conor

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Halfords Advanced is better than you will ever need buddy . Lifetime warranty , no receipt required

Cool ill be certainly giving them a go over the weekend. Ta.
 

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Cool ill be certainly giving them a go over the weekend. Ta.
I wouldn’t bother initially, the ones you wear out replace with good quality. The others as you use so infrequently there’s no point in spending serious money on.

I always bought my engineers cheap sets initially and replaced the ones they used all the time with good quality.

Ratchet spanners are great but if you’re going to be really using them don’t get the ones with the reverse switch as they’re weaker. Get the ones that only go in one direction that you flip over to go the other way.
 

EmilysDad

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....
Ratchet spanners are great but if you’re going to be really using them don’t get the ones with the reverse switch as they’re weaker. Get the ones that only go in one direction that you flip over to go the other way.

I kinda agree but :rolleyes: .... those spanners that you turn over to reverse are flat and often it's nice to have the angle
 

Blobcat

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I kinda agree but :rolleyes: .... those spanners that you turn over to reverse are flat and often it's nice to have the angle
It is but when they give up the ghost because the ratchet has failed it’s not great. I’ve replaced all my ratchet spanner’s with none switchable ones, apart from my 32mm one as that doesn’t get the greatest amount of use...:D
 

EmilysDad

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It is but when they give up the ghost because the ratchet has failed it’s not great. I’ve replaced all my ratchet spanner’s with none switchable ones, apart from my 32mm one as that doesn’t get the greatest amount of use...:D

You're working your ratchet spanners too hard .... ;) I've had some Halfords turn-over ratchet spanners for years now ;)
 

Blobcat

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You're working your ratchet spanners too hard .... ;) I've had some Halfords turn-over ratchet spanners for years now ;)
I have a Land Rover... :rolleyes:

My Snap-On electroset tool case I’ve had for 32 years now :)
 

LostKiwi

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I wouldn’t bother initially, the ones you wear out replace with good quality. The others as you use so infrequently there’s no point in spending serious money on.

I always bought my engineers cheap sets initially and replaced the ones they used all the time with good quality.

Ratchet spanners are great but if you’re going to be really using them don’t get the ones with the reverse switch as they’re weaker. Get the ones that only go in one direction that you flip over to go the other way.
But be careful not to get caught with the spanner on the nut or bolt and trapped in an enclosed space....
 

om613

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Halford's sockets are pretty good, I've found, from the couple I've bought.

Do they allow car DIY on your Housing Estate?
 
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Conor

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But be careful not to get caught with the spanner on the nut or bolt and trapped in an enclosed space....

Oooph, when would something like that happen.. Under the car?

Under what circumstance would a spanner get stuck like that?

Was your comment a safety concern?
 
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Conor

Conor

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Halford's sockets are pretty good, I've found, from the couple I've bought.

Do they allow car DIY on your Housing Estate?

I'm not sure, probably not - it's a local authority housing estate but with the way they run the place, they can literally come and stop me. There's a nice little alcove in one of the corners where I can go and people will neither see or care imo.

I even picked up a tarp that I will put under the car when working to catch any oil, which is more than a recent repair guy did. I cuss at the stains each morning passing them :(

Also, will be cleaning the engine in a car wash with oil separator as per my other post.

Rant over lol.

P.S. The thought about that rule did cross my mind. I'll just say the car is broke down and can't move it without fixing.
 

Jim2

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Does not matter how many you will buy....you will always come across some job that after ripping it half apart...so it cannot be driven....you will find a an odd shaped bolt, nut, clip etc. and you don't have the proper spanner, socket etc. to fit it. It's called Murphy's Law...and it is universal and immovable !!! Aside from that, Good Luck with your plans .
 

davidsl500

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Bigger torque wrench as the one listed wouldn't do your wheel bolts. More extensions of different lengths for your sockets are always a good idea. A decent inspection lamp / torch and a multi-meter are also useful additions. Don't forget a selection of pliers / side cutters and mole wrenches...
 

ajlsl600

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i have boxes of snap on,facom , britool other american,blue point from my spanner days. now i just buy machine mart or halfords best. and its more than good enough. i still buy the odd cheapy for cut up spanners to get in places the makers could not be arxxd to think about. but thats it . unless i have to open /close sommat i dont have a tool for..
 
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