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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Mini enthusiasts
I am looking for creative ideas on where to work on my car. I would do basic maintenance like brake service, oil change, etc.
I live in a town home with street parking, no parking pad or garage. I want to do some of the basic maintenance work and some performance upgrades on my car but have no indoor location. In the wintertime in Baltimore, working outside can be less than pleasant.
Does anyone have a creative idea on where or how I could get a garage or similar location - even if it is just for the weekends - to work on my car?
I used to live in Baltimore, my solution to no garage space was to move out of Baltimore.
You have to prioritise things, It was more important to me to have a workspace than to live in the city. I moved to the eastern shore, but you don't have to move very far from Baltimore to find a place with a garage.
I remember my youth when living in apartments/condos with no enclosed garage. I owned new cars then and had no choice but to park in designated "stall" subject to dings, dents and "no maintenance work done on site" rules.
Agreed, I'd move. Perhaps to house/condo with enclosed garage even if that requires a roommate financially (assuming your single). I did that way back in the early 70s (OK, I am old) to a house and 2-car garage that suited both of our vehicles. To me, a MINI or other enthusiast car (if in pristine condition) deserves better than street parking if at all possible...
Check with your local independent garages. Some will happily rent you a stall for a specific task which will allow you to work in a protected environment.
[QUOTE=Minnie.the.Moocher;4267806]Local MINI club might be best source of this info. Might have members with garages willing to trade for your help on their cars.[/QUOTE
This is the best idea and it has worked for me in the pass. Right now I'm currently renting a storage space. It's not that much money. I made sure I was near an electrical outlet on my unit. I have plenty of room.The Mini does not fill it up. I have all my tools, jack stands, tool box, etc. I can do oil changes, brakes etc in there with a little music, my lights, and complete comfort. Ses how much a storage unit is in your area. You may be able to split the cost with others that want to wrench on their cars as well. Good luck.
Last edited by Bernard Barbour; Dec 26, 2016 at 12:24 PM.
There are many storage units that allow vehicles. I stored stuff (including project cars) at many of them, lol. Right now there is a guy working on a HEMI next to me, a Porsche 911 a few doors down, a Rolls Royce, and a couple I see most weekends when they come to get their motorcycles out to ride when the weather is good. Most of the units I've stored with just want to get paid for the space. Good luck
Everyone
thanks for the replies...
Based on the suggestions, I will likely start looking at the Central MD Mini Motorists to see if anyone would be willing to share their garage for a day or two in exchange for my labor.
Renting a space...I'd prefer not to but may have to. Also, Bernard thanks for posting the photos, you have inspired me to blackout the grill on my Chili Red 05 MCS!
As for the suggestion to move...well, I'm not going to suggest moving anytime soon. I do like my neighborhood and my home ... as does my wife.
You can be like me (don't be) and put the car on as flat as a place as you can find in your driveway, lift only half the car (front or back or left or right but never all four at the same time) and place on jack stands, chalk up the tires front and back and accept that the car will kill you one way or another. Just (kind of) kidding - as this is what I actually do. Don't try this at home - I am a trained realist and understand and accept that driving a car is the most dangerous thing that I do every day and the odds of me dying in or in this case under, a car is huge or YUUUGE (depending on your political slant).
