Cars easy to work on due to thoughtful design

[60six]

It doesn't happen often sadly, but there are vehicles out there that have an element of engineering design that thought about future dissasembly.

We have all heard of entire front bumper assemblies coming off just to change a light bulb, which I think manufacturers should be banned doing, but the other day I helped a friend of my mum change a lightbulb in a Volvo XC90. I was initially worried as I didn't really think about it and assumed it was going to be a PIG to do.

My worry was confirmed when I couldn't work out how the headlights were attached, but then I noticed two large metal tabs which I levered up, and out came what resembled a long and thick metal tent peg. Two of them per headlight. Removed both then the light assembly was in my hand. Replaced all bulbs in 10 mins including putting the lights back in.

It was a masterpiece of simple design that couldn't cost a lot more than plastic grommets and self tapping screws, and it got me thinking what other stuff has neat little hidden features like this to aid ownership?

My 9000 is nowhere near as easy to work on as my 900, but there's a section of subframe that swings out the way to help you remove the gearbox - It's a nice touch.

[mr2fc]

I watched a "Wheeler Dealer's Dream Car" last night and they mentioned Morris Minors as easy to work on

[hotfuzz]

I changed the coolant on my Toyota recently and loved that either side of the engine block has a little bleed nipple to drain the coolant and a simple hand twist tap at the base of the radiator to drain the fluid.

Easy & clean!

[sleag40]

Being able to change the clutch without removing the gearbox on some Vauxhalls was a pretty sweet feature.

[ChasR]

I'm going to say most cars have quirks.

Moggies may be simple to work on, but some A Series engines have quirks and torsion bars can make life fun when removing suspension parts. I seem to recall someone from AROnline recalling how someone got taken away on a stretcher in one.

Mini clutches are fun, especially if done in situ.

I'm going to say older stuff is generally easier to work on, but not always. My Merc W108 wasn't a simple car in many respects to work on.

I think from the newer stuff BMW E46s are pretty good. Yes, you sometimes need to remove alot to get to the bit you're changing but they come apart logically. Compared to my dad's '57 plated Saab 9-3, it's a job to work on, whereas the latter is a downright pain. A car where you:

-Remove suspension bolts in order to remove carrier bolts (Yes, I'm aware you can avoid this, albeit with trickery and more time vs. less time if you have a rattle gun, and don't need to remove the carrier on the Aeros)
-Handbrake cables which seize into the alloy caliper, perfect for throwing away a caliper which could otherwise be refurbished.

[stealthstylz]

Rather randomly I really enjoy working on our lasses Qashqai. Done all sorts of reasonably involved jobs on it (cambelt, clutch & flywheel, wheel bearings etc) and it's always a pleasure.

TBF I think why most people struggle is they try to remove as few bits as possible to do a job, when in reality it's usually far quicker just to get everything out of the way.

[rattlecan]

I especially liked how Mr D. Bacon (the previous owner of a Jag) had cut a neat hole in the boot floor & made a nice removable plate, so you could change the rear inboard disc pads without dropping the axle, because the manufacturers were such curse words they didn’t.
Sorry that wasn’t the question was it 😀 nice feature though

[biturbo228]

This is one of the things I care about most in car design, and seems to have been dropped off the radar for most modern cars (although the XC90 example above might prompt a reassessment). The old 'if you're doing job X, then it's assumed that you're also doing job Y so these things will be removed already'. No thank you.

It's also something I try and rectify if I can when modifying cars. I've done a few on the Jag so far. First off is a little access panel to get to the diff fill plug as it's a pain to get to with the X308 rear tie bar (and also the speed sensor).




I also added some reliefs in the boot floor so I can get the rear wishbones off without having to drop the suspension. They have long through bolts that foul the bodywork before they come out (probably a safety feature, but if I was worried I could fit little removable plates).



I've also done a similar thing on the X1/9 where the long through-bolts for the clutch and brake masters foul a box section underneath the dash.

Oh, and I've also made a section of the slam panel removable to make it easier to get the engines swapped:

[darrenh]

one that tickled me was my mk2 polo where they have a hole in the drivers side inner wheel arch/chassis rail, so you can get to the crank bolt.

[xbl]

Mondeo mk3 and mk4, headlights out in 2 minutes, easier on the mk3 as it's just 2 pull tabs whereas the mk4 is 2x T30 screws.

[gezzard]

The bonnet on my old Merc W201 190E had those buttons on the struts which allowed the bonnet to go all the way up to 90 degrees so no head banging! My current Merc W211 does the same, which is a good thing as I need to fix the turbo soon.

[Mercdan68]

Ok so I am oldie here😁but I used to change mk1/2 escorts so engines easily back in the day, so much room in the engine bay
And no ridiculous plastic covers that break by just looking at them!
Technology moves on but the 70s and 80s cars were so much easier to work on, how many people do you see out on a Saturday working outside there house on there car
Only us RR people it seems!?

[Mercdan68]

Will car nuts still be working on cars ten years from now ?? Just thinking aloud

[mrbounce]

My friend had a 2000 Mercedes S430. Huge thing with loads of sound deadening everywhere.

We needed to give it service, which of course meant 8 litres of fresh oil. Went under the car after putting it on ramps and hey presto - a huge undertray covering the entire underside of the engine bay. *sigh* 😫

But wait! In said undertray was a purpose built flap, which when moved gave easy access to the sump plug and also enough space to drain it. Thank you Mercedes 😊

[MiataMark]

Triumph Herald/Spitfire/Vitesse/GT6 most engine jobs can be completed while sitting on a front wheel (assuming you haven't driven through something nasty).

[ChasR]

May 27, 2022 21:56:55 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Ok so I am oldie here😁but I used to change mk1/2 escorts so engines easily back in the day, so much room in the engine bay
And no ridiculous plastic covers that break by just looking at them!
Technology moves on but the 70s and 80s cars were so much easier to work on, how many people do you see out on a Saturday working outside there house on there car
Only us RR people it seems!?

Not all cars were IMHO.

-My ‘72 W108 had tricky to change spark plugs. Despite only needing to remove the battery, it was easier to change the plugs on my ST220 frankly, even thought it’s an intake manifold off job (about 15 mins from start to finish)
-Citroen DSs are a nightmare to work on, especially if it has EFI.

I’m with stealthstylz on this one. Alot of the newer cars aren’t too bad but you have to accept a few things will be removed to get to what you want.

[pseudonymous]

BMW oil filters on an M50/52/54.

[nickwheeler]

May 28, 2022 8:46:48 GMT pseudonymous said:

BMW oil filters on an M50/52/54.

that's about the only job that's easy due to thoughtful design on one though.

[Imperial]

Most jobs on an imp are easy and can even be accomplished siting down, open the engine bay and right in front of you is the dizzy and plugs, fan belt is right there as is the water pump and the battery is off to right rear. plug 4 is a bit of a squeeze but its easy with the right technique.

[squonk]

May 27, 2022 21:56:55 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Ok so I am oldie here😁but I used to change mk1/2 escorts so engines easily back in the day, so much room in the engine bay
And no ridiculous plastic covers that break by just looking at them!
Technology moves on but the 70s and 80s cars were so much easier to work on, how many people do you see out on a Saturday working outside there house on there car
Only us RR people it seems!?

So true, I had many cars powered by the Ford 3.0 V6 in the 70's and 80's. Granadas were a particular favourite as I could get the engine out in 30 minutes. So much space around it made it a doddle.