Mind you, I'm still a poor student, so it has to be on cheaper side if possible. All I have is one of those screwdriver with changeable tips set from Asda.

 

What I plan to do is general maintenance. I'm able to do oil change, oil filter, brake pads, tyre, etc. I thought about buying oil extractor pump but decided against it as it doesn't have any other uses. Anyway, my car is 55 plate Fabia Mk1 1.2.

 

It'd be nice if it was possible to buy from Amazon because I have a few vouchers that needs to get used up soon.

Lidl have a very decent torque wrench in at the moment for ~ £17. I've had mine a few years now and for the price it's fantastic.

TBH a lot of the Lidl tools aren't too bad. I use it for wheels, sump plug, oil filter etc etc.

 

If you know a mate who works in Halfords, he can get you a discount on their Professional range (even better when it's on offer) and it comes with a lifetime warranty on most things so you could build up a nice tool box over time.

 

With any VAG group car (if not most) a spline bit set is a must. NB. not to be confused with Torx.

 

I forgot, Lidl also have a trolley jack in ATM, three year warranty IIRC

Love my halford pro 1/2 socket/wrench. Had it 13 years and the wrench is starting to play up but the wrench isn't covered by the lifetime warranty I think.

Lidl have a very decent torque wrench in at the moment for ~ £17. I've had mine a few years now and for the price it's fantastic.

TBH a lot of the Lidl tools aren't too bad. I use it for wheels, sump plug, oil filter etc etc.

 

If you know a mate who works in Halfords, he can get you a discount on their Professional range (even better when it's on offer) and it comes with a lifetime warranty on most things so you could build up a nice tool box over time.

 

With any VAG group car (if not most) a spline bit set is a must. NB. not to be confused with Torx.

 

I forgot, Lidl also have a trolley jack in ATM, three year warranty IIRC

 

Some reviews on Lidl's wrench mentions Sliverline one who are on Amazon for similar price. Is their reputation is good? Are their products good?

 

This one seems almost identical if not identical to Lidl's.

 

Love my halford pro 1/2 socket/wrench. Had it 13 years and the wrench is starting to play up but the wrench isn't covered by the lifetime warranty I think.

 

Are those £70-90 ones? What's difference between them and £15 ones other than durability/reliability?

Some reviews on Lidl's wrench mentions Sliverline one who are on Amazon for similar price. Is their reputation is good? Are their products good?

 

This one seems almost identical if not identical to Lidl's.

 

 

 

 

IIRC the Lidl torqe wrench is a rebranded CK tools wrench.

 

I can't speak for the jack though but the extra £2.99 postage would sway me towards the Lidl one. Every student appreciates that an extra £2.99 = another pint

IIRC the Lidl torqe wrench is a rebranded CK tools wrench.

 

I can't speak for the jack though but the extra £2.99 postage would sway me towards the Lidl one. Every student appreciates that an extra £2.99 = another pint

 

I did a quick check on Amazon for CK tools wrench, they cost ~£80 assuming this is the same model we're talking about. So, yeah that's quite expensive. I'll take a quick look at Lidl's nearby if they have got one on display.

 

Thanks!

Check out the bargain bin at Lidl, stuff they didn't sell the previous week(s), the torque wrenches were down to £5-pal bought 4!

Don't forget axle stands if you're going to be working underneath the car, a jack is a means to raise the car only and should not be used solely for support when safety is at risk.

The more expensive folding legs type are a waste of money as they still take up more or less the same space in storage, I got a pair of 2tonne fixed leg stands from Tesco-reduced to £1-odd to clear!

Silverline tools aren't the best but are modestly priced and if used carefully will do the job and should last long enough, besides they have a lifetime warranty.

Good luck with your studies and DIY mechanics.

Do steer clear of pound shops if you're looking for useful tools. Some odds n ends can be used if you're stuck but generally expect jobs to go wrong and tools to be throw away(recycled) after use e.g. spanners round off, screwdrivers cam out, pliers don't grip, sockets crack/ratchet heads snap, files don't cut... you get the gist.

You'll definitely need splined bits as previously mentioned.

eBay is a good source of preloved gear so don't discount it if you're looking to get tooled up for little outlay.

Edited 25 October, 201510 yr by MicMac

3/8 drive in socket sets are a good compromise and will do most of what you want  a breaker bar is useful  but will be 1/2"   so need a converter     make a list of larger sockets (metric) and look round car boots @£1-£2 each with a descent name on or impact (usually black finish)  6 sided ones   P>s> you don't need a torque wrench yet  unless it's a good price

Edited 25 October, 201510 yr by cheshire cat

If you haven't already got a decent jack or a pair of axle stands then I'll nudge you this way: http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-workshop?partnumber=332244,332236,332251,332293

You can buy a 2 tonne jack and get a pair of stands for free. the stands cost £20 on their own and the cheapest jack is £25 so it's essentially half price. If you already have one and you need the other then you still may as well go for this and have 2 of one.