Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT The Vintage Garage - Bucharest, Romania.

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Bogdan, Your garage is great. You sure put a lot of effort into it, and that pays off.
I find it very interesting to see garages from other parts of the world. Although Romania isnt so far from Norway, it is a lot different. Thank You for posting, and look forward to updates. Best of luck with Your business.

Thank you very much!

It's not a work of art like yours, but I hope I will improve it a lot in time.

 

[magnusk750]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Very nice job. Being from Estonia I recognise what you say about work ethics in a former eastern bloc environment. You can be ripped of everwhere in the world, but it's worse here beacause of the legacy.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thanks!
The mentality in former communist countries is the biggest problem.
Almost nobody thinks about the future, all they want is immediate gain, the next day is the most important.
People sell almost anything for scrap metal, historical buildings are demolished to make room for office spaces.
I can go on and on about things like that.

 

[GarageDan]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I admire you for choosing to open your own business. Where ever you do that it is a big job and you are to be commended. Your renovation looks great and nice job on digging the pit by hand. Too many people shy away from hand tools because it's "hard." I had to level some land in my backyard to build a little building and the land is rocky and sloping. I couldn't get a bobcat or anything in there, so I just borrowed a pick and shovel. It took me a month of afternoons picking and digging to escavate and level off, but I'm awfully proud.

That floor by the way looks like it was polished when it was poured. My mother's carport looks exactly that way. Slippery when wet!

Keep us posted and if I ever get to Romania, I'll drop by!

 

[55cadillacking]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Great looking shop Bogdan. It's funny, I taught a student named "Bogdan" a few years ago. He was from Romania too.

 

[seventyeight]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thank you!




Here we don't really have this type of pride in our work that most of you have, probably because of the country's former communist past which set abnormal values.
There are people that take great pride in their work, but they are rare.
Nowadays, everybody wants to be a manager in Romania, even if he doesn't know to do anything, so beeing an auto mechanic is a profession which isn't regarded as respectful. Probably things will change over time.




The crews are mainly very low skilled and want very high prices, usually rip-offs.

I wanted at first to have the garage renovated by a crew of workers, but I was them at work when they installed the sealing and they were very sloppy, only interested in getting the job done fast to get payed fast.
They wanted 3000 euros only for the labor. As they usually do, the price would have gone higher day by day, building supplies would dissapear, and 3000 euros would get to be 5000 euros + supplies.
I have invested a lot more, but I am glad that I did the work myself and that I was not ripped off.
I would have gladly payed more than 3000 if I would have trusted the workers, but you can't really find good labor for a job like that.
A friend of mine renovated a bigger garage, it's the one that used the garage I use now before me, and he eventually payed 35 000 Euros for the renovation, the garage beeing double the size of mine.
He had a company do the job and, unfortunately, the result is not at all superior to mine.



Thanks!

...and these are pretty much the reasons I left the ol' country.

Bogdan, kudos to you for all the work you've done. I was tempted at one point to build a garage and start my own business, but between the bureaucracy encountered, the associated bribes required to get the permits needed, and the rest of the factors you described above... oh well, I moved to a greener pasture (across the pond).

Back to your shop, you did an excellent job and busted **** by doing the work yourself.

One thing I would do different; get the vise off the bench, paint it different color and then install it back using new bolts... it would make a huge difference.

Multa bafta!! (Good Luck!!)

 

[pwschuh]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

First, congratulations on a great looking shop. Hopefully someday you will be able to buy the building from your landlord

Second, I'm curious why you didn't make steps going down into your pit? Wouldn't that have made it easier to use than ladder?

Third, what do you do for security? Need to keep your investment in tools safe!

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

@pwschuh: Thanks!
That would be very nice.

Yes, it would have been a lot easier, but the problem is that some cars almost as long as the pit. (16.4 feet)
The ladder can be moved very easily if needed, but concrete steps can't.
I could build steps, but if I will buy a lift, the pit will no longer be used as intended, probably just as storage.

Nothing yet.
I hope to build a nice tool box in the near future.
The cheap stuff on our market is very low quality and I can't afford a quality one which is around 500 euros or more.

I admire you for choosing to open your own business. Where ever you do that it is a big job and you are to be commended. Your renovation looks great and nice job on digging the pit by hand. Too many people shy away from hand tools because it's "hard." I had to level some land in my backyard to build a little building and the land is rocky and sloping. I couldn't get a bobcat or anything in there, so I just borrowed a pick and shovel. It took me a month of afternoons picking and digging to escavate and level off, but I'm awfully proud.

Thank you!
I did the pit in aproximately one month too because it was very boring to do it, but I feel very proud now when I think that I did 90% of the garage on my own.
I did it also because it's very healthy.
Work never killed anyone, but a sedentary lifestyle often does.
In today's society we are too much dependent on power tools and equipment.

That floor by the way looks like it was polished when it was poured. My mother's carport looks exactly that way. Slippery when wet!

Keep us posted and if I ever get to Romania, I'll drop by!

I painted it and the paint has already faded away. I will do something about it because it looks dreadful right now.

Please do, it would be a great pleasure!

Great looking shop Bogdan. It's funny, I taught a student named "Bogdan" a few years ago. He was from Romania too.

Thanks!
Well, it's only natural because Bogdan is quite a common name in Romania.

...and these are pretty much the reasons I left the ol' country.

Bogdan, kudos to you for all the work you've done. I was tempted at one point to build a garage and start my own business, but between the bureaucracy encountered, the associated bribes required to get the permits needed, and the rest of the factors you described above... oh well, I moved to a greener pasture (across the pond).

Thank you!
Are you romanian?

Back to your shop, you did an excellent job and busted **** by doing the work yourself.

One thing I would do different; get the vise off the bench, paint it different color and then install it back using new bolts... it would make a huge difference.

Multa bafta!! (Good Luck!!)

Yes, you are right. I will do that.
I must paint the old press and a grinder, so I will also do the vise then.

Multumesc! (= romanian for Thanks!)

 

[seventyeight]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Yes, I am. Came over in the U.S. about 13 years ago. Went back to Romania for a week in 2010. Noticed some significant changes compared to 1999, not all good tho'

 

[BMW_Garage]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Great job man! I wish you good luck. I'm originally from Sofia, Bulgaria so I know exactly what you're talking about when you say everyone wants to be in management and the lack of trust everywhere. My opinion is that people like you always succeed thanks to the dedication and willingness to get dirty.. So I'm sure you're gonna get where you wanna be! By the way nice choice specializing in BMW's, I'm a fan of the brand and currently own a few. Also your choice on tools is spot on. Gedore makes the best tools I've ever used. Their slogan is "Tools for life" and the Germans really mean that. I go out of my way to buy Gedore even though they are pretty expensive here in the states.

 

[the_saint]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Wow. Absolutely amazing!

Good job, and keep posting!

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thanks!

Great job man! I wish you good luck. I'm originally from Sofia, Bulgaria so I know exactly what you're talking about when you say everyone wants to be in management and the lack of trust everywhere. My opinion is that people like you always succeed thanks to the dedication and willingness to get dirty.. So I'm sure you're gonna get where you wanna be! By the way nice choice specializing in BMW's, I'm a fan of the brand and currently own a few. Also your choice on tools is spot on. Gedore makes the best tools I've ever used. Their slogan is "Tools for life" and the Germans really mean that. I go out of my way to buy Gedore even though they are pretty expensive here in the states.

Thank you!
I have owned a E39 535i and I loved that car a lot, so the decision to repair BMW cars was the logical one because I saw that BMWs are very easy to work on in comparison to other european brands.
I also repair other german car brands, but BMW are the most common in my shop.
Unfortunately, Gedore tools, like all the other german brands, are very expensive anywhere in the world. Don't understand me wrong, the money is very well spent when buying tools like that.

 

[BMW_Garage]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Yeah, I see what you're talking about. They are expensive everywhere, but even more so here in the states. As far as BMW's go, yes they are real easy to work on. I currently have an '04 325i manual, '03 530i automatic and a 2011 E90 M3. I work on them on my own except for the M3.. it's still under warranty and there's nothing really to fix on it anyway. I used to drive an A4 Audi quattro, manual with a 4 banger turbo and honestly even though the car was pretty good, I just couldn't stand that engine. Not into forced induction at all. That's why most likely my next car isn't gonna be a BMW since they're putting turbo engines in every model now.

 

[Kevin54]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Very good job on the redo. It's great to see that you take a lot of pride in your work. You keep that up and you'll put a few people out of business. Never let that pride drop, always carry it with you wherever you go.

 

[ket-tek]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Wow that is one awesome transformation! Excellent job.

Love to see more pics as you continue to fill in with cabinets and storage.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Be very aware of the dangers of a pit. Heavy fumes, such as that from gasoline, will settle making it dangerous both from a fire/explosion standpoint, and from human hazard/suffocation standpoint.

In the US the electric code requires sealed, expolsion "proof" light fixtures and electrical components.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Yes, I am aware of that.
That is why I didn't install an electric socket in the pit and I don't weld there.
It's safer to remove an exhaust and weld it in the shop than mounted on the car which would also be unprofessional.

though the car was pretty good, I just couldn't stand that engine. Not into forced induction at all. That's why most likely my next car isn't gonna be a BMW since they're putting turbo engines in every model now.

The problem with turbos is that a lot more can go wrong than with a normally aspirated engine.

Very good job on the redo. It's great to see that you take a lot of pride in your work. You keep that up and you'll put a few people out of business. Never let that pride drop, always carry it with you wherever you go.

Thanks!

Wow that is one awesome transformation! Excellent job.

Love to see more pics as you continue to fill in with cabinets and storage.

Thank you!
Yes, I really need cabinets, tools could get stolen otherwise.
I developed a true obsession of cleaning tools and to arange them after every day of work.

 

[ToniPieleanu]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Hey Bogdan, nice looking garage so far! Where is it located?

I think I've seen that Gedore set of your in some pics on a local BMW forum while looking for some opinions on tools. What other tools have you got?

 

[markviii]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

The picture of you digging you pit brought back memories of my husband (BB767) digging up the lift to repair it. Definitely hard work! Congratulations on doing it all yourself - that's the way we work around here, too. I agree with Charles (in GA) -- Be very careful with ventilation in your inspection pit.

Good luck with your business. Thanks for stopping by The Center of the Universe. Maybe we will meet someday in our travels.

Chris

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thank you very much for your kind words!

Hey Bogdan, nice looking garage so far! Where is it located?

I think I've seen that Gedore set of your in some pics on a local BMW forum while looking for some opinions on tools. What other tools have you got?

Thanks!
It's very near Victory Square (Piata Victoriei), on a side street of the Ion Mihalache Boulevard.

I have more Gedore tools, another Rothewald tool box, some old romanian tools (IUS), also some cheap Yato stuff, but just a few.

I will post more tool pics later on.

 

[EMC2]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Well done for taking on the project. That is definitely some serious work you are doing.
3000 Euros a day is a lot of money to pay for low quality work. Looks like you made the right decision.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thanks!

They didn't say anything about 3000 euros / day.
The labour price for the interior insulation and the drywall + paint was 3000 euros.
It all depends on where you live.
Here this is quite expensive knowing that this wasn't the final price because their prices always go up during the work.
In other words, I wasn't at all happy to pay up to 5000 euros for a job made by low skilled people and which, in my opinion, wasn't that hard to do.
What I do (auto repair) is a lot more difficult and requires a lot more precision and focus so the price was not at all fair, especially for my country.

 

[pwschuh]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

In the US the electric code requires very expensive sealed, expolsion "proof" light fixtures and electrical components.

Fixed that for you. Here in Maryland they wanted about $700 for a measly 60W incandescent fixture for my grease pit. That's just for the fixture, not including installation. I decided to go with the "drop light" option instead.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

$700 for just one light fixture???

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I still haven't made nice quality recent pics, but I have some pics from today's work, a GM automatic gearbox repair.
It's a GM 5L40-E from a 2003 Range Rover 3.0d.

 

[machine_punk]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Hello Bogdan!

I usually check out the threads of people who stop by The Aerodrome Studio thread. I am glad looked at yours! WOW! Very good job! You completely changed the look of that building.

I wonder what your favorite color is?

I have not heard of Gedore as a tool company. Great. More to find and spend money on!

Those long, horizontal pipes on the walls (now they are behind the drywall)...are they radiators for heating? Do they still work? How do you heat your garage in the winter?

Did you go to school to work on cars, or did you learn on your own?

Kev

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Hello!
Thanks!
The pipes were fuel oil radiators.
I decided not to use them because it would have been very expensive.
I heat my garage with a wood stove because it's the cheapest way.
I will post some pics of it.

I learned on my own, I have a college degree in political science, so no connection with mechanics.

 

[magnusk750]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

A college degree in political science and probably one of the more serious working car mechanics i Romania. I like it and I can recognise it. I have a degree in architectural history myself and because I can't choose I make my living about half from that and half from my motorcycle spares business. My friends are though mostly scholars and it's so funny to hear and look at the reactions from those teachers, psychologist, historians and what ever they are when they hear about life from a practical view. I'm not a super mechanic but compared to these guys...

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thanks!
I learn new things everyday. The more you know, the more you realize you didn't.
A lot of people wouldn't work a day in an auto repair shop if they had an option, but I feel a lot better with grease and oil on my hands instead of staying in an office all day.

 

[Dividing Creek]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I'm amazed @ the amount of work and materials you have put into improving a building you don't own.

 

[bazzateer]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I have not heard of Gedore as a tool company.

Being German I imagine they mostly only supply metric tools?

 

[BMW_Garage]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Being German I imagine they mostly only supply metric tools?

You can actually get them in metric or standard depending on what you need.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I'm amazed @ the amount of work and materials you have put into improving a building you don't own.

It's something of a compromise.
I only pay 300 euros in rent / month for the building and the yard.

The rent for a place of this size usually is 600-700 euros / month and a garage in the city center is very rare in my country.
So I thought that in time the investment pays off.

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

I had an old manual press and a grinder that looked horrible.
I decided to prime them and paint them with hammered paint.
I thought that it would be a great time to paint the vise.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Wow, awesome job you did and are doing there.
Good choice of the thread name
Please keep updating.
BTW I have a lot of GEDORE stuff and I love it

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Thanks!

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Recent pics:

 

[4t64rd]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

The question is... what did people who were born "car guys" do 200 years ago?

 

[Bogdan M.]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Probably interested in other crafts like blacksmithing.

 

[ToniPieleanu]

Re: The Blue Garage - Bucharest, Romania

Some of those pics belong in the Tools from the old world thread

Do you happen to know what brand is that big torque wrench? I have some tools with the same logo but I don't know who made them...