bmwpower's garage build

[Vinko]

Have you considered Keiser aluminum piping rather than copper piping for air? If you have the means, I'd consider it. I'm considering it for my shop at work.

 

[bmwpower]

Have you considered Keiser aluminum piping rather than copper piping for air? If you have the means, I'd consider it. I'm considering it for my shop at work.

I will check it out, but if it's anything like other Kaeser stuff, it's probably way out of my price range.

You have any pricing?

 

[ct71rr]

Awesome garage!!! Small world, I work in Holliston, Ma. and also have a Lista cabinet. I got a great deal on it, it was slightly damaged during shipping. Their cabinets are built like tanks!

 

[Shehzada]

OMG!!! Amazing progress! Great job on such a meticulously thought-out endeavor!!!

Did you ever do a tally to find out the total cost of the project?

 

[bmwpower]

No idea. I enjoy every minute out there. That is worth any cost in my book.

Thanks for the compliments!

I seriously need to update this thread, but my job is throwing me for a loop...12-16 hour days...So much I need to do out there, so little time.

 

[E30bimmer]

No idea. I enjoy every minute out there. That is worth any cost in my book.

 

[rburke65]

bmwpower....Do you not have garage door openers on your doors? Do the torsion springs hold them open ok? Thanks. And thanks for the pictures of those 14' high ceiling, as I think that is what I will be going with when I do build. They do seem high....any regrets going 14'?

 

[alberto]

This one of my favorite garage builds on this site. Very thoughtfully and well done.

I am confused by the dimensions of the garage, however. Post 1 indicates that the garage foundation is 30x30, however, the dimensions shown in the drawing in post 12 are 22 x 26.5. I'm sure I am missing something, but I cannot for the life of me figure it out.

Thanks for the clarification and posting the images and other information about your garage.

Alberto

 

[bmwpower]

bmwpower....Do you not have garage door openers on your doors? Do the torsion springs hold them open ok? Thanks. And thanks for the pictures of those 14' high ceiling, as I think that is what I will be going with when I do build. They do seem high....any regrets going 14'?

No openers on my doors. The torsion springs hold them with no problems at all. They are really well balanced. I can open the door at just about any height and they will stay there. It took the guy some time to adjust them but they work well. Make sure to get someon who know what they are doing. My first installers had no idea what they were doing. It wasn't until I complained that they sent out one of their guys that "fixes" problems. He was excellent.

The only regret I have with going with 14' is that it makes it hard to get into the attic, but I rarely do that so it's not too much of a pain. I am planning on putting some kind of ladder up the wall to make it easy to get in the attic, but that was put on the backburner for now.

This one of my favorite garage builds on this site. Very thoughtfully and well done.

I am confused by the dimensions of the garage, however. Post 1 indicates that the garage foundation is 30x30, however, the dimensions shown in the drawing in post 12 are 22 x 26.5. I'm sure I am missing something, but I cannot for the life of me figure it out.

Thanks for the clarification and posting the images and other information about your garage.

Alberto

Thanks!

Those dimensions you speak of are "open wall space". The diagram on post 12 is for my Lista install so that I made sure I had enough space for cabinet placement around the shop.

 

[alberto]

Those dimensions you speak of are "open wall space". The diagram on post 12 is for my Lista install so that I made sure I had enough space for cabinet placement around the shop.

So you have another 8 x 3.5 ft of free space to the drawings? (Sorry for being so dense; I'm trying to gauge the size because the garage I am designing only allows for 25 feet in depth and I am trying to get a sense for how that will work out space wise and if I can put cabinets on the front of the cars or of they will need to go on the sides).

Thanks.
Alberto

 

[bmwpower]

So you have another 8 x 3.5 ft of free space to the drawings? (Sorry for being so dense; I'm trying to gauge the size because the garage I am designing only allows for 25 feet in depth and I am trying to get a sense for how that will work out space wise and if I can put cabinets on the front of the cars or of they will need to go on the sides).

Thanks.
Alberto

Depth of garage inside is 8.5' + 7.5' + 6.0' + whatever the windows are, which I think are 30" a piece. So that is about 27 foot deep on the inside.

 

[alberto]

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Gord]

Wow, Im soo glad I found this thread and this site. Im starting a 24 x36 this month, and like you I will be doing it myself. It took an hour and 15 min to read the thread , but soo helpful. Thanks for taking the time dewd !
When I start I will post a thread.
Thanks again !

 

[bmwpower]

Wow, Im soo glad I found this thread and this site. Im starting a 24 x36 this month, and like you I will be doing it myself. It took an hour and 15 min to read the thread , but soo helpful. Thanks for taking the time dewd !
When I start I will post a thread.
Thanks again !

No problem. That's why we post 'em - to help people out.

 

[simontudor]

WOW! this is an amazing garage I am 15 years old and only have a 1 car garage and am so jealous of yours. Great job on the whole thing!

 

[duct tape]

A question about your cabinet layout.

Having now been installed and using them for a while, do you have any thoughts about your peninsula cabinet, the 60" x 30" DW one b/w the two garage bays? I'm wondering with my layout if I would rather keep the cabinet wall flush all the way across the back of the garage and not have to walk around this particular cabinet?

Thx and very nice garage build.

 

[bmwpower]

A question about your cabinet layout.

Having now been installed and using them for a while, do you have any thoughts about your peninsula cabinet, the 60" x 30" DW one b/w the two garage bays? I'm wondering with my layout if I would rather keep the cabinet wall flush all the way across the back of the garage and not have to walk around this particular cabinet?

Thx and very nice garage build.

Thanks. I love the peninsula. What works for me, might not work for you. Check out your available space. More counter/cabinet space was important to me and being able to access a counter from 3 sides comes in handy. Yes, I have to walk around it, but only when changing tasks. If I am working on a car in the lift bay, I have 3 counters to choose from. It also gives me a good place to park my mobile SC cabinet, which I can rotate either way, depending on which bay I am working in.

 

[e-tek]

Hey BM - How about some current "state of the union" pics? I like to see how people garage looks while being used! Bet it still looks great!

 

[nmpontiac]

I've got a Laser Engraver - if you want those trim rosettes made (and there's not too many of them), I can probably do them for you. Great Garage - lots of cool ideas.

 

[bmwpower]

Hey BM - How about some current "state of the union" pics? I like to see how people garage looks while being used! Bet it still looks great!

Hey, thanks man. It's an utter mess. I have had my E30 apart on the lift for some time now. I'm building up for track duty, but work has eaten any time I once used to have. Trying to find time to get 'er done.

I've got a Laser Engraver - if you want those trim rosettes made (and there's not too many of them), I can probably do them for you. Great Garage - lots of cool ideas.

Thanks. I've seem to have lost touch with my friend who made the originals. I might take you up on that offer. I think there's like 18.

 

[ersatzs2]

Hey, thanks man. It's an utter mess. I have had my E30 apart on the lift for some time now. I'm building up for track duty, but work has eaten any time I once used to have. .

Another paradox of this recession/new economy is not only are lots of people jobless, but if you are working, you are working more/harder/longer. At least my observation. Little/no time on my end for garage life, for which I suppose I should be grateful
Anyhow, good luck with the track car transformation. When you are roadworthy let me know if you'd like to do one of the member days at NJMP.
The last one of '10 is this weekend, but Spring will be here before we know it.

(Sadly, I'm not there on this spectacular November fall day. Why? because of the @#$%&%$ politics of energy policy and Iowa lobbiests. How's that you ask???
Well. Turns out that the 15% ethanol in today's pump gas is not only hell on vintage car fuel systems- hence the fuel pump rebuild on my Willys last winter- but also dissolves the foam in racecar fuel cells. Which in the case of the cup car, jammed both fuel pumps up solid, whereby the both burned out. So the car is getting new pumps and cell foam instead of doing hot laps on the last open track day of '10. Hopefully no downstream damage to injectors etc from being asked to deliver cell foam to the combustion chambers)

 

[bmwpower]

Another paradox of this recession/new economy is not only are lots of people jobless, but if you are working, you are working more/harder/longer. At least my observation. Little/no time on my end for garage life, for which I suppose I should be grateful
Anyhow, good luck with the track car transformation. When you are roadworthy let me know if you'd like to do one of the member days at NJMP.
The last one of '10 is this weekend, but Spring will be here before we know it.

(Sadly, I'm not there on this spectacular November fall day. Why? because of the @#$%&%$ politics of energy policy and Iowa lobbiests. How's that you ask???
Well. Turns out that the 15% ethanol in today's pump gas is not only hell on vintage car fuel systems- hence the fuel pump rebuild on my Willys last winter- but also dissolves the foam in racecar fuel cells. Which in the case of the cup car, jammed both fuel pumps up solid, whereby the both burned out. So the car is getting new pumps and cell foam instead of doing hot laps on the last open track day of '10. Hopefully no downstream damage to injectors etc from being asked to deliver cell foam to the combustion chambers)

Yea, your observation is true. More with less is my employer's motto, all while trying to stay on top of the industry. Having a job is good, but health related problems from being overworked is bad. Just getting over what the doctor's are saying is a stress related health issue, normally something they say is found in much older people.

Wow. That *****. Does race gas have no/less ethanol? Can you use that?

 

[Scuderia-F1]

That's an pretty impressive BMW shop you've got yourself there!
As I'm a BMW man myself (albeit the screen name), I'm curious to se what special tools you've got? If that's possible!

 

[bmwpower]

That's an pretty impressive BMW shop you've got yourself there!
As I'm a BMW man myself (albeit the screen name), I'm curious to se what special tools you've got? If that's possible!

Thanks!

I don't have that many. I have several crank holding tools. Several bushing toolkits. Couple special thin walled sockets and of course the fan clutch holding tools.

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Thanks!

I don't have that many. I have several crank holding tools. Several bushing toolkits. Couple special thin walled sockets and of course the fan clutch holding tools.

Ok, slightly off topic of this thread perhaps.

But are they "OEM" or have you sourced them through some tool truck etc?

The reason I´m asking is that I have some hard times finding "BMW original" tools (with BMW partnumber)...

I used to have a lot but some 10 odd years ago I closed my independent BMW shop (and before that tech for many years at a BMW dealer), & know I have bought back all handtools & toolboxes. But almost all my oem specialtools seems to be missing.

Anyway, I REALLY like your BMW shop!

 

[Artistic]

Interested in these special tools? What were they for/what kind of applications?

BMWpower, do you have a GT1? It makes life so much easier when dealing with anything modern, and many of the "knock off's'" coming out of Asia have a much easier price tag to swallow than the $25k for a genuine BMW one.

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Interested in these special tools? What were they for/what kind of applications?

For handbrake adjustment (E36 onwards), to lock camshafts (M40, M60 etc), for adjusting valves on S14, S38 etc and stuff like that...

Stuff that is good have...

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Unbelievable work shop. I am calling it the best I've seen here so far

 

[Linda@Lista]

Re: Interior Layout

When we were done building the house, I started working on the interior layout. I knew I wanted Lista cabinets. In several of my previous jobs, I had used Lista cabinets, but never really knew anything about them until I started designing/researching my garage. After doing a lot of reseach on cabinets, I decided to buy a used Lista cabinet off of eBay to house my current tool setup. I was really amazed at how well they were constructed and how (relatively) affordable they were when compared to other higher end cabinets

While doing cabinet research online, I came across a gentleman who happened to be a dealer for Lista. I inquired about wanting to purchase several cabinets from him. He was really friendly and offered to help in the design of the cabinet layout. I already had a general idea of what I wanted, but he helped me fine tune the design using his knowledge of Lista stuff. This helped out greatly as I quickly found out that not everything Lista is in the catalog...you can customize just about anything they offer.

Eight months later and a LOT of emails back and forth, the final design was developed. See the final layout below. What you don't see are the Lista upper cabinets in this design (more on this later).

Wow bmwpower! what an awesome post! I'm Linda from Lista. I am the new marketing coordinator and was wondering if I could share your post on our Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/ListaInternational#!/ListaInternational

I'm glad you chose our products for your garage! How are things working out now?

Linda@Lista

 

[bmwpower]

Unbelievable work shop. I am calling it the best I've seen here so far

Thanks Mr. Bentwrench. Much appreciated.

Wow bmwpower! what an awesome post! I'm Linda from Lista. I am the new marketing coordinator and was wondering if I could share your post on our Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/ListaInternational#!/ListaInternational

I'm glad you chose our products for your garage! How are things working out now?

Linda@Lista

Sure thing. Feel free.

Things are working out just fine. No complaints. So glad I bought them.

 

[shaks]

Just amazing!
I've recently joined the forum and do a lot of reading, your garage project is by far the most spectacular thing I've seen done.
(Dreaming about my own one and being jealous)

Keep the ideas for it coming!

 

[bmwpower]

Just amazing!
I've recently joined the forum and do a lot of reading, your garage project is by far the most spectacular thing I've seen done.
(Dreaming about my own one and being jealous)

Keep the ideas for it coming!

Hey thanks man. Update is long overdue...

 

[Kilo70]

Wow..just WoW!!
Great job BMW !! I hadnt looked all the way through the thread before.

 

[zagamuffin]

Another paradox of this recession/new economy is not only are lots of people jobless, but if you are working, you are working more/harder/longer. At least my observation. Little/no time on my end for garage life, for which I suppose I should be grateful
Anyhow, good luck with the track car transformation. When you are roadworthy let me know if you'd like to do one of the member days at NJMP.
The last one of '10 is this weekend, but Spring will be here before we know it.

(Sadly, I'm not there on this spectacular November fall day. Why? because of the @#$%&%$ politics of energy policy and Iowa lobbiests. How's that you ask???
Well. Turns out that the 15% ethanol in today's pump gas is not only hell on vintage car fuel systems- hence the fuel pump rebuild on my Willys last winter- but also dissolves the foam in racecar fuel cells. Which in the case of the cup car, jammed both fuel pumps up solid, whereby the both burned out. So the car is getting new pumps and cell foam instead of doing hot laps on the last open track day of '10. Hopefully no downstream damage to injectors etc from being asked to deliver cell foam to the combustion chambers)

But what about the advantage of the 15% addition, we had 95ron pump fuel here and have gone to a 5% ethanol mix which increases Ron to 97 .this is worth 30/40 bhp when remapped on my car alone.
I presume you cars are remapped for the increase in octane,don't know the us base fuel Ron ?



Great usable garage by the way BMW
I'm also interested in the copper lines for air and water,water is ok but for air if using masks I think there are some concerns....

Rob

 

[snowmants]

Great Garage! Do you have any current exterior shots of the garage?

 

[bmwpower]

Sorry, nothing recent.

 

[HOTFR8]

Oh and here I was expecting to see something on a topic I have been watching for a very long time.

 

[Shaggs]

This garage build is the reason I signed up here. Great vision and beautiful / functional work space! Cheers!

 

[bmwpower]

This garage build is the reason I signed up here. Great vision and beautiful / functional work space! Cheers!

Thanks man. Looking forward to some new projects this Spring.

 

[strnge]

I was told to check out your build since I will be building a 30X30. I like your layout. Can you post pics of the inside with vehicles inside? I'd like to see an entire side front to back. This way I can see how much room you have infront and behind your vehiles while they are parked inside.

Thanks.