One of the coolest features on a BMW from the 1980s or 1990s isn’t in the engine bay, but the trunk. I’m talking about the tool kits that were packed into a tray attached to the underside of the trunk lid.
Lower-spec cars came with a small tray and a handful of tools, like a screwdriver, a couple of wrenches and a pair of grips, but expensive models like the M5 got a much more comprehensive kit, and any time you went to buy a used BMW, dropping that lid to find out how many of those original tools were still left was always one of the most exciting moments.
By the time they reached me, a good 15 or 20 years after leaving the factory, all of the BMWs I’d ever owned were missing at least one piece, but even if they had been complete I’d still have taken my own tools along for every ride. Old cars tend to need fettling and they’re often not considerate enough to wait until you get home before letting you know, so I’d usually have a comprehensive socket set, a dozen screwdrivers of different sizes, a pair of coveralls and maybe even a small trolley jack stashed in the back. Sounds like overkill, but they saved the day multiple times.
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Related: A Dirty Tool Has Led To A Roll-Away Risk For Some Hondas And Acuras
But times have changed. BMW hasn’t fitted a tool kit to North American cars for years, which helps it save on weight and cost. And I seem to have become less pessimistic about reliability and now leave all of my tools in the garage. Maybe that’s because these days my daily is brand new, and not vintage BMW, and that the old-timer it shares driveway space is a bulletproof, fuel-injected Honda, not a crusty old 1960s carb-fed Mini or Fiat with points ignition.
But one day I’m sure I’ll regret it because there’s nothing more annoying than be able to identify a fault, but knowing you can’t perform the easy repair because you don’t have the simple $2 tool that would allow you to get back on the road. I’ll probably need a code reader more than I’d need my trusty ratchet, though.
Do you carry tools in your car, and if so, what are the pieces you wouldn’t leave home without? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Images: Snap On, Collecting Cars
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