The Best Of The Hack Mechanic: 35 years of hacks, kluges, and assorted automotive mayhem from Roundel magazine

I’ve been reading Robs column in the BMW club magazine for years. I love this compilation of his ‘greatest hits’. You cheer his mechanical triumphs and learn from his problem cars. Should be required reading for driveway mechanics!

A must have for all vintage BMW enthusiasts. A lot of fun to read piece by piece and to hear Rob's ups and downs of auto ownership, troubleshooting, and problem solving that all of us "hack mechanics" have experienced. If you're thinking, "should I buy this?", the answer is "yes, you should".

As always, Rob nails it. Year after year. Month after month. But now, all in one place.

One of the best automotive books of this type I have read. And I have read a bundle!

Car enthusiasm is a widespread affliction and one that’s hard to fathom for non-car people. For those who associate only expense and bother with their car, observing the effort, the expenditures, and the fascination cast by the car nut upon their rides only makes the mystery deeper.BMW nuts have been in the thrall of Rob Siegel for over three decades by now, and this collection of columns is like a spirited drive in a favorite car on a memorable road. How Rob culled what has to be nearly 500 published pieces down to this more manageable set may be its own book. Sharp technical descriptions, the everyman-in-the-garage voice so familiar and comforting, and reminders of why this miniature car culture that we’ve together formed mean so much to so many of us overflow throughout.Recommended for any BMW fan of any age – and perhaps even more for those who gaze on in silent wonder, and who ask, “What IS this all about?” You’ll know by the end, I promise.

As with the question of Shakespeare's authorship of all the greatest plays on earth, I ask the question, "how could one diminutive Monkey Grinder from Newton-on-Charles write nearly all the greatest motor related literature known to man"? Really, the answer to this question must be - "He couldn't".Some people have suggested that the two years that are 'missing' from Rob Siegel's personal history could account for his ability to write knowledgeably about being buggered in the Italian Navy - but I doubt this very much.Instead, I suggest that "Rob Siegel" is merely a construct which began as a way for Allen Ginsberg to vent his love for motoring while not diminishing the credibility he gained from "Howl".After Ginsberg passed away, the Non de Plumage was taken up by Robert S. McNamara - who had secretly faked his own death to get away from Richard Nixon's romantic advances...I have exhaustive proof for both of these claims, but Amazon's spider-bots block my publishing that documentation here.In any case, which is more credible: moto-journalism this brilliant came from the hive-mind of many, many great thinkers, or it came from one really furry gnome singer/songwriter who gave up land-mine physics? Ask yourself that question once each evening after you've read one (and only one) chapter of this book and you'll come to the right answer.Of course, you'll have to buy the book first - which you should do right now....

I really enjoyed reading this, but it took a while because I read it as bathroom reading. Rob Siegel's combination of entertaining writing style and often very useful mechanical and electrical troubleshooting really makes this and his other books really great reading.

If you are in a mechanical slump, utterly defeated by the state of your own project, take a break and read some of this book. It can help to put things in perspective and motivate you to head back out to the garage. Thanks again, Rob.