I’m retiring in a couple of months and want to start working on my 2004 L322 4.4V8 (and 2006 Audi A6 wagon—3rd one; my dream car, seriously). Partly to save money on maintenance.

Question is: I’ve never worked on cars, how do I get started? What basic tools do I need? Manuals? What is a good project to get started on? Change the oil?

Folks on this forum seem nice; hence here. Please be gentle with this car repair virgin.

Am in the US if it makes any difference 2004 RR HSE 22k miles
2006 Audi A6 Allroad twin turbo

One other thing: I’m not known for my patience, especially when it comes to mechanical things… 2004 RR HSE 22k miles
2006 Audi A6 Allroad twin turbo

Personally I would start with simple servicing work, what needs doing? Oil change is a good one.

There are loads of tutorials on YouTube. I’ve been spannering for nearly 40 years but still use YouTube for reference.

I would start with basic tools and buy what you need when you perform jobs that need specific tools. I.e. I would suggest buying an oil pump like this:

https://amzn.eu/d/bwIReOX

It makes life a lot easier. And take your time.

Congrats on your retirement 👍😃

That's how I started 3 years ago, download the workshop manual (in the Wiki, top right of the page), there are a lot of guides for various subjects that people have done on their cars. You'll need a good jack that will lift high enough and 3ton axle stands, complete 1/2 inch socket set, spanner set, screw drivers, flat and phillips, fine nosed pliers and then the collection starts to grow, impact wrench and impact sockets, 4 post lift, compressor, more garage space, more tools, more cars, lots of time on Youtube, all good clean fun.
The basic maintenance is quite straight forward, just follow the guidance.

Enjoy the learning process.
Will

Take your time and enjoy it while you’re doing it. Build on what you are learning as you go along.

Reap the satisfaction of having done it yourself no matter how small the job to start with. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Read the description section, in each section of the workshop manual, it's a rubbish ending (lol) but you will get a good idea how things work, this will help greatly...

And just enjoy it, if you find your impatience welling up, take a break...  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

As well as advice on here YouTube is your friend for maintenance but find trusted channels like these :

https://youtube.com/@SamsMotors?si=xkGHkOhH1HcWXWxD

https://youtube.com/@fullfat4x4?si=LTytXSaYweSH_1-g

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL063C3A...H8UIfoyHWw

( no association with either )

Plus I bought a workshop manual from eBay as it is searchable. I found the one on the wiki on here was not. I guess that they’ll have one for the 4.4 petrol if you look.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126310774971?mk...632-2357-0 TDV8 4.4 2012

Thank you for all the suggestions. Am following up 2004 RR HSE 22k miles
2006 Audi A6 Allroad twin turbo

I'd look at getting yourself a good trolley jack, don't put yourself at risk using the jack that came with the car. I also bought a 3 Tonne jack from SGS and some axle stands.

As others have said, get looking on YouTube, I've done so many things to my 4.4 M62 that I never thought would be possible, just by knowing what needed to be done and looking at exactly how others have done it on YouTube, then just taking my time.