porsche piwis 2

What tools does a mechanic have that I most likely will not have at home?

That depends on how much you have invested into your tools. I have invested over $150k in my tools over the past 60 years as I started buying tools as a small boy (7–8) to work on bicycles and never stopped. I haven’t paid a mechanic to do a repair in over 40 years. I now have the tools to overhaul a Cummins diesel, a 9000# 2 post car lift in my shop, motorcycle specialty tools, a complete machine shop with 3 mills, 4 lathes, surface grinder and a Gorton pantograph. I have a complete welding shop set up for MIG, TIG, stick, OAF, plasma cutting, spot welding with fabrication tables to do proper fit up, band saws, chop saws, blasting cabinets, powder coating setup with oven, tool and cutter grinders. I have pipe threaders, specialized electrical tools (I was an industrial electrician and contractor for 30 years), computer/phone/video cabling and testing tools and a complete setup for board level repairs on electronics including surface mount chip replacement. There is close to 20′ of tool chests full of almost every hand tool sold by most companies lined up next to my car lift. All this is contained in my 2200sqft workshop behind my house. I’m in the process of adding another 525sqft to my shop and building a downdraft paint booth. Four years ago I finished a two year course of study in welding and fabrication and earned AWS certifications in multiple processes. Two years ago I completed a 2 year course in auto body repair and refinishing so I’m doing my own repairs and restorations now. I was the oldest graduate at 65 and the only one that year to earn two associates degrees in the same year. I’m considering taking a three semester course in upholstery and auto interiors starting next spring. I’m 67 and have never stopped learning new stuff or buying new tools to practice what I learn. Back to your original question, torque wrenches, specialized wrenches and sockets like T and E-Torx, 5 lobe Torx (found on some German cars like BMW), XZN or triple square bits and sockets, fuel injector sockets and puller, sensor removal sockets, a full range of impact wrenches from 1/4″ to 1″ drive, gear and pulley pullers, bearing pullers and drivers, seal installation tools, vacuum brake bleeders, refrigerant recovery machines to avoid dumping Freon into the atmosphere, vacuum pumps, code readers and more important the dedicated software and interfaces required for modern vehicles like MB Star interface and software, BMW ICOM interface and software, Porsche PIWIS interface and software as examples. You can invest many thousands of dollars in software, laptops, interfaces and cables for just a couple of marques. All of the above are things that a normal homeowner wouldn’t be expected to own. And the selection of specialty tools needed varies between vehicles and models even by the same manufacturer. So that list is endless. I still own some specialized Honda tools for CB100/125 singles from the early 1970’s, Triumph tools like a timing plunger that I used for my 1974 Triumph Bonneville 750 T-140V and some Kawasaki tools for my H1 and H2 triples from the early 70’s. I have most of a set of FIAT factory “A” tools from the 70’s and 80’s which I use constantly as I enjoy restoring FIAT Spiders of that era. I never get rid of tools. I feel sorry for whomever has to handle the disposal of my tool collection when I pass. They will have a real task on their hands.