What's the best Haynes manual for me...
Moderator: martauto
..and my pre-facelift 320i auto?
I've figured out that the 815 manual is the best but there seems to be 3 variations of it. Two are reddish in colour but feature different cutaway illustrations on the front. There is also a similar one with a green cover.
I've figured out that the 815 manual is the best but there seems to be 3 variations of it. Two are reddish in colour but feature different cutaway illustrations on the front. There is also a similar one with a green cover.

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mrLEE30
- E30 Zone Team Member

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the better one is green IIRC and its out of print. the red one coveres some E34 too, but by far the best manual is the Bentley manual, while it mainly covers the US cars it is relevant for 90% of your 320.

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beemerbird
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This is the best Haynes in my opinion, but the Bentley is better.
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is
I believe the one beemerbird is linking to deals with the M20 engine plus it's supposed to have additional information on the E30. This probably makes it more suitable for my pre-facelift 320i than the 3 + 5 series manual, which I have a copy of.mrLEE30 wrote:not sure on all differences but buy the bentley.
Fi that link is for an E21, the E30 and E34 is
but as i say above this is shared with 5 series
Anyway, thanks all. I'll try to source a copy of the Bentley.

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beemerbird
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Correct. Far better for a pre - facelift than the maroon 3 and 5 series manual.Ranchero wrote:I believe the one beemerbird is linking to deals with the M20 engine plus it's supposed to have additional information on the E30. This probably makes it more suitable for my pre-facelift 320i than the 3 + 5 series manual, which I have a copy of.mrLEE30 wrote:not sure on all differences but buy the bentley.
Fi that link is for an E21, the E30 and E34 is
but as i say above this is shared with 5 series
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is
- barrett103
- E30 Zone Newbie

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the haynes manual i have is for the right year but has an e36 on the front, is this the wrong one?

- yellowmellow
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BENTLEY BENTLEY BENTLEY BENTLEY BENTLEY BENTLEY...... NUFF SAID
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Daddycoo1est
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I'd go for that one too, made the mistake of selling my one with my old E30beemerbird wrote:
This is the best Haynes in my opinion, but the Bentley is better.
They just don't make them like they used to
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Daddycoo1est
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Yep you need the E30 manual gather your tourer is like mine one of the last of the best.barrett103 wrote:the haynes manual i have is for the right year but has an e36 on the front, is this the wrong one?
- donnyboiler
- E30 Zone Newbie

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I have the 815 manual in orange. It seems pretty old - the 325i is only dealt with at the end as a revision.
It's fantastic. So much better than the newer Haynes manuals in every way. When I did the cambelt and tappets on my 325i this was the one I used, not the 1948 which is about as useful as a copy of the Beano.
Anyway it's the same as this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAYNES-815-MANUAL ... 3f008ebea0
and it has a lot more e30 than e21. Highly recommended.
It's fantastic. So much better than the newer Haynes manuals in every way. When I did the cambelt and tappets on my 325i this was the one I used, not the 1948 which is about as useful as a copy of the Beano.
Anyway it's the same as this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAYNES-815-MANUAL ... 3f008ebea0
and it has a lot more e30 than e21. Highly recommended.
- barrett103
- E30 Zone Newbie

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yeh, its a pain to get parts cos the last 3 or 4 time the part has been wrong!Daddycoo1est wrote:Yep you need the E30 manual gather your tourer is like mine one of the last of the best.barrett103 wrote:the haynes manual i have is for the right year but has an e36 on the front, is this the wrong one?

Did x works not have a download in their restoration project that was like a BMW mechanics manual?
Phase I - Bodywork Complete
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... by+restore
Phase II - 2.8 stroker- Complete
Project II - 325 Motorsport Cabriolet Restoration.
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... by+restore
Phase II - 2.8 stroker- Complete
Project II - 325 Motorsport Cabriolet Restoration.
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snakebrain
- E30 Zone Addict

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I found the factory manual, or whatever that is you're talking about there, for the E28 online somewhere. Amazing resource, though it does kind of assume you know what you're doing - I remember reading in a bodywork section, 'remove the roof from the car and continue'.... (It wasn't a convertible btw!!)
I lost the bookmark in a computer crash and can't find the damn thing now.
I lost the bookmark in a computer crash and can't find the damn thing now.


