Haynes manual - read this!

[hogweed]

I sent this email to Haynes yesterday - it shoud be self-explanatory:


Hello, I bought your manual for my 1989 BMW 325i SE, and am very disappointed in its content. It seems to contain a lot of quite serious errors, and is particularly unhelpful in many areas.

Just picking two problems at random from the long list:

(1) I removed the module which your picture indicates to be the water temperature sensor for the Motronic engine management system, and spent some considerable time at a parts shop trying to match it, only to find that the one arrowed in your diagram is actually the water temp sender for the temperature gauge.

(2) I have tried to access the heater fan, which has failed, using your instructions and pictures. Your book says that there are two fasteners holding a little panel to the bulkhead, and shows pictures. Sadly these pictures bear little relationship to anything to be found on my car.

I am left with the impression that whoever wrote this book has never actually worked on one of these cars, but has taken a few snapshots of a model which is superficially similar, and assumed that other models in the E30 range are the same.

To be honest, these are only two errors picked at random - I feel this manual is worse than useless.

Reply follows...

[hogweed]

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry to read your concern regarding a Haynes Manual.

I assume you have manual number 1948 covering the 3 & 5 series models. The only viable proposition for a manual covering the 3 & 5 series for this period was to include two models in one manual. It is because of the number of versions that some problems occur with repair procedures. We no longer include more than one model in all our BMW manuals. Unfortunately this has resulted with some models not being covered.

However, Technical Services exists to provide additional information if necessary and where available. If you have a problem in the future and find the manual does not cover the subject by all means email me and I will try to help if at all possible.

** This is the bit which will bring tears to your eyes...

Just one point regarding the worth of a Haynes manual, I have in the last few days received an independent report on garage labour rates. The average rate for the UK is now almost Ԛ£59 per hour. Even at a full retail price of Ԛ£17.99 the cost of a manual will be recovered within 20 minutes and I am sure there is more than 20 minutes worth of repair information contained within all of our manuals.

I would like to thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention as we value customer feedback to improve on our high standards ensuring Haynes remains the leader in car manual publication.

May I, on behalf of Haynes Publishing Ltd, apologize for an inconvenience caused.

Regards

Trevor
Technical Services
Haynes Publishing.

Email: tech@haynes.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1963 442062


So, basically, it doesn't matter that the manual is so wrong in places that you could actually damage your car if you followed their inctructions - it's still terrific value for money!

[rich_e30]

Had the same trouble it's now known as the haynes book of lies . Throw it in the bin and buy yourself a bently manual

[hogweed]

Oh I know mate... but I jsut thought I'd post their reply here so everyone could see what their attitude towards customers is...

[tourer-dan]

Ah, the haynes Book Of Lies we all know and love!! To be honest my life would be harder without one (I don't own a Bentley manual yet) and the little glitches are part of Haynes rich tapestry!!

The trouble is some of it is exclusive to the E34 and they seemed to forget the E30!

[A1BMW325iSport]

the amount of times i`ve read the book and found when doing the job on the car that they are completely wrong is countless,

the photos are useless as well sometimes they are of the completely wrong part and even printed upside down to confuse you even more!

the only thing that can be useful is the wiring diagrams i find they are
not too bad still could be a lot better!

think i`ll be investing in a bentley manual as well

[redrobbie]

Do you guys know if this bently manual is useful for the 318is, coz the haynes sure hell isnt!

[Jimbob]

i tried to change a viscous fan with the haynes manual and didnt even seen to mention the word 'viscous'

bentley are about 1000 times more detailed but still don't cover the M42, if u have any problems its probably best to ask here tbh. Or try that Irish guy's 318is website which i dont have the url of off hand, sorry.

[redrobbie]

dnt worry Jimbob ive been using the e30zone and the irish guy's (BP) site.

[Nostrils]

The Haynes Manuals aside for a moment (I agree with the E34/E30 books together is daft...I used to own an original E30 dedicated book from 1996!!) - Where did Haynes get the price of Ԛ£59/hour labour charge!!

I would like to visit this garage, cos it cant be a BMW Dealership.....HR Owen at Heathrow is reputed to be Ԛ£170/hour.

Back on topic...I have found the Haynes Manual as useful as a chocolate tea pot. I now scour the net, especially this site, S14 and BMW Car Club for info, advice and tip.

I also look at the online ETK, have some files from TIS and others collected over the years from the Factory Manuals....

Never read Bently!

[mrLEE30]

Yeah i had a E30 only book, green if i remember but left it in England.

I also followed the good book trying to take my dash apart, it ended very swiftly when i removed the instrument cluster as per their instuctions, i bared fcuk all resemblance. Now only used as a fuse and wiring guide. Can i buy Bentley off the shelf in uk when i am back or is it an order jobbie, i hear a lot about it and have never seen one, i assume its worth it.

mrlee

[Martinaston]

The old haynes manual (815) 320,320i,323i&325i 6cyl was i bit more useful and coverd the gearbox internals. Still has some errors and the wiring diagrams vary a bit but it's a better choise than the 1948.

[JazzMan]

I've noticed similar issues with it. It tends to be step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 done when in fact they miss steps 1.5, 1.6, 2.5, 4.5 out completely leaving you to guess what you have to do. Not ideal someone like me who's doesn't to know huge amounts technically about car but is trying to learn Lucky the Zone has saved me several time so far

[peejay]

I thought it was me, I'm glad others struggle with this publication. They do miss things out dont they ?


Peejay.

[kidsinister]

Well personally I've got both the Haynes and the Bentley manual, and depite the fact that the Bentley was twice as expensive I've not found it useful once yet - I always go back to the Haynes.

Perhaps it's just me.

Incidentally, on the subject of the iS (M42) somebody pointed out recently that this is covered in the E36 manual.

[orkboss]

I don't think the Bentley Manual covers the M40 engine so late 316i and 318i are out of luck.

[smiler]

where do you get the bentley manual from?

[calder]

getting the bentley manual is probably easiest from amazon.co.uk - or there used to be a link on this site.

The best thing i found in Haynes manuals is when they occaisionally have some of the photo negatives the wrong way round so everyhting is handed wrong which is completely confusing.

The second best bit is if they have three photos with comments underneath where two of the comments are on the wrong photos of that set of three and the third is nothing to do with any of the three photos at all.

[gareth]

if you want a laugh, looks for the wiring for heated seats... it's all there!
now look for anything relating to the horn... nothing! check the index!