Workshop Manual - worth buying or not?

I have seen this workshop manual on ebay and was wondering if anyone had it or had any thoughts if it was worth buying?

dont think I'd want to pay £13.99 + £4 p&p for a photocopied document though

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150413659131&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

HI I bought one of the elec manuals this chap sells. They are what they say they are, photcopies of the original VAG workshop manuals. Make sure it fits your year and model. And if it says electrical, or body or flow diagrams, then thats all you get in the manual. They do not cover everythings like the Haynes manuals do. Still I wanted an electrical manual and I got what I paid for. If you are close by you are always welcome to pop in and have a look at my copy before you buy. It even has all the grubby fingure marks from the mechanics photocopied all over the pages too !

I got the brown haynes manual for all mechanicals - I think your cab is too new for that one though.

I also bought, and recommend the haynes restoration book for golf and jetta - very useful for items like cracked door cappings, and gives some good upgrades, though many of them are covered pretty comprehensively on this site already!

Sam

bentley manuals supposed to be very good

First question , is it legal to copy docs and then sell them?

we can`t be seen to condone this practise on the mk1golf owners site

i got a bentley manual for my camper van 1967. it is the genuine manual used by Volkswagen of America and is awsome in detail (2.5" thick).

Just ordered one off amazon.com for the golf (rabbit) it's 700 pages (which says something in itself) but it's not arrived yet…

I'll let you know if its any good!

It has arrived and I'm well pleased. Makes the Haynes manual look like a ladybird book.



Fantastic detail on every aspect, and clearly written by Volkswagen for their American workshops. The USA injection engine is slightly different, with more hoses and switches for emissions control etc, but it's quite easy to see past these extras.



Theres loads of stuff the haynes manual doesnt mention especially about body panels, interior etc etc.

much better than some photocopied document

looks good. how much did it cost you?   I have a 1991 cab does it cover that?

I just bought the Bentley manual that covers late cabs (1985-1993) and to be honest it's dissapointing. There is very little in there that seems to be cabriolet specific. I was hoping for full instuctions on hood removal and replacement, but all you get are hood adjustment details. The bodywork/interior and fixings section is as lacking as the equivalent section in the haynes manual.

The rest of the manual does look informative, but as it's US spec it doesn't cover the DX engine. I got mine from Amazon direct for £35, there are cheaper sellers on Amazon but as their books come from America you could be stung for Customs and Excise charges.

Amazon link for Bentley Manual

They look to have gone up in price since last week! Last week there were a few new/used sellers selling for £25 (could incur £8 customs charge on top) and Amazon had theirs at £35.

The one I got doesnt cover cabriolets either.

However it does cover the GTI engine, the US spec has a different code (different compression ratio and a few other minor differences) but it's essentially the same as the DX, just a different code.

I am finding it 10 times more useful than the Haynes manual, and I think the cost is reasonable for the amount of work someone has done to produce it.

I admit I've slated it a bit more than is fair, but the reason I bought it was for refitting the hood and that isn't in there. I think the VW manual in the ebay link will be far more informative than the Bentley, but in terms of value for £ a proper book @ £40 is better than a badly photocopied manual @ £18. The ebay seller could at least bind them for the asking price.

I don't have the Cabriolet Bentley in front of me so can't quote which engine models it does and doesn't cover, but the later US cabriolets were on Digifant which wasn't on our UK models.

GavB95 said

I admit I've slated it a bit more than is fair, but the reason I bought it was for refitting the hood and that isn't in there. I think the VW manual in the ebay link will be far more informative than the Bentley, but in terms of value for £ a proper book @ £40 is better than a badly photocopied manual @ £18. The ebay seller could at least bind them for the asking price.

I don't have the Cabriolet Bentley in front of me so can't quote which engine models it does and doesn't cover, but the later US cabriolets were on Digifant which wasn't on our UK models.

I can scan and email you the pages you are looking for if you want to PM me your email address

I'd really appreciate that metalblue - I'm just in need of the details for refitting the hood and full hydraulic frame. I've removed them from the car but would like something to guide me when I'm refitting it!

I've PM'd you.

Gav, there's a good hood fitting guide here on this very forum. There seems to be a few people on here have used it and gave it the thumbs up ;o)
Chris

PS Did the ASAs see the Rado thru the winter ok?

Cheers Chris, I've just had alook at the guide and it should help me along the way, but there's still a few bits and pieces I'm not so sure on that aren't in there.  

I removed the hood and frame in full and have a pot of fixings, but aren't too sure on the order to rebolt it all back on!

The ASA's have been spot on, I should be saying my goodbyes to the Corrado soon though - I'll be back to motoring in the Mk1.  :cheer: