WORKSHOP MANUALS ???

BASHOdi Wolfsburg Wizard

441 posts · joined Nov 2006 · 2 May 2007, 4:35 pm

#588842

Hi ,
what workshop manual would you guys reckon is the best ???---I've bought a Chilterns and an Idiots Guide by John Muir-- IMO they're are both a pack of rubbish--basicly comics-- is there actualy a real technical manual in existance with actual workshop drawings and specifications rather than garbled descriptions by a long karked it Yanks and indexed in both instances by autistic mental deficiants.
I'm lookin for beetle 62 thru 72 or thereabouts and have read that the Bentley is a goer????
Anyone ???
Cheers ,
:beer
Al .

mackaymanx Custom Title Time!

1,611 posts · joined Jan 2006 · 2 May 2007, 4:38 pm

#588843

I have 4 different manuals for the type 3 and the Bentleys is by far the best.

Quote of the week
"Do I wish to send them to you again, nope, no interest can't be bothered really, to much hassle for little or no return."

[IMG]https://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate2-18600.png[/IMG]

ACE_76

Former member · 2 May 2007, 10:59 pm

#588943

Hi Big Al.,
I like the Muir one, and think it's very good for 'starters', but if you don't like it & want something more clinical & detailed, a Bentley's is the "best" I've seen. Tell 'em you want a Bentley, for your VW... (!?)

Sulla Seriously Crusin Dubber

149 posts · joined Apr 2005 · 3 May 2007, 4:13 pm

#589079

Idiots Guide is probably the best for "how to actually do it". Over 2.3 million copies sold.

Bentley books are reprints of the original early VW factory manuals:

1958 - 2 volumes
1960 - 1 volume
1965 - 2 volumes
1966 - 1969 About 18 or 19 volumes as sections broken down into thinner manuals by section.

The Australian manuals - Scientific Publications, Gregory's etc are just edited versions of the original VW factory manuals - same text and same images.

Haynes manuals take it a step further by providing more (text) detail than any of the Australian books with many of the more common repair procedures.

Original VW factory manuals or the equivalent Bentley reproductions will provide all the information you need as they were the manuals provided to VW distriibutors. Be mindful of the fact that they were printed for the US market although some do include RHD information.

Other very good books are VOLKSWAGEN TECHNICAL MANUAL - Henry Elfrink, and the books written by Piet Olyslager - three books -VOLKSWAGEN CARS FROM 1954; 1960; and 1968.

Bentley books in Australia are very expensive (about $280 for the 65 VW factory manual). Cheaper in the USA but postage is expensive due to the weight of the book.

Original VW factory manuals (1960, 1965) do show up on eBay AU from time to to time and generally sell for less than $80 per volume.

There was a seller on eBay recently offering pirated CD editions of some the Bentley VW manuals, but it appears that the seller is NO LONGER A REGISTERED USER - maybe because of copyright infringement!

I have all the above manuals from VW factory and Bentley, but the book I refer to most is the Idiots Guide. Best VW book ever printed for the home VW mechanic.

Happy reading!!

1963 6 volt Beetle - Driver
1976 Kombi Camper - Driver
1963 Beetle 6 volt - Project
1964 Beetle 12 volt - rustbucket for parts
1975 Kombi Shell - parts

I drive VW aircooled to save water AND I always shower with a friend!

BASHOdi Wolfsburg Wizard

441 posts · joined Nov 2006 · 4 May 2007, 12:53 pm

#589286

:thumb Thanks very much for the input guys most helpfull , I'm intrigued thet nobody else finds the Idiots as truly annoying as I do, certainly the most annoying reference publication I personaly have ever come across irrespective of how many copys they've managed to con people into buying.
I notice that none of the manuals mentioned seems to refer to any Pommy ones, did they not have a RHD manual at any stage ?? VW sure sold plenty of units there and knowing the bloody poms it would be most unlike them not to have knocked up thier own if the Krauts wouldn't do it,, JUST a thought mind.
Cheers ,
:beer
Al .,

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,787 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 May 2007, 1:08 pm

#589290

I will stick my hand up for Muir's being an essential manual as well

It is definitely not pin point accurate but i gives a great cover and understanding of things and how they work

Otherwise i have Scientific and i also find Rob & Daves web site brilliant

Futue te ipsum!!!

ACE_76

Former member · 4 May 2007, 6:36 pm

#589351

Haynes are English (written), aren't they?
Clymer was another earlier (mid 60's?) one, a bit like Elfrink (USA) but don't know from which country...
There was also an English one on "Super-Tuning the VW engine" or some such title...
Good to have several manuals for your model, as they are all "different"!
I also like "How to Hotrod VW Engines" by Bill Fisher as it covers many items of interest/importance, though it's not a repair manual.

toplessbug Fahrvergnugen

879 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 May 2007, 7:57 pm

#589370

Hey Al ,im with you ,i find the idiots guide just as you describe,just order a bentleys from the states and get it surface mail ,heaps cheaper:beer:beer:beer

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

BASHOdi Wolfsburg Wizard

441 posts · joined Nov 2006 · 5 May 2007, 4:04 pm

#589485

toplessbug wrote:Hey Al ,im with you ,i find the idiots guide just as you describe,just order a bentleys from the states and get it surface mail ,heaps cheaper:beer:beer:beer

Yeh my thoughts exactly, I'm gonna phone a couple of bookshops though as I'm intrigued HTF they can justify a 500% mark up on an educational item--I'm sure trade practices are going to be interested as well-he he he
:beer
:beer
:beer
Thanks everyone else too for the good references I've gotta say I'm with Bizarre on the Rob & Daves site for web referance's it's very good IMO too.

Cheers, Al