best manual for my 2002

[PappaSquatch]

Where can I buy the best manual for my 2002.

[M3M3]

besides the factory blue book, there is no "best" manual. get them all.

[nbcbird]

I generally refer to my Haynes manual

[PappaSquatch]

I went to all the parts stores here and not one manual for BMW 2002.... Knowing I will have to order one, I was hoping to find the best all around manual to start with. I am sure I will end up wanting to "get them all" but for now one of the better manuals will do fine.

[Beck180]

I generally refer to my Haynes manual

+1

I also use this one on occasion: http://www.amazon.com/BMW-02-Restoration-Guide-Brooklyns/dp/1855204517

[M3M3]

amazon.com is your friend.....

[PappaSquatch]

amazon.com .....lol....still doesn't let me thumb through to see what book is better.... I have seen so many of these manual all milked down with less and less information because they are trying to cover too many years and models....I can pick from several manuals online ...was just looking for what you guys are recommending as the "go to guide" ...thanks for the leads

[BlindRhino]

the best manual is the wealth of knowledge in the FAQ section. I think I have printed the majority of them for the garage. There are great writeups on how to get things done yourself. I followed Bill Williams writeup on rebuilding the subframe/rearend and it went great. I have the haynes manual and another I bought from a fellow faq'er and I must say the best reference is this site. I have never rebuilt a car and decided to for a father/son project. We are down to a shell and it looks a bit rough, but man the rear subframe is awesome!

Just my .02 and hopefully I will be driving next summer.

Russ

[tashakes]

I downloaded one from http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,350909/

and bought a Haynes one off Amazon.

This community is BY FAR your best access to information though.

Cheers

Edward

[Napes]

After this board, I find the Haynes manual most helpful because it'll give tips on dis-assembly, where the factory Repair Manual assumes, as a BMW mechanic, you know how to do what they tell you to do,, and that you have all the special BMW tools they tell you to use. The Repair Manual does offer excellent pictures though.

I'm also fortunate to have access to the BMW mechanic who worked on my car the first 20 yrs. I owned it. He's now retired (after 3 heart attacks and quadruple by-pass surgery) but he'll spend phone time with me to diagnose problems and describe the fix. During the years he worked on my car he always let me be with him in the shop and watch what he was doing. That was invaluable.

Bob Napier

[c.d.iesel]

watch ebay for the BMW Repair Manual

1 or 2-volume editions, in blue binder

try for the 2-volume edition with the most up dated page inserts

blue binder - factory publication - that all the lesser

publishers attempt to copy

the factory publication is the top dog

but have versions all for reasons given above

start witht this one for $17 buckd amazon

and if yer serious - find the BMW Repair Manual,

and if you had the BMW Owner's handbook for

your car - you wouldn't need the repair manual for all

of the general maintanence repairs.

[SteveJ]

I have found kernels of information in one manual and not another.

The factory binder is the best bet. Keep an eye out for one.

Haynes book has some easy to follow directions. Get one, keep it in the car.

Chilton had some tidbits that Haynes didn't cover. But the Haynes is still better.

The orange owners handbook has a bunch of info that manufacturers no longer "give out" to car buyers, and tells you how all the gizmos work on your car.

The FAQ is a great resource, but I still like to have my paper.

[nbcbird]

I brought this subject up before. This forum has far too many inquiries that are easily answered by a repair manual--cylinder firing order, oil capacity, timing specs, etc. etc. No one should own a 2002 without having at least one manual.