what manual
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Bookwus
Well-known member
Hiya six,
To a degree the answer to your question depends on your existing knowledge and your mechanical background.
Bentley is, by far and away, the best technical resource you'll find. But it does assume that you have knowledge and tools which you may not.
On the other hand, Clymer approaches the subject assuming that you know nothing. This is definitely the manual for the person just getting into VWs. The problem is that Clymer is out of print. However it does show up at resellers.
Haynes has the uniqueness of being the only shop manual not entirely distilled from original VW publications. As such I find it an excellent adjunct to the Bentley.
Muir's "Idiot Book" is a wonderful read, but not exactly designed as a shop manual. Complicating the issue is that some of the information in Muir is just plain wrong. Take anything in this manual (and there is some very good stuff in there also) with a grain of salt.
To a degree the answer to your question depends on your existing knowledge and your mechanical background.
Bentley is, by far and away, the best technical resource you'll find. But it does assume that you have knowledge and tools which you may not.
On the other hand, Clymer approaches the subject assuming that you know nothing. This is definitely the manual for the person just getting into VWs. The problem is that Clymer is out of print. However it does show up at resellers.
Haynes has the uniqueness of being the only shop manual not entirely distilled from original VW publications. As such I find it an excellent adjunct to the Bentley.
Muir's "Idiot Book" is a wonderful read, but not exactly designed as a shop manual. Complicating the issue is that some of the information in Muir is just plain wrong. Take anything in this manual (and there is some very good stuff in there also) with a grain of salt.
Hilly_70
Well-known member
I ran with Haynes for a while but find it quite poor compared to the more recent Haynes ..
The Bentley manual is by far the superior, with i would say at least 4 times more info in it ..
but as previously mentioned, it assumes a reasonable knowledge is already known ..
Both would be best .. Haynes if your new to it .. Bentley if you can swing a spanner!
Hilly
The Bentley manual is by far the superior, with i would say at least 4 times more info in it ..
but as previously mentioned, it assumes a reasonable knowledge is already known ..
Both would be best .. Haynes if your new to it .. Bentley if you can swing a spanner!
Hilly
matt-me
Well-known member
I agree with Hilly, get both. I have found you get slightly different information (not differing views) from both, although it is alot harder to find said information in Bentley as it doesn't have an index for idiots like me. You see different phots as well which sometimes helps. I have Muir's too, but tend to use it more to seeif it can add anything after reading the other two
Al
Al
Likewise I'm using Haynes, Bentley and Muir's book and trying to find some common ground amongst each. I'm a novice really and just got my first Bay, its just great to be learning and working on a bus, seeing the parts together and having small victories in putting things right.
ProfessorWheeto
Well-known member
The muir one is nice to read but not really something to refer to whilst your elbow deep in oil. The haynes one is alright but still sometimes the wording is a bit arse about face and the photos arent that great. Not had a flick through a bentley one yet, will have to soon.
I've got an Autodata one I found at an autojumble, its got lots of really nice exploded diagrams of components so its not always necessary to read all the text you can pretty much get a good idea of what to do from the drawing.
I've got an Autodata one I found at an autojumble, its got lots of really nice exploded diagrams of components so its not always necessary to read all the text you can pretty much get a good idea of what to do from the drawing.
Araon
Well-known member
^^^autodata, superb drawings and a Bentley for the tech details.....
but the widest spread I always find handy.....
but the widest spread I always find handy.....
noddy
Well-known member
bentley every time haynes is a comic
Bookwus
Well-known member
Hiya six,
When you go to put your hard-earned cash on the counter for a copy of Bentley, be careful.
Not all Bentley's are created equal.
Bentley went through an extended amount of time (nine or ten years) during which they published their wiring diagrams in black & white. Trust me on this............you want a manual with the wiring diagrams in color. You'll find old Bentleys and new Bentleys with colored diagrams. Hint: buy old - they're cheaper. Check out Amazon for low prices.
Caveat Emptor!
When you go to put your hard-earned cash on the counter for a copy of Bentley, be careful.
Not all Bentley's are created equal.
Bentley went through an extended amount of time (nine or ten years) during which they published their wiring diagrams in black & white. Trust me on this............you want a manual with the wiring diagrams in color. You'll find old Bentleys and new Bentleys with colored diagrams. Hint: buy old - they're cheaper. Check out Amazon for low prices.
Caveat Emptor!
Just to add my twopen'orth I think John Muir is brilliant, a very entertaining read and the diagrams are easy to follow as they omit all the unnecessary detail. But don't forget the excellent advice from the guys on here, always works for me 
