BMW Maintenance Manuals

by Pete Lautares
Tidewater Chapter

Manuals. Some you should have and read.

1. Owners Manual: If you don't have one, get one. This is so simple and basic yet some people seldom pay attention to this tome until it's too late, ie, after they've screwed something up. To wit; putting brake fluid in the P/S reservoir or P/S fluid in the brake reservoir, windshield washer fluid in the coolant tank, installing incorrect type and amperage fuses, improper jump starting of a motronic engine, installing incorrect size belts etc. Don't laugh, I'm not making this stuff up. These things actually happened because the owner did not read the owners manual or their mechanic was unfamiliar with the car.

2. Robert Bentley 3 and 5 series Manuals: Worth their weight in gold. Easy to understand, good photos and specs. A must for the do-it yourselfer, be you novice or experienced mechanic. The 5 series manual is also a good reference for 6 and 7 series owners with 3.3/3.5 motors as the engine, suspension, and brake layout are essentially the same. The electrical systems may be a different story.

3. Robert Bentley Bosch Fuel Injection & Engine Management Manual: Covers all injection systems, discusses theory and how they work plus troubleshooting. The chapter on Performance Tuning and Upgrades is excellent. It explains what to do and what not to do to improve performance.

4. Haynes Manuals: Early ones were written by the Brits and shipped to the colonies and includes a chapter translating English terms to English, got that? I never knew a spanner and a wrench were the same thing. Good for older cars if Bentley doesn't cover your model or as a supplement.

5. Chiltons: Makes a good door stop. If this is all you got, well, you're in deep dung. It ain't bad but go with one of the above. However it's the only one I've seen that covers M cars and 6 & 7 series. Hey, if it's the only thing available short of the factory manual, what have you got to lose?

6. BMW Enthusiasts companion: As advertised in The Roundel, this is an excellent collection of tips covering all areas on virtually every model. Highly recommended. You'll recoup your money the first time it sves you a trip to your local garage.