Work shop manuals

[skippyc]

When did BMW stop producing manuals like this.

[Justin B.]

I'm not sure but I had one just like that years ago when I had a /5.  All the new stuff is a CD or DVD...

[marcmax]

I have one that I got with my LS when I bought it but the quality is not great. It looks like a 3rd or 4th generation copy. The pictures are hard to make out details in. There is also a lot that is missing. It assumes an advanced level of knowledge of BMW motorcycle maintenance.

Just my humble opinion, you are better off with a copy of both the Haynes and the Clymer manuals. My BMW factory manual has been collecting dust on a bookshelf since I got it.

[Burt]

Don't know but I have a photocopy of the BMW R65 manual which I borrowed from the club in Qld.  The manual shows a 79-80 bike in the illustrations.  I do remember that it took a long time to copy every page double sided.  

Depending on whether you join one of the state clubs, they may have copies available to borrow.  

[Tony Smith]

Just my humble opinion, you are better off with a copy of both the Haynes and the Clymer manuals. My BMW factory manual has been collecting dust on a bookshelf since I got it.

May I add that unless you *are* a mechanic and have or have access to the full range of BMW special tools the very best place for the BMW factory manual is in the bin.

Clymer, Haynes et. al. are not saints, but their approach is based on what a home handy person with a decent range of tools can reasonably expect to do themselves. The Haynes/Clymer manuals are deliberately silent on such topics as gearbox rebuilding or main bearing replacement, not because these things are difficult (they are not) but because they require things that the average home mechanic will not have. (stuff like number drills, inside and outside micrometers, a press, holding fixtures etc.


Also, the "style" of the workshop manual is written with the underlying assumption that the reader is a competent and experienced mechanic who has attended the BMW service schools on the model the subject of the manual.


Money spent on Clymer and Haynes manuals is money well spent. If the BMW factory manual came free as a downloaded file it still is not worth the paper to print it.


End of rant.


I'm quite grumpy on the topic of factory manuals as i have no real choice for the KLE as it seems nobody ever published an aftermarket service manual for it. Thankfully, like most Japanese engines of its era it is simple to work on however I find that it frequently takes me more time to read the procedure in the factory manual, translate that into "real world" steps than it does to actually do the job.

BTW I have BMW factory manuals for my model R100 and R80. I have not opened either for years.

[montmil]

As Tony relates, the Haynes and Clymer manuals are quite good, even offering homemade tool suggestions as a substitute for expensive factory or aftermarket tools to accomplish work.

Also, don't overlook Bob "The Snowbum" Fleischer's website. Many is the time I have printed out a section and used it as another "shop manual". The printouts go into plastic sleeves and stay in a 3-ring binder for future reference.

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm

An excellent photo essay on rebuilding Bing CV carburetors, this is also in my printout inventory. Additional Airhead tech is in Scott Marburger's terrific website.

http://www.gunsmoke.com/motorcycling/r100gs/carb_rebuild/

Google search is a marvelous. It's no longer absolutely necessary to buy a paper shop manual... although the two manuals currently available are my first go-to choice.

[Luca]

I guess I'm the only one who thinks the BMW factory manual isn't that bad.  While it does assume you are working in a factory/dealership with all the fancy special tools, there is still plenty of useful information in there.  Haynes and Clymer copy a lot of what is in the factory manuals, including the occasional erroneous Nm to ft-lb conversions.

If an engine or trans rebuild is ever in you future, you should consider the factory manual.  If you farm the work out to a machinist who isn't an airhead specialist, he will probably end up billing you for one anyways.

[Barry]

Not the only one.  

I have a Haynes and the BMW manual and find that I refer to the BMW manual the most these days.  Not so much for procedures but for the technical specifications.  It does go overboard with the factory special tools with for example a suggestion that one is required to dismantle the forks when we all know it's not necessary.  

[skippyc]

This manual has been laying around for years and i agree with the lack of how to do it. i never used it while i had the bike and it seems that the stile of manual has not changed. I didn't know they made R65 manuals.

[Bob_Roller]

I got my copy of the factory manual just after I got my '81 R65, so 35 years ago .

As has been mentioned, if you don't know anything about BMW airheads, this is not the manual for you .

It assumes that you went through factory training, so the common knowledge stuff that you need, isn't in there .

A fair amount of the manual, is the engine and transmission overhaul so some of the specifications for dimensions, is useful .

The Haynes and Clymer manuals are some of the best, for ' shade tree ' mechanics like us !!!

But, all manuals have errors, the factory manual included, if something doesn't look right to you, post here and see if anyone else has run across the issue .

[mrbuck]

I have an R65 factory manual from the dealership where Ms. Buck and I worked and without looking at every single page, it appears this manual's last update was 5-82.

We also have a R60/7  to R100 manual (same book) that I bought 4-84 and the last updated page seems to be 3-82.