Bentley Manual Z3

The description sounds as confused and confusing as the book itself!  See my review in the 'Books and Manuals' section of this forum.

Frankly, I would not waste money on this book, which leaves a lot to be desired, and is no better than the Haynes 3-series (or do they now publish a Z3 version?) at half the price, with far better quality photographs.  My 2000 copy does not cover the post-Sept 1998 models, with the double-VANOS engine and other changes - does this version?

I would suggest the Haynes book for value for money general information, complimeted by the BMW CD set (parts lists, wiring diagrams, and workshop manuals for everything frm the E21 onwrds) which is available on Ebay for about £10. 

If you want to work on your car - rather than find out about it - spend the rest of the saving on tools - a pressure bleeder, pulley locking tool, 32 mm spanner, multimeter, coolant hydrometer, and at least one 2.5 ton trolley jack - and preferably two.


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 28 Aug 2016 at 12:03pm

I see that Bentley now has revised their manual to also cover the later engines, the old blue cover version still being available.

However, it still remains ovewr-expensive, and doubtless still lacks common sense - with too much advice that simple tasks must be left to the 'shop' as they are considered beyond the abiliities of owners.

With most of the Z3 being taken from the E36 and E46 series, the Haynes manual provides decent cover, and the BMW TIS (manual) ETK (parts list) and ETM (wiring diagrams) can fill in nicely.  I cannot remember when I last bothered to look at my Bentley manual.

Loading the BMW discs requires that the System Admin program be first installed, providing an interface with Windows - if you have any problems let me know.