Purchased a 86 2-dr, 5 speed BMW 325, who makes or has the best illustrated repair mannual?

Question

Car need some work, I must do the repairs myself. Taking off in 1st gear lot of vibration, coolant light in celling remaINS ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES, SERVICE OIL

Answer 1

Get a BMW factory service manual. Expensive but WELL WORTH IT, especially with some of the stuff you've got. You might need a new clutch or a tranny rebuild, sad to say.

Answer 2

The Robert Bentley Manuals are much better illustrated, and better organized than the early factory shop manuals which were poorly translated from the German. The German manuals appear to be photocopies of a German speaking translator whose English was not adapted to Automotive technology. There are also Haynes and Chilton books with chapters about the 325 engines; neither is up to acceptable technical qualities above a beginner's. The US 1986 model 325s actually had 2.7 litre engines identified as "eta" engines designed especially for the early CALIF emissions regulations. The 325e model predecessor was the first Three Series to come into the U.S. with a Catlytic Convertor. It suffered from a much reduced HP output (121) than found in the later '87 and '88 models which derived 170 HP from 2.5 litres. You can usually identify the 325e cars when you see a six cylinder engine with a 4500 RPM red line marker on the tachometer.

Answer 3

Bentley produces a great manual for the E30s. The Bentley manuals are among the best repair reference books I've come across (though they do not put them out for that many cars).

Answer 4

the best repair manuals I've found are the Haynes manuals, or you could take it to a garage and get them to tell you whats wrong but not fix it and then take it home and fix what you can.