I've had a few Haynes manuals and found them unsatisfactory - principally because there are usually variations in model which they don't cover. I've always found the manufacturers' manuals to be much easier to follow. So if I were working on my car (which I'm not - older, a bit richer and don't feel competent with the complication of modern cars) I'd certainly investigate TOPIx first. Apparently you can get a one-day subscription and download the lot. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Bill Turner wrote:

tonyok wrote:

Haynes are releasing a workshop manual diesel only august 2014 you can pre order it now.

Ordered so will report on quality/usefulness when it arrives.

Bill

Manual has arrived this morning so had a quick look through and as promised a review.

A very basic mono ie. black and white publication which gives all the specifications, fluids required etc.
Section on engine removal and top end removal.
Section on auto gearbox-remove and take to specialist.
Ditto drive train, and back axle.
Complete wiring diagrams but in black and white so should imagine quite difficult to follow specific cabling

IE not much use for a major overhaul but puts all the relevant info into one publication.

Would not have purchased it if had been able to leaf through before purchase.

But there you go. Win some. Lose some.

PS. Some pictures are generic and not of FL2's.

Bill Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

If you don't want it bill I might take it off your hands.

Hi Carman,

Thanks for the offer but I shall keep it in the car as a reference document in case of problems away from base.

Further to my review I forgot to mention that the quality of the paper is very poor and in fact looks like recycled newsprint.

Bill Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

I read an article recently which said that outfits like Haynes were in decline since fewer people could do their own maintenance due to vehicle complexity and lack of diagnostic tools so the market for repair manuals was diminishing. In addition a whole generation has grown up who don't know that you can fix things anyway.
I once knew a guy that ran a company repairing electronic equipment like printers and he reckoned that people born after about 1980 didn't have the confidence to take something apart and find out how it worked. Earlier than that we had all built model aircraft and boats and meccano etc as kids and learned how to do things. Then we had grown up and bought a Ford Escort or a Morris Marina and worked on that. Now they play with computer games.
Incidentally I hear that agricultural equipment is becoming so complex with driverless tractors, GPS, networked sprayers and implements etc that there is a shortage of computer network specialists to work with the dealerships.

Tell me about it, we are struggling to find a suitable engineer to come on board, we had an apprentice last year who spent time at college too. He came in one day, after having spent the afternoon drilling dominoes
Absolutely feckless to say the least, I'm sorry to say I will never employ a younger person, no skills whatsoever and an attitude that the world owes them a living. Sorry, rant over.

Haynes manuals, yes, years ago they were useful, detailed drawings of an engine and it's bits, now you get a block drawing showing were the dipstick, oil filler, water filler etc is, quite surprised at Bills comments too, sounds like the quality has dropped.

Agreed. My greatest achievement was replacing the bearings in a Ford Escort gearbox using the exploded view in the manual. Hardest part was when my wife found the main shaft in the deep freeze whilst I was heating the bearings in the oven so that they would slide in place without using a press. Happy days....

Just had a good leaf through the recently published Haynes manual which arrived yesterday. Paid less than £15 delivered off ebay.

A bit thinner than previous manuals I have owned but covers lots of the useful bits we read about on here that people sometimes need to tackle, like throttle body removal, EGR, etc and if you want info on other small jobs, eg bulb replacement or how to take the door trim off to sort a rattle. Service procedures, eg brake pad replacement are well covered. Major things, such as gearbox overhaul aren't.

It picks up differences between the earlier 2.2D and the later versions of the same engine. Although it is meant to cover up to 64 reg, it doesn't cover the trim changes for MY2013 onwards, but the fundamentals are pretty similar anyway. It doesn't cover the petrol engine versions.

Useful data on various aspects of the car, but the photos are often small and lacking contrast/detail to make them easy to follow. Recycled paper is a bit thin and off white. Not sure how it would stand up to getting mucky in the garage and the cover is thin and floppy, rather than like the card ones of old.

Worth having for the money to have on the shelf and refer to if needs be and you like to do some of the maintenance on your car. 2016 BMW X3 30d SE in red
MY2013 SD4 XS Firenze Red, 19" 10 spoke contrast paint wheels, Signature Strips, Grand Black Lacquer trim, Cold Climate Pack - gone!
2007 TD4 S Stornoway Grey - gone!

Mine arrived yesterday too.
Saw them on eBay for around £11.95 + £2.85 postage but they were Softback.
Preferring a Hardback I ordered from Amazon @ £16.75 (incl p&p), but a Softback turned up!!
Description on web page and on the Del note stated Hardback, so sent off a complaint.
But after googling I now understand that Haynes will be producing ALL their manuals in Softback from June this year!
So there is no Hardback!
No doubt a sign of the downturn as mentioned a few posts above.
But still not happy at paying £2 more for something I didn't get ..... think how many lollipops I could get for that  FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.