42 replies to this topic

[ray.webster]

Here is a link to buy   ...  http://www.halfords....ni-69-01-manual

Here is a link to explain some technical terms   ...   http://www.mez.co.uk/haynes.html

[MikeRotherham]

Darwinism I have sent you a PM.

The Haynes manual is well worth having.

[Swift_General]

Don't get the latest dark blue one though, it's utterly useless. The light blue one is very common, and therefore very cheap, and seems the best of the bunch unless you have an SPi or MPi.

Sorry to drag up a whole thread. I'm looking for a manual that I can buy on the high street today. Does anyone know what he means by 'unless you have a SPi or MPi', I have a '99 MPi and I'm not sure which to get. Coolant blew last night, pressure related, probably the gasket, need to know how to remove it properly for skimming, sure it will come in useful for many other things too. Bought the car 4 days ago - here we go :)
 
Thanks

Get the latest manual. It will tell you how to remove your head if that's what you need to do. They are set out differently to the old ones, and a lot of people prefer the old versions, myself included. Also they don't cover gearbox rebuilds which you may or may not need at some point. However as you have an MPi you could do worse than to buy the current publication.

Edited by Swift_General, 22 July 2016 - 07:34 AM.

[Darwinism]

Here is a link to buy   ...  http://www.halfords....ni-69-01-manual

Here is a link to explain some technical terms   ...   http://www.mez.co.uk/haynes.html

Thanks, I bought it today, 1 in store, lucky me. Cheers for the amusing reading too :)

Darwinism I have sent you a PM.

The Haynes manual is well worth having.

Replied, good man.

 

Get the latest manual. It will tell you how to remove your head if that's what you need to do. They are set out differently to the old ones, and a lot of people prefer the old versions, myself included. Also they don't cover gearbox rebuilds which you may or may not need at some point. However as you have an MPi you could do worse than to buy the current publication.

Yup many people seem to be saying the same, I'll pick up a old one online and used as I'm in no rush for it, thanks.

[JBW]

Haynes manuals are quite helpful, I also use a downloaded copy of the Rover manual as well, has more specific information.

 

Just done a quick Google search & found this,

 

http://www.uscars.bi...CD_wmxn990e.pdf

 

Published by Rover in 1998, so should cover the MPI

[micromontenegro]

Haynes is almost indispensable, but must be used with a proper translator, like this one: http://messybeast.co...real-haynes.htm

Edited by micromontenegro, 22 July 2016 - 03:14 PM.

[Darwinism]

Haynes manuals are quite helpful, I also use a downloaded copy of the Rover manual as well, has more specific information.

 

Just done a quick Google search & found this,

 

http://www.uscars.bi...CD_wmxn990e.pdf

 

Published by Rover in 1998, so should cover the MPI

That's one for the bookmark bar, thanks, looks like that's what Mike was going to email me too, very useful.

[JBW]

Its amazing what you can find online in the way of manuals, my car is a '93 carb model, found the complete manual online (http://miniscene-unt...anual_92-96.pdf), printed out the circuit diagrams & torque settings as they are different to the Haynes ones, anything else I just read on a computer (& Haynes manual), if I need to print out a few pages I can.

The original Haynes manual's were very good, trouble is with the later Mini one its covering so many years of production it can't have it all the info you need.

[pusb]

Haynes books are fine for most things, but certain jobs it just sometimes doesn't make sense. Also the pictures usually look nothing like real life!

 

Haynes is useful to have, but I also have an Autodata manual. The Autodata one is a little bit more technical, but I generally read how to do a job in both before starting.

[Bob the mini]

Haynes is almost indispensable, but must be used with a proper translator, like this one: http://messybeast.co...real-haynes.htm

Just read this list, my wife just keeps giving me the look as I read and try not to laugh, particularly like "top up fluids "

[Spider]

I'll add a cautious yes.

 

But

 

They are NOT gospel and don't cover everything - though in all fairness, I don't think any manual or book could.

 

Also, many manuals are aimed at the Professional Mechanic. So, for example they may say "Crank End Float 0.002 to 0.003" ", but they don't show how to measure it or what to do if it isn't. I think the Haynes in this regard, are a little better than the Factory Manuals, which are specifically aimed at the Professional Mechanic, who's also been through the Toyota (or whoever) School.

 

No manual I've ever picked up has all the change points for things that were changed during production, though the Factory Manuals aren't too bad.

 

No UK Factory or Haynes Manual has the correct procedure for changing Primary Gear Bushes (which is a real curiosity), however it is in the Aust Manual

 

So, while handy, they all have short comings.

[nicklouse]

For me I would not be without my two dog eared copies which were used extensively in the 80-90 rebuilding and keeping many Mini and Metro on the road/going.

For things that were not in it that needed doing we went to someone who could.

For some reason I was that person for my mates. And for me it was a local engineering garage or a local engine builder.

[fenghuang]

If you need to ask whether a Haynes manual is worth it, the answer is almost certainly yes.
For more experienced mechanics, possibly no, but then they probably would know whether it was worth it.

(That sounds a bit dismisive of your knowledge, but it's not meant to be.)

 

It's worth noting that all Haynes manuals are not euqal. I have two. The older one ...

 

 

...tells you how to rebuild a gearbox. The newer one ...

 

 

... says gearboxes are complicated and should be serviced by professionals.

(There may be other differences, but I've not made a point of checking.