For every car I have owned I purchased a Factory Service Manual. From my reading here, it appears that the Bentley Manual is the preferred version. Is this correct? My car is a 2004 GLS Convertible. I need to replace the small cooling fan and the lower control arms. Would this manual give me the information to do the jobs? If not, which one should I buy? Are they available on CD or internet download? What is the fair price for one? My local shop told me that the front end of the car needed to be disassembled to replace the fan and quoted me over $600. I will have to do this anyway to install the tow plates to pull it behind my RV. I'm sure this is within my wheelhouse.
ol' yeller
Joined
·
26,375 Posts
Another "free" option; is Chilton Library, All Data and Mitchell Pro Demand; are available at many libraries with a valid library card. These tend to be more at the factory style manuals; sometimes, you can login from the website but some libraries, you have to go to the library to access them with their public use computers.
Joined
·
26,375 Posts
There is a big difference; between the paper and software DVDs/eBahn Bentley manuals. I started with the paper one; then I needed to rebuild my transmission and for that, the paper manual said: " this is beyond the scope of this manual". eBahn provides; a searchable browser type interface with much more info (e.g. In depth full technical coverage of all components, recall info, tech bulletins, etc).It is not perfect; you have the current Windows compatibility issue, the searching process can be clunky and you are given updates for an certain amount of time (I think one year?), then you have pay for a updated license. You can continue to use the software but it will not let you download available updates. At this point, because of how old these cars are; I would think there are probably not as many tech bulletins and recalls coming out (so updates are probably not necessary).
If you are looking for a in depth true VW factory service manual that the techs use; without the "fluff" and hand holding of the paper Bentley manual, Erwin is the best bang for the buck. At $35 you get one day access and can download all the manuals for your car in .pdf format. You have to go through the files to find what you want, you don't have a browser type interface but you have the files forever and can view/print them.
Also, as far as I know; this is the only option for the 2012+ Beetles, I am not aware of any paper manuals published for these cars as of 2016.
Because of this download capability in Erwin; I don't see the benefit of something like AllData; which requires yearly access fees. At my brothers shop; you never know, what car is going to come in to be serviced, in that case, a service like AllData is invaluable and you can look at any manuals for most cars on the road today.
I think Haynes and Chilton, are going this route as well with fee based web access to their manuals (although they are of inferior quality).
Haynes has online access; for one year @ $20 and the paper manual at the same price with free shipping (both on sale $10 off).
http://www.haynes.com/products?sear...2&searchEnd=yes&sfID1=&sfID2=&sfID3=&year=2002&make=Volkswagen&model=New+Beetle
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
For UK and Commonwealth owners with LHD vehicles; Haynes has a manual specifically for those models:
VW Beetle Petrol & Diesel (Apr 99 - 07) T to 57: List Price£22.99
Exclusions Does NOT cover Tiptronic transmission. Does NOT cover 2.3 litre V5 engine. Diesel: 1.9 litre (1896cc) turbo, inc. PD.
Series 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Part number 3798
Cover type Paperback
ISBN-13 9780857336545
ISBN-10 0857336541
UPC 699414003716
Publication date Wednesday, 10 July, 2013
you can order it direct here or better prices on amazon:
https://haynes.co.uk/catalog/car-ma...ar-manuals/car-repair-manuals/volkswagen/vw-beetle-petrol-diesel-apr-99-07-t-57
Language English
If you are looking for a in depth true VW factory service manual that the techs use; without the "fluff" and hand holding of the paper Bentley manual, Erwin is the best bang for the buck. At $35 you get one day access and can download all the manuals for your car in .pdf format. You have to go through the files to find what you want, you don't have a browser type interface but you have the files forever and can view/print them.
Also, as far as I know; this is the only option for the 2012+ Beetles, I am not aware of any paper manuals published for these cars as of 2016.
Because of this download capability in Erwin; I don't see the benefit of something like AllData; which requires yearly access fees. At my brothers shop; you never know, what car is going to come in to be serviced, in that case, a service like AllData is invaluable and you can look at any manuals for most cars on the road today.
I think Haynes and Chilton, are going this route as well with fee based web access to their manuals (although they are of inferior quality).
Haynes has online access; for one year @ $20 and the paper manual at the same price with free shipping (both on sale $10 off).
http://www.haynes.com/products?sear...2&searchEnd=yes&sfID1=&sfID2=&sfID3=&year=2002&make=Volkswagen&model=New+Beetle
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
For UK and Commonwealth owners with LHD vehicles; Haynes has a manual specifically for those models:
VW Beetle Petrol & Diesel (Apr 99 - 07) T to 57: List Price£22.99
Exclusions Does NOT cover Tiptronic transmission. Does NOT cover 2.3 litre V5 engine. Diesel: 1.9 litre (1896cc) turbo, inc. PD.
Series 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Part number 3798
Cover type Paperback
ISBN-13 9780857336545
ISBN-10 0857336541
UPC 699414003716
Publication date Wednesday, 10 July, 2013
you can order it direct here or better prices on amazon:
https://haynes.co.uk/catalog/car-ma...ar-manuals/car-repair-manuals/volkswagen/vw-beetle-petrol-diesel-apr-99-07-t-57
Language English
Joined
·
26,375 Posts
For basic stuff; the Chilton or Haynes are ok and cheap at under $30 apiece. However, they both can too basic for many things you need to know (lack of depth and pictures, info etc.). The Bentley eBahn software version has more in depth coverage or you might get Erwin online subscription for one day and download all the manuals you need.
The downside of the eBahn software; is that it hasn't been updated for later versions of Windows and so, you have to do some workarounds, to run it on later version of Windows (e.g. xp compatiblity mode).
Bentley, has lost its publishing agreement with VW; so, they will not be making new manuals and I do not know, if they are updating the content of eBahn (e.g. technical service bulletins, recalls, etc.). This maybe, the reason; they have stopped updating eBahn but I do not know, for sure.
Erwin is VW's subscription based solution; for the professional technician, so there is less simplification of repairs and you can download these in .pdf form. This can be less user friendly; as you have to search through the .pdf files but the information is superior, for the advanced diy or pro mechanic.
NOTE: Bentley has two (2) manuals: the paper version and the software based eBahn, the eBahn covers much more information then the paper version. The software based subscriptions; give you access to tech bulletins, current updates, campaign info and other resources, that you will never get with a paper based manual.
eBahn Bentley license (download from the web; cheaper price then DVD)
eBahn License for Volkswagen New Beetle 1998-2009 Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
eBahn Bentley repair manual on DVD (hard copy sent to you)
Volkswagen New Beetle: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 including Convertible Repair Manual on DVD-ROM Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
paper service manual Bentley
VW - Volkswagen New Beetle Service Manual: 1998-2010 Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
Erwin subscription based manual: downloadable .pdf based files
https://erwin.vw.com/erwin/showOrderFlatrate.do
The other option; is free manuals online here: Volkswagen Workshop Manuals
Some manuals; are sold on ebay on dvd or cd rom, these typically are copied files from professional digital manuals and are similar to the above free manuals.
So, you might start out with a cheap Haynes/Chilton and see if it meets your needs. If you need more indepth info; consider the Bentley paper for good repair info but without very in depth repairs (e.g. tranmission repair, etc.) or eBahn software solution for more advanced information. Then, if you are doing in depth repairs and do not need things "simplified" for you, (e.g. transmission rebuild, etc.); then, the eRwin is a good deal @ $35 for 24 hours access and you can download all the manual pages you need and save them, for later use.
I personally, have tried a bit of everything; a Haynes, a paper Bentley, Bentley eBahn software and the Erwin manuals. Each has its strengths and weaknesses; sometimes, having a paper manual is nice to have with you or you have to be looking at a computer to look at files or access things online. If you are using VCDS; you are using a windows based pc anyway, so it can be a effective combination. I think most pro techs; have gotten to the point, where online access and pc/web access based manuals, are the solution most are using now.
An example of this; would be All Data, another subscription service:
http://www.alldatadiy.com/index.html
Cars are to the pont; you need a pc or scan tool, to work on them and accessing repair info on a computer, is becoming necessary as well.
The downside of the eBahn software; is that it hasn't been updated for later versions of Windows and so, you have to do some workarounds, to run it on later version of Windows (e.g. xp compatiblity mode).
Bentley, has lost its publishing agreement with VW; so, they will not be making new manuals and I do not know, if they are updating the content of eBahn (e.g. technical service bulletins, recalls, etc.). This maybe, the reason; they have stopped updating eBahn but I do not know, for sure.
Erwin is VW's subscription based solution; for the professional technician, so there is less simplification of repairs and you can download these in .pdf form. This can be less user friendly; as you have to search through the .pdf files but the information is superior, for the advanced diy or pro mechanic.
NOTE: Bentley has two (2) manuals: the paper version and the software based eBahn, the eBahn covers much more information then the paper version. The software based subscriptions; give you access to tech bulletins, current updates, campaign info and other resources, that you will never get with a paper based manual.
eBahn Bentley license (download from the web; cheaper price then DVD)
eBahn License for Volkswagen New Beetle 1998-2009 Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
eBahn Bentley repair manual on DVD (hard copy sent to you)
Volkswagen New Beetle: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 including Convertible Repair Manual on DVD-ROM Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
paper service manual Bentley
VW - Volkswagen New Beetle Service Manual: 1998-2010 Â*-Â* Bentley Publishers - Repair Manuals and Automotive Books
Erwin subscription based manual: downloadable .pdf based files
https://erwin.vw.com/erwin/showOrderFlatrate.do
The other option; is free manuals online here: Volkswagen Workshop Manuals
Some manuals; are sold on ebay on dvd or cd rom, these typically are copied files from professional digital manuals and are similar to the above free manuals.
So, you might start out with a cheap Haynes/Chilton and see if it meets your needs. If you need more indepth info; consider the Bentley paper for good repair info but without very in depth repairs (e.g. tranmission repair, etc.) or eBahn software solution for more advanced information. Then, if you are doing in depth repairs and do not need things "simplified" for you, (e.g. transmission rebuild, etc.); then, the eRwin is a good deal @ $35 for 24 hours access and you can download all the manual pages you need and save them, for later use.
I personally, have tried a bit of everything; a Haynes, a paper Bentley, Bentley eBahn software and the Erwin manuals. Each has its strengths and weaknesses; sometimes, having a paper manual is nice to have with you or you have to be looking at a computer to look at files or access things online. If you are using VCDS; you are using a windows based pc anyway, so it can be a effective combination. I think most pro techs; have gotten to the point, where online access and pc/web access based manuals, are the solution most are using now.
An example of this; would be All Data, another subscription service:
http://www.alldatadiy.com/index.html
Cars are to the pont; you need a pc or scan tool, to work on them and accessing repair info on a computer, is becoming necessary as well.
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
