I've read the occasional thread that the Bentley manual is available at various vendors for $60. I have yet to find that, the least expensive I've found is $79 for a hardback. Most prices seem right around $90.

Where would you recommend I buy a Bentley manual? Or is there another manual that is superior (I've used Bentley manuals for years on my VWs).

 

Bentley is the best manual, by far.
You can usually pick them up reasonably priced from someone selling his/hers in the marketplace section of this forum site.

a

 

When shopping for the Bentley Manual for the R53 MINI, keep in mind that there are two editions. The earlier (2006?) does not have schematics while the later (2010) does have them. There are a cost difference though - the 2010 being the more costly.

 

I owned the first edition covering 2002-2004, and then the updated edition covering 2002-2006, and they both had wiring diagrams.

BTW, the wiring diagrams in the Bentley are basically screenshots from a computer, and they are very hard to use. Better to get the interactive computer diagrams on DVD. Search eBay for "BMW WDS". The Haynes manual also has much better, easy to read wiring diagrams.