Can anyone source a 2nd-Gen R55/R56/R57 service manual from Bentley Publications yet?
Or know where to locate a factory service manual (not the Haynes / Chilton crap)?
Need 2009 or newer including JCW variants.

- Erik

 

Bentley still states they are working on it. Currently not giving any dates as to when it will be completed.

Dealer manual NOT available for sale. Only place I would think to find a copy is off of e-bay but I have not seen any there.

What information do you need?

 

Suck... alright, I can wait out a little longer.

Alot of OEM specifications, dimensions, and R&R instructions for the following:
* front suspension
* rear suspension
* engine emissions
* engine vacuum routing
* other misc. items

Basically, I need the manual.... hate to say it.

- Erik

 

I have seen the OEM shop manual, it is not what you want.

There is a subscription service to the MINI TEch info. I am not sure of the pricing but it is on line and you could get a subscription. 30 days is like $30-50 or so and a year unlimited is like $1299.00

Can't find a link to it right now but when I do I will pass it on.


EDIT: i found it but the pricing is gave earlier was way off

$30.00 for 1 day

$250.00 for 30 days

$2500.00 for 1 year.

www.minitechinfo.com

 

bluefox about the time many of the current gen cars run out of warranty and the new 3 cylinder motor/3rd gen car is nearing production, then Bentley will release a second gen manual. better not hold your breath.

I think a couple years at the soonest, or even 2013, but hopefully Im wrong BMW-PSA is pretty hush-hush about its technology, until they're about to replace it with something they think is better. then manuals for us sausage-fingered dumkopf yankees trying to fix herr old technology flourish!

good luck, do a search in the forum and U may get more valuable information re specs. maybe U will have to setttle for the oem shop manual, I think there was some guy selling them on CD somewhere here.

 

The R53 one was available midway thru the vehicle's cycle. I would hope we would see a manual by mid next year (crossing fingers)

 

Just found a "Deal" on the Bentley Manuals.

Amazon for $88.17 to start. Then signed up for a Amazon Visa Card (got approved) so they took $40 off the price and then got 2 day free shipping as well. Total cost $48.17 shipped to my door. Much better price than direct from Bentley. Even the Amazon price without the discount is much better.

http://www.amazon.com/MINI-Cooper-R5...8881104&sr=8-1

 

But I wonder what happens to your credit score when you have 30 cards?

 

Please let us know if this manual is worth ordering and if it's anywheres near as comprehensive as a dealer manual.

I'm in the middle of a project, trying to remove the upper dash pad, but I can't seem to get the passenger side to come free. Hopefully, this manual will show whats really required for removal. If so, I'll order one for myself.

 

As for it being as good or better than the MINI TIS i cant say. I have not looked at the TIS for over a year. And when I did use it i found a lot of mistakes in it.

The Bentley Manual does have a section on Dash removal.

One note for you is that there are TWO screws behind/above the secret compartment (you must remove the secret compartment) that hold the passenger airbag in place and it it is also attached to the bottom side of the dash cover.

Here is the page that covers that. https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/dash_removal.pdf

 

Oh and this one is definitely not as complete as the ones I have for my BMW 525 Wagon. There are two books in that set and each is bigger than this one. But then again the MINI is only about have the car in physical size, but a lot more fun to drive.

 

If you compare the two, it's very clear that Bentley used the MINI TIS as their reference. The instructions and even photos are very similar. It's like they went through the TIS and compiled its content into a printed book.

Even more so with the Bentley wiring diagrams. They are merely printouts from the BMW WDS (Wiring Diagram System), but without search or hotlinks in the diagrams they are very difficult to use.

All that said, Bentley is the only published reference available for 2nd gen.