Sooooo..... what is this, the 5th model year for the R56, and Bentley still hasn't found the wherewithal to publish a repair manual for the second generation? I've been on their notification email listing...... absolutely nothing..... Go to their web site, and what do you see..... Coming soon. I personally feel they are not meeting their customer's expectations... There is a big clue here.... MINI is working on the 3rd generation MINI, and yes.... It's coming soon, but in their case I think they will meet their customers expectations at least the part about making it available soon. Does Bentley plan to skip over the 2nd generation MINI, or have they just decided to get out of the publishing business..... I't a wonderment.... I guess I'm more disturbed that Bentley makes a wonderful manual and that they have failed so horribly on this account....:mad2:
Boy, I agree. I have purchased one of their manuals for every one of the cars I have owned, and like you have been waiting not-so-patiently for the manual for my MINI. I don't know how true this is, but I thought I read somewhere that MINI won't let anyone write a manual for the R56? Not sure, but does a publishing company need the permission of the manufacturer to legally do this? If so, then shame on MINI.
Maybe it's cooperation as much as anything. One would think that to publish a manual as thorough as the Bentley manuals have been; that the major source for the information probably comes straight from the manufacturers themselves...... Without that cooperation wouldn't Bentley have to fund a study and tear down and then reassemble the whole thing? No way they could find all the values and info like that.
Why would any manufacturer cooperate with Bentley? Wouldn't this be giving up a lucrative revenue stream for repair? It's not just the initial sale, it's everything that comes after as well. Would BMW treat Bentley any different than they would for repair manuals for any of the BMW models? As far as cooperation..... MINI doesn't even like calenders of MINI's being published... So if that's the issue, don't hold your breath...
Maybe Bentley pays a fee to the manufacturer? There just about has to be some sort of cooperation, look at all the pics and logos not to mention the amount of time and money it would cost Bentley to gather all that info on their own..... Maybe a contractual "arrangement " would be a better description...
I am sitting looking at the Bentley manual I got for my BMW 330ci. Anyone interested in buying it? Covers '95 through '05 E46 models. Obviously they have SOME cooperation with BMW...
Yeah.... Maybe they do pay a fee... Certainly justified... There is a ton of work that is needed, picture wise and documentation wise. Of course, that could also be generated by camping out at some of our vendors locations generating similar info with payment agreements as well. Just have a feeling "coming soon" will never happen.
This may simply be helpful MINI Cooper (R55, R56, R57) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011: Service Manual Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works (JCW) including Clubman, Convertible by Bentley Publishers Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-0-8376-1671-1 The arrangement(s) specifically between BMW/MINI and Bentley are proprietary. BENTLEY does in fact do their own tear downs and photography. There is no delay in the release of ISBN-13: 978-0-8376-1671-1 simply no release date published yet. Most of what I posted can be acquired by simply contacting or calling Contact Us (800) 423-4595 On a personal note: To help a little having sold Bently Publication over the past 30+ years and personally know this information that may be helpful and also get advance release dates for requested new releases. I am aware having received my own personal letter from the attorney representing BMW in 2003 using the spelling MINI in a product, know there must be permission given to use certain BMW/MINI logos and company information.
Understand your feelings. Does seem like by the fifth model year there would be a manual from them on the shelf unless there is something going on.... One of the first things I bought for my R53 was a Bentley manual and it's paid for itself so many times. Even have one for my E46!
I think the problem is the French to English translation of the engine section. That & the fact that all Mfr's seem to want to make it hard for others to work on their cars. They'd love dealer only...
Ah, vous les Américains sont tous pareils. Si vous n'aviez pas gagné la guerre, nous ne serions pas tous droit de parole français maintenant .... Ah, you Americans are all alike. If you have not won the war, we would not be all right to speak French now
I just checked again at the Bentley site and it seems to me there may have been a change. It's been a while but I think that's where the "Coming Soon" used to be...or am I missing something?
Nope.... It's changed since yesterday. I checked before I posted my rant. Also, knowing they monitor M/A forum, I was hoping we had a lurking audience. Still haven't received an email notification.... but don't need one now. Will order mine now...
Wonder if Bentley will state in the manual that: Using one quart of oil every 1000 miles is normal operation.... LOL How you say crazy in French?
Amazon doesn't have it listed yet. They will often list books that have an ISBN even when no publish date is given and take pre-orders. Being this book has had an ISBN for months I'm a little surprised it is not on Amazon.