Which repair manual to buy?

[ianthetechie]

Hello all,

First time posting over here in the MINI section (I usually hang out in the E30 section). My roommate just purchased a 2003 Cooper S and I'm going to be helping him with maintenance etc. and was wondering if the Bentley manual is the one true manual for MINIs (as it is for E30s), or if there is a different manual we should get instead.

Thanks in advance!

[onasled]

Bentley is the ONE. ;)

[ianthetechie]

Ok, thanks!

[UKCoopeR]

What he said, I have found it to be a great reference and it lists those hard to find torque specs!

[onasled]

Just so you know, torque specs can be found anywhere as the are bolt specific, not car specific. They are rated on the size of the bolt.

[UKCoopeR]

Wow that is going to be a handy fact! Thanks

[Talyinka]

Just so you know, torque specs can be found anywhere as the are bolt specific, not car specific. They are rated on the size of the bolt.

Yes, and the quality of the steel or other material used to manufacture the fasteners in question. Consider also that some bolts are used to combine different types of materials, in which case the torque may be rated according to the properties of the materials used rather than to the strength of the bolt.

[Black Thirteen]

Just so you know, torque specs can be found anywhere as the are bolt specific, not car specific. They are rated on the size of the bolt.

So, if I get stronger bolts, I can exceed my torque specs? No. That is bad advice. That's like going by the maximum PSI embossed on a tires sidewall, instead of the specific vehicle's specs. Getting higher pressure tires doesn't mean your PSI specs change - same with bolts.

[onasled]

So, if I get stronger bolts, I can exceed my torque specs? No. That is bad advice. That's like going by the maximum PSI embossed on a tires sidewall, instead of the specific vehicle's specs. Getting higher pressure tires doesn't mean your PSI specs change - same with bolts.

Has nothing to do with "stronger" bolts. It's specific to bolt "size" and thread. Not sure what a tire pressure example would have to do with this. Car manufacturers are not using bigger bolts to do lower torque jobs. They specify bolt size to what that bolt is specified to do. I stand by my statement. I am not promoting that people should ignore the specs offered in manuals, just informing them that torque specs can be found elsewhere.

[Derek K]

What about the brake sliders which only use 22'lbs of torque? Bentley manuals are the best. I have one for the MINI and my 735i and they're invaluable.

[onasled]

Haaa, ... interesting find Derek. LOL. Though I don't know too many people who actually torque that bolt, being it is one of it's own you would have to do some head scratching on that one. But with calipers and torque charts you would come within that range.