Repair Manual?

jmilt13 · 01-02-2022, 05:34 PM

Where can one acquire (legally) a digital or hardcopy shop manual for E86 or even E85 cars?

Tried searching, only thing I find is the official TIS site and it's pretty expensive.

Michael9218 · 01-02-2022, 06:21 PM

I bought a TIS dvd on ebay a few years ago.

dre99gsx · 01-02-2022, 10:10 PM

Speaking of... can anyone confirm if the TIS dvd or "Ebay dvds" contain the same eletrical diagrams and description as was once available online before they pulled it due to BMW copyright? Been looking for some schematics

zed_fan · 01-03-2022, 10:32 AM

TIS is available through ISTA which is free to download and you don't need to be connected to the car to browse the documentation.

Michael9218 · 01-03-2022, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre99gsx

Speaking of... can anyone confirm if the TIS dvd or "Ebay dvds" contain the same eletrical diagrams and description as was once available online before they pulled it due to BMW copyright? Been looking for some schematics

Mine was identical to the schematics on NewTIS. NewTIS was easier to use. The DVD requires VM player to view in Win XP and so it's a bit clunky.

Efthreeoh · 01-29-2022, 02:02 PM

I'm a little late responding, but I'd like to add.

So the 3.0si coupe is the same E86 I have. It has the N52 engine, and the chassis mechanicals is basically BMW E46. Also having both an '06 E90 with the N52 and an '05 E46 330iCic in my fleet between those two cars service manuals, I pretty much have my Coupe covered regarding service documentation.

For some reason Haynes has yet to publish a service manual for the E85/86. Maybe there is just not enough of them with owners who turn their own wrenches to justify the publishing of a dedicated service manual.

But my experience for the past 35 years of BMW ownership and wrenching on them just as long, most of the 3-series chassis hard parts are derivations from each other. The E86 underside is pretty much identical to the E46. Both share the same brakes and suspension components. The interior is of course different, but that is the least part one works on. The N52 is the same engine as the E90's.

Other than that, ISTA is your best bet.

01-02-2022, 05:34 PM	#1
jmilt13 Private 19 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 3.0si Coupe Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Indy iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 Z4 3.0SI Coupe [9.00]	Repair Manual? Where can one acquire (legally) a digital or hardcopy shop manual for E86 or even E85 cars? Tried searching, only thing I find is the official TIS site and it's pretty expensive.
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01-02-2022, 06:21 PM	#2
Michael9218 Lieutenant 595 Rep 484 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Woodstock, GA iTrader: (0)	I bought a TIS dvd on ebay a few years ago.
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01-02-2022, 10:10 PM	#3
dre99gsx Captain 508 Rep 911 Posts Drives: 1994 Toyota Supra Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (2)	Speaking of... can anyone confirm if the TIS dvd or "Ebay dvds" contain the same eletrical diagrams and description as was once available online before they pulled it due to BMW copyright? Been looking for some schematics __________________ Andre - 2J into a Z4 Coupe!
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01-03-2022, 10:32 AM	#4
zed_fan Private 21 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4MR, E60 M5 6MT Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	TIS is available through ISTA which is free to download and you don't need to be connected to the car to browse the documentation.
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01-29-2022, 02:02 PM	#6
Efthreeoh General 17165 Rep 18,677 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I'm a little late responding, but I'd like to add. So the 3.0si coupe is the same E86 I have. It has the N52 engine, and the chassis mechanicals is basically BMW E46. Also having both an '06 E90 with the N52 and an '05 E46 330iCic in my fleet between those two cars service manuals, I pretty much have my Coupe covered regarding service documentation. For some reason Haynes has yet to publish a service manual for the E85/86. Maybe there is just not enough of them with owners who turn their own wrenches to justify the publishing of a dedicated service manual. But my experience for the past 35 years of BMW ownership and wrenching on them just as long, most of the 3-series chassis hard parts are derivations from each other. The E86 underside is pretty much identical to the E46. Both share the same brakes and suspension components. The interior is of course different, but that is the least part one works on. The N52 is the same engine as the E90's. Other than that, ISTA is your best bet. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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