Beware of expensive workshop manuals!

[Richard Hamilton]

This Boxster Workshop Manual CD recently sold on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=8005597190

The price was $185.

This manual is exactly the same as the one offered by workshopmanuals.co.uk for only $20. The seller says it covers up to 2004, but in fact only covers 97-01. Someone has been severely ripped off, and I feel sorry for them. I don't want any of you guys to make the same mistake. How do I know it's the same thing? I fixed the index for workshopmanuals.

The quality of this CD isn't brilliant, but it is a good starting point for the DIYer, and at $20 you can't complain. However, I recently got a 996 manual from "porschelibrarian" and it is in a different league, much better quality.

Be warned of the eBay rip-offs!

Edited October 20, 2005 by Richard Hamilton

[WARDHOG]

This Boxster Workshop Manual CD recently sold on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=8005597190

The price was $185.

This manual is exactly the same as the one offered by workshopmanuals.co.uk for only $20.  The seller says it covers up to 2004, but in fact only covers 97-01.  Someone has been severely ripped off, and I feel sorry for them.  I don't want any of you guys to make the same mistake.  How do I know it's the same thing?  I fixed the index for workshopmanuals.

The quality of this CD isn't brilliant, but it is a good starting point for the DIYer, and at $20 you can't complain.  However, I recently got a 996 manual from "porschelibrarian" and it is in a different league, much better quality.

Be warned of the eBay rip-offs!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the heads up. :cheers: Do you have a link to"porschelibrarian" and what year does this manual cover that you purchased?

TIA!

[Richard Hamilton]

"porschelibrarian" is a member this forum. The manual has the updates and supplements up to February 2004.

[LVDell]

FYI....the reason that one set is only $20 is that it is illegal.

[magcuda]

I have been lucky enough to see the new Bentley Boxster manual. as usual an excellent job, I highly reccomend it when it is released

[ttheobald]

Heads up on that $20 one - LVDell is right. The cheap one is pirated. Probably not that big a deal if you don't care about piracy, but if you're an ethical computer user, steer clear.

T

[Rolando]

Heads up on that $20 one - LVDell is right.  The cheap one is pirated.  Probably not that big a deal if you don't care about piracy, but if you're an ethical computer user, steer clear.

  T

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree that we should not buy a pirated copy but I also believe that the prices that are charged for these DIY manuals are plainly dishonest.

So it is a question of choosing from which thief we buy :)

I guess some may choose the cheaper thief.

[geoff]

Speaking of expensive manuals and the upcoming Bentley manual...

As far as I can tell, there are, or soon will be, two hardcopy Boxster service manuals. One is by Bruce Whittier and sold by Foreign Intrigue (shown at http://www.foreignintrigue.com/specials_html/986/index.htm ), and the other is the one listed by Bentley, but not yet available - http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=pb04

The two look remarkably similar in some ways, different in others, and differ in cost by a factor of 2. Does anyone know the difference between the two, is one a subset of the other? Bentley lists their lead Porsche editor only as Bruce, so I'm wondering if the same guy wrote both books

Any facts greatly appreciated

[Rolando]

Speaking of expensive manuals and the upcoming Bentley manual...

As far as I can tell, there are, or soon will be, two hardcopy Boxster service manuals.  One is by Bruce Whittier and sold by Foreign Intrigue (shown at http://www.foreignintrigue.com/specials_html/986/index.htm ), and the other is the one listed by Bentley, but not yet available - http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=pb04

The two look remarkably similar in some ways, different in others, and differ in cost by a factor of 2.  Does anyone know the difference between the two, is one a subset of the other?  Bentley lists their lead Porsche editor only as Bruce, so I'm wondering if the same guy wrote both books

Any facts greatly appreciated

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

280 pages vs 670 is a significant difference that should very much account for the price difference $50-$100. $185+ for a downloadable one is absurd :)

Thanks Richard for the warning.

[Porschelibrarian]

The problem is created by Porsche. They put a price of about $2,000.00 for the 986 workshop manuals with wiring diagrams. It is the same price if you spend about 20 minutes to download them from the Porsche tech website. And they refuse to make the dealer version PET available so we can not get complete parts information on our cars. We still have to buy the parts from Porsche, and if we keep our cars running well it looks better for Porsche.

BTW my 986 manuals have all the updates thru 12/2004 unlike those others that have poor outdated versions. I don't copy protect them, put website watermarks across everypage and I keep adding new and updated information to them. I also have the complete OBDII manuals for the 986 and the Diagnostic manuals.

[Tool Pants]

"So it is a question of choosing from which thief we buy

I guess some may choose the cheaper thief."

This is a funny statement, and I agree.

[ukchris]

The Bentley manual can be pre-ordered from Amazon or Walmart for about $65-$70.

New Englanders might also like to know that the guys from RainyDayMagazine are organizaing a technical session presented by Bentley at their location in Cambridge, MA, probably in early January. Details over at PPBB, there may also be a group buy on the book.

I have no affiliation, just sharing the info.

Chris.

[sixpack1963]

http://www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm

[stumpjumper]

The Bentley manual can be pre-ordered from Amazon or Walmart for about $65-$70.

New Englanders might also like to know that the guys from RainyDayMagazine are organizaing a technical session presented by Bentley at their location in Cambridge, MA, probably in early January. Details over at PPBB, there may also be a group buy on the book.

I have no affiliation, just sharing the info.

Chris.

that would be awesome, I'll have to go sign up! any chance you can post a link? I can't find it on the ppbb or the bentley forum

Edited December 20, 2005 by stumpjumper