Is the Bentley repair manual worth having. I already have the Haynes and Chilton? I see Bentley on e-bay for about $32.

I have the Volvo factory manuals covering years 82-86, these are by far the best. Haynes are a little short on info, but the wiring diagrams are good. I don't own a Bently. The Chilton books are good fire starters. I heat my shop with wood, so the have given good service over many winters.

Never looked at the Bentley.. heard it is very good. I have a haynes manual... been using it for 3 years, and it covers more than you would think! Haynes is a very good manual and only about $15. I agree with most people here Chilton's BITES! ...and it is most absorbant!!!! Street

I have the Haynes and the Bentley. I think the Bentley has more information, and I've heard it's pretty close to the Green books. I will say, however, that my Bentley has no grease on it yet because of snow.
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Yes, my new car is a 1983.

I think Chiltons is excellent if your cat is incontinent, the pages seem to have just the right absorbancy, also excellent a bird cage liner.

I hate Chiltons. The index is very poor and looking for information is not intuitive at all. Diagrams and photos are sparse as compared to Haynes. This is true of every Chilton's manual I've ever seen (> 10). Kragen and sometimes Borders Books have Haynes Manuals

Haynes is much better. It has more photos and diagrams than Chiltons. The index is extensive and it's easy to find information. The directions are fairly clear, though sometimes they seem to cut corners and presume that the readers have more experience than they may actually have. Pep Boys has Haynes Manuals.

The green Volvo manuals come up on ebay fairly frequently.
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George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

I hear awful things about the chiltons...I say awful things about the haynes...I have been giving some serious thought to the bently I've heard good things about it... 30 bucks is not bad... if it saves you one screw up you've got your money back. Or 2 or 3 hours tring to decipher the haynes. But as of late I'm leaning more toward the Volvo service manual. I figure no one is going to know more than the folks that built the car.
But thats just my opinon. To be honest I've found so much help here reading other posts and the FAQ that I've been slow to shell out the $ for another book. These folks are much better than most any book and I have rarly seen a group of people so willing to share what they know.
Thanks guys
Bret
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rust free in west Texas

Of the four you mention, the best is another - if it is a Volvo Service Manual. Second is Bentley, third is Haynes, Chilton is in the parrto cage.

Volvo Service manual, a complete set for one model/year is 15 to 20 books, none are inexpensive. Get the Wiring Diagrams book, it's worth it. Has info none of the others have. www.volvocars.com/lit

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Bob, I have the original manual to my 85 240. There was a order form for the sectional service manuals... great that you brought this up, i thought they discontinued these booklets... thx... Street

I, too, was surprised to find that Owner's Manuals could still be obtained. The whole set of service manuals is quite a deal.

Some years back I looked at a private sale of a 1984 240DL. Had a very noisy pinion bearing, and one of the windows wouldn't roll up, and some other minor flaws. Too much to mess with.

I turned it down. two weeks later the guy calls, "I sold the car, would you like to buy the manuals?" I went and looked. He had the total Volvo set in the three or four Volvo binders. That thing goes for over $1,000, look in the volvocars.com/lit site. I don't remember what he said he paid, but I bought the set for $30.00 !!!

I hope you have a gang of the green books. I happen to have the WDM for 1985 240, sorta a typographical error when ordering a 1986 book. However, the 1985 is great, b/c it has B230F, B21FT, B27, D24, and tachometer wiring. It was liek $30 and worth it.

Regards,

Bob

:>)

Chiltons is by far the most absorbent. Their cheap paper and convenient size makes it best for mopping up all manner of household spills.

FWIW most of the parts places online (FCP, Volvoworld, etc) sell the books at very reasonable prices.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total

MMmmm yes, the chilton also works well to get the grease off your hands before picking up the Bentley. Haynes has nice wiring diagrams, Bentley is worth the $50 I paid for it at my parts (read: drug) dealer.

Bentley is reputed to be the best of the three you mention.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick On Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K