[Jack the Lad]

Several of the Adobe Acrobat versions (full versions not the free PDF reader) make that quite easy.

You can even do it for a full website, just specifying how many layers deep you want to go, depending on how much time, space and enthusiasm you have . The end result is a PDF version of the site, complete with hotlinks from one level to the next.

 

[fireman]

Several of the Adobe Acrobat versions (full versions not the free PDF reader) make that quite easy.

You can even do it for a full website, just specifying how many layers deep you want to go, depending on how much time, space and enthusiasm you have . The end result is a PDF version of the site, complete with hotlinks from one level to the next.

You are probably right about it.

 

[Lee F]

Looks to me the seller has found a way to publish a model-specific pdf from the original BMW soft manual.

Yep, looks like they copied a OEM DVD.
The DVDs were available for all the new bikes last year and they must have bought those.
It's going to be a problem when new models come out like the R1300GS.
These companies won't have anything to copy.

 

[Jack the Lad]

There are many aspects of BMW digital services generally that fail to impress.

Recently, the suggestion was to pay $200 to update my X5's GPS. It was always a truly sh/tty GPS. Bad enough that I keep a Garmin on the dash.

For example, from my house to a riding area that I enjoy when I have a few days:

X5 GPS - 864 miles & 14 hours
X5 GPS - 762 miles when you specify avoid ferries (there are NO ferries possible anywhere near where I go!)
Garmin - 606 miles & around 8 hours
Waze - 596 miles and about the same time.

The GPS was so bad on a previous car that after enough complaints to BMW corporate, they gave me a fairly fat check (which utterly amazed me) covering the total the initial "package" which included the GPS.

 

[Panzermann]

I expect we’ll be able to rely on Jim von Boden for a while yet, if nothing else.

 

[Lee F]

I expect we’ll be able to rely on Jim von Boden for a while yet, if nothing else.

That's my plan.
I can use my OEM R1200RS DVD and Jim's DVD for most work on my R1250RS and rely on Jim's video or 1250 DVD for the shift cam stuff.

 

[43220]

Okay, you guys convinced me to buy this damn thing. Ha ha. And if we all go to jail for copyright infringement, at least we'll be able to talk about our R1250Rs while there . Finally, many of us wouldn't take our bikes to a darn dealer even without the manual, so not sure what BMW thought they were gaining by not selling the service manuals directly to customers themselves. There are always good DIY videos on Youtube on how to do stuff, but I much prefer to have a manual as well. And yes, future models won't have that benefit.

 

[zer0netgain]

Sadly, BMW’s policy only affects their target audience. If you can afford the stealership, it’s not an issue…especially how some shops are now saying they won’t work on bikes older than 5 years. Making It so the end user can service the bike themselves opens how many can buy the product. Yeah, I know all the automakers make more on the service and repair end than the actual sale, but if people realize your product is EOL (end of life) in under 10 years, they will not buy it unless money means nothing to them. Might as well start leasing motorcycles.

 

[43220]

To be clear, I personally wouldn't take my bike to the dealer even if it was free... unless I absolutely had to. And yes, you read that right. And that goes for all my vehicles, actually, and based on actual personal experience. On the bike, when I bought it, everything that the dealer touched, they f***ed up. Battery was installed BACKWARDS, so they damaged one of the cables that couldn't extend that long (I was able to bend it back), all the rubber grommets were gone, the red cap on the "+' post was missing, the mirrors were installed wrong, and the fob was all mangled all around since they used a freaking screwdriver to open it to change the battery (no tools needed for that). Oh, and they left a weird error on the dash, that I fixed when buying the GS911. So I don't even trust them for an oil change, let alone a more involved service. And same thing with my 4-wheeled vehicles: Dealers always screw something up, from scuffing the leather and/or door/sill panels, to paint chips, over-torquing crap, not to mention trying to make you pay for service not needed, like brake pads, when they're over 90% good. Their way of charging is a conflict of interest (rates charged based on time, that techs/ dealers try to beat to make more money, rushing the process, and many times not done right), so until I cannot perform my own services, will continue to do them myself, even when they're covered (like it's the case with my current 4-wheeled vehicles for 3/36, even though that was included in the price.

 

[keith1200rs]

Fortunately, I am very happy with my dealer. Over the last 4 years they have done everything on my bikes, even tyre changes. I just like to ride.

 

[zer0netgain]

To be clear, I personally wouldn't take my bike to the dealer even if it was free... unless I absolutely had to. And yes, you read that right. And that goes for all my vehicles, actually, and based on actual personal experience. On the bike, when I bought it, everything that the dealer touched, they f***ed up.…

Wow…that’s bad. USA dealer? Did you report it to BMW?

I’ve had mixed results with mechanics. There are good ones, but you have to hunt for them. I have a “hole in the wall” type who has always done good work…so if I need a job done by a shop, I go to him.

 

[43220]

Wow…that’s bad. USA dealer? Did you report it to BMW?

Yeah, US dealer, but didn't report it. It's the only dealer within 300 miles, so didn't want to burn that bridge, in case I ever need them (warranty job, recall, etc.). But I told salesman, and dealer contacted me saying they had a 'non-approved' tech working on my bike, but that wouldn't happen again. At least they called me. Apparently only 1 tech is approved to work on BMWs, but if not available, same thing would happen again. You can't request who's going to work on your bike, or even talk to techs, so not confidence-inspiring. Ha ha. Honestly hope I never have to take it there. Maybe just the wheels to get new tires, due to TPMS, but I'm still afraid they could damage my wheels (which is common).

 

[fireman]

Well, that happened... pixy dust turned into tree dust and some ink... Took a while to print it... lol. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about technology, but there is something about paper manuals, cold beer and repair tools that feels just right.

 

[Jack the Lad]

100% agreed & will be doing the same. A bit disconcerted to see that it will take half a small forest though...

 

[fireman]

100% agreed & will be doing the same. A bit disconcerted to see that it will take half a small forest though...

If you print landscape, double sided and fit two pages per on side of sheet of paper (Letter/A4) manual will be quite a bit thinner and easier to maneuver, albeit at the expense of being able to see details better in dim building garages. There is a function to do this in Adobe Reader, so you would end-up with about 350 sheets of paper (including the second PDF file that I called addendum) rather than ~700 sheets.

whenever I need to use this manual, I’ll just take relevant pages out, for ease of referencing. PDF will still be used for research.

P.S. I already have a use for this manual: lost a fender bolt somewhere along the way, so now I need to find torque specs for it.

 

[Jack the Lad]

I use a color laser printer which manages double sided prints easily, and being a naturally cheap bast.., er frugal person, I use non-genuine toner cartridges, so its cheap too.

Acrobat XI will also allow me to pick and choose which pages to print two pages per side if I want, and delete any that I think are a waste - the usual pages of warnings etc., for example.

Acrobat Reader is OK especially as it is free, but the purchased versions allow you to do SO much more. But no matter how you slice it, that's still a lot of paper.

Still, much better than a friends new car Owners manuals - admittedly small pages but even so, utter insanity at 790 pages for the car, and 510 for the infotainment system. I asked how many she's read so far: Zero. Ah well...

 

[jacco]

I don't need a full paper version (I'll end up printing a few pages when I need them), but wow, this looks pretty professional!

Well, that happened... pixy dust turned into tree dust and some ink... Took a while to print it... lol. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about technology, but there is something about paper manuals, cold beer and repair tools that feels just right.

View attachment 114850


View attachment 114849

 

[Jack the Lad]

Well, that happened... pixy dust turned into tree dust and some ink... Took a while to print it... lol. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about technology, but there is something about paper manuals, cold beer and repair tools that feels just right.

View attachment 114850


View attachment 114849

I meant to ask - did you get the ring/spiral thingy binding done for you or did you buy the bits to put it together? If the latter, what does it take? What you did looks really good!

 

[fireman]

I meant to ask - did you get the ring/spiral thingy binding done for you or did you buy the bits to put it together? If the latter, what does it take? What you did looks really good!

Tssss, don't tell anyone... I have access to a full spectrum print-shop through my job, and I did it myself Just takes some fancy specialized machinery and a little bit of know-how. In all fairness, you can probably get this done through a local Stapes, I just never had the need.

I think I opened the actual paper manual for my car once, and yes, it is a sizable booklet. I have a PDF on my cell phone, whenever I need to reference something for it.

 

[43220]

Can you actually download the file to your phone? I have a bit less than 8Gs of storage space, so it'd fit... but not sure you can actually download large files like that. Need to buy that manual now; forgot about that. Ha ha. Thx.