Downloadable eBay workshop manuals

[105.4]

I need one for my Wife’s much loved 2009 Citroen C5.

Are these sort of things any good, or just a scam?

Available on eBay for £13, and it claims you’ll get the ‘comprehensive’ official workshop manual emailed (pdf) within a couple of minutes of sale.

In a nutshell, are they better, worse or about the same as the Haynes stuff we all know so well?

Link provided for clarity

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152794109930?mkcid=16&a...

Thanks in advance

[JohnnyUK]

Obviously not legit (in terms of copywright etc), but I'm sure you'll get the download, yes.

Down to your moral compass, I'm not judging.

[105.4]

JohnnyUK said:

Obviously not legit (in terms of copywright etc), but I'm sure you'll get the download, yes.

Down to your moral compass, I'm not judging.

I was more wondering about the quality and quantity of the information provided in the manual.

If they did a Haynes for that model, I’d buy that instead. But they don’t, so my options are limited.

[S6PNJ]

105.4 said:

If they did a Haynes for that model, I’d buy that instead. But they don’t, so my options are limited.

I have a pdf version (130Mb) of the 2001-2008 Citroen C5, Y to 08 reg, so that one exists if it is any good?

[105.4]

S6PNJ said:

I have a pdf version (130Mb) of the 2001-2008 Citroen C5, Y to 08 reg, so that one exists if it is any good?

Is it as comprehensive as the Haynes manuals?

Does it include torques figures?

[Polly Grigora]

You might have some luck if searching Google for - Citroen-C5-RD-TD-Workshop-Manual-2007-2017.pdf

I like the look of the 3rd search result down but not been there as I don't own a Citroen C5


A few minutes ago a mate of mine told me that the above mentioned manual is amazing, he mailed me this picture

Edited by Polly Grigora on Monday 19th September 09:42

[S6PNJ]

105.4 said:

S6PNJ said:

I have a pdf version (130Mb) of the 2001-2008 Citroen C5, Y to 08 reg, so that one exists if it is any good?

Is it as comprehensive as the Haynes manuals?

Does it include torques figures?

It's the Haynes Manual pdf

[droopsnoot]

105.4 said:

Is it as comprehensive as the Haynes manuals?

The official workshop manual will almost certainly be much more comprehensive than the Haynes manual. Just looking at the Bentley manual (that's the publisher) for my Audi coupe vs. the Haynes, the former is approaching three times the thickness of the latter. You sometimes also find that the Haynes book only covers the most popular versions of a car, which might not make much difference to you.

The question is whether that's what you'll get.

[105.4]

Polly Grigora said:

You might have some luck if searching Google for - Citroen-C5-RD-TD-Workshop-Manual-2007-2017.pdf

I like the look of the 3rd search result down but not been there as I don't own a Citroen C5


A few minutes ago a mate of mine told me that the above mentioned manual is amazing, he mailed me this picture

Edited by Polly Grigora on Monday 19th September 09:42

Absolutely bloody brilliant.
Many, many thanks

Could you PM me through PH please as one good turn deserve another

[S6PNJ]

I also found this (old) bookmark of mine - you might want to look in the downloads section..... http://citroen.jigsy.com/

[the tribester]

Some are copies of the original pdfs, I had one once that was a photocopy of a copy and it hadn't been scanned straight and had a toner issue.

[tapkaJohnD]

I have one of those PDF copies of the C5 manual on CD-ROM. It appears to be the 'genuine' WSM, but it's not searchable and there's no index. You can't enter a search term, such as "rear brake pads" and get pointed to the section/s where that phrase appears. You have to search manually/visually through the Contents column on the lefthand side of the screen, which is takes a while ad is uncertain to find what you want.

I've been told that whoever sets up the CD-ROM copying can allow proper searching, so ask your supplier to do so.

Plus, Citroens have a high level of electronic integration, and rely on using the OBD system to reset systems before and after work is done on them. For instance, those rear brake shoes. The WSM says to put the electric parking brake into a safe mode while replacing the pads and then to use the OBD interface to reset the brake afterwards. But like all manufacturers' 'special tools' that they say are essential for doing certain jobs, there are workarounds. See the several specialist messageboards, including https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t...


John

[105.4]

S6PNJ said:

I also found this (old) bookmark of mine - you might want to look in the downloads section..... http://citroen.jigsy.com/

Thank you

[105.4]

tapkaJohnD said:

I have one of those PDF copies of the C5 manual on CD-ROM. It appears to be the 'genuine' WSM, but it's not searchable and there's no index. You can't enter a search term, such as "rear brake pads" and get pointed to the section/s where that phrase appears. You have to search manually/visually through the Contents column on the lefthand side of the screen, which is takes a while ad is uncertain to find what you want.

I've been told that whoever sets up the CD-ROM copying can allow proper searching, so ask your supplier to do so.

Plus, Citroens have a high level of electronic integration, and rely on using the OBD system to reset systems before and after work is done on them. For instance, those rear brake shoes. The WSM says to put the electric parking brake into a safe mode while replacing the pads and then to use the OBD interface to reset the brake afterwards. But like all manufacturers' 'special tools' that they say are essential for doing certain jobs, there are workarounds. See the several specialist messageboards, including https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t...


John

The one I downloaded from the link Polly Girgoria posted was 3200 pages long. It’s very comprehensive from what I’ve read so far, but like you say, it doesn’t have a search function or an index.

Cataloging and indexing the manual will be a massive job in itself.

[Polly Grigora]

Hey 105.4, that horse that you told me to put 5K on got turned over

[105.4]

Polly Grigora said:

Hey 105.4, that horse that you told me to put 5K on got turned over

[105.4]

Polly Grigora said:

Hey 105.4, that horse that you told me to put 5K on got turned over

I’ve found your email and I’ve replied to it.

Cheers