Factory Service Manual
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 502
Likes: 193
From: Central Pennsylvania
Factory Service Manual
I want to get detailed manuals for my 03 Z06. Looked on thEBay and found cheap-o DVD's and NOT cheap 3 Volume Book sets. What's the difference? I intend to beef up the drive train eventually and don't want to go into THAT project blind.
I contacted a DVD seller asking him what his didn't have that the 'books' do and he said...
"I dont have the 3 book manual set to compare it to so I do not know the difference.Except a HUGE difference in price. This is a GM produced Manual and covers everything you would need for your Vet."
I am Always cautious when dealing with ThEBay. What do you guys know about these?
I've read some stories about trouble installing the DVD's but I'm more concerned about the quality of the info in em.
Thanks
JS
I contacted a DVD seller asking him what his didn't have that the 'books' do and he said...
"I dont have the 3 book manual set to compare it to so I do not know the difference.Except a HUGE difference in price. This is a GM produced Manual and covers everything you would need for your Vet."
I am Always cautious when dealing with ThEBay. What do you guys know about these?
I've read some stories about trouble installing the DVD's but I'm more concerned about the quality of the info in em.
Thanks
JS
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 914
Likes: 182
From: Reidsville North Carolina
Here's my 2 cents....
If you plan on keeping the car, coff up the coin and get the manuals (their well worth it in the long run). As far as the DVD, you don't need it. There is a multitude of info on your car all over the net. Every time you see something that pertains to your car, save it in a folder, pretty soon you'll have enough info for your own DVD and it will all pertain to your car, and not general information on a car (vette). You'll be glad you did.
If you plan on keeping the car, coff up the coin and get the manuals (their well worth it in the long run). As far as the DVD, you don't need it. There is a multitude of info on your car all over the net. Every time you see something that pertains to your car, save it in a folder, pretty soon you'll have enough info for your own DVD and it will all pertain to your car, and not general information on a car (vette). You'll be glad you did.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 25,303
Likes: 1,683
From: The Steel City, Colorful Colorado
Winner 2020 C7 of the Year - Modified
Here's my 2 cents....
If you plan on keeping the car, coff up the coin and get the manuals (their well worth it in the long run). As far as the DVD, you don't need it. There is a multitude of info on your car all over the net. Every time you see something that pertains to your car, save it in a folder, pretty soon you'll have enough info for your own DVD and it will all pertain to your car, and not general information on a car (vette). You'll be glad you did.
If you plan on keeping the car, coff up the coin and get the manuals (their well worth it in the long run). As far as the DVD, you don't need it. There is a multitude of info on your car all over the net. Every time you see something that pertains to your car, save it in a folder, pretty soon you'll have enough info for your own DVD and it will all pertain to your car, and not general information on a car (vette). You'll be glad you did.
I bought a set of used 2003 manuals in the CF C5 parts for sale section at a fraction of the fleabay prices.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 502
Likes: 193
From: Central Pennsylvania
Every time you see something that pertains to your car, save it in a folder
My main concern was, for the cost ($35), are the DVD's accurate? Just looking to see if anyone that actually took the Cheap route had any comments - good OR bad - on the DVD's content.
I've bought FSM's for every car I've mod'd and they ARE valuable. I've also saved pics and instructions from forums for them like I'm doing now.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The year-specific FSM book sets come up every so often in the C5 Parts For Sale section. I bought a set for my '02 at a local swap meet. Paid $90 and they were in excellent condition.Some of the DVD "manuals" are nothing more than a scanned image of each page. And it can be difficult to have a device with you while working on the car. Images are too small and maybe don't even display correctly if the device has a small screen.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 524
Likes: 126
From: Sandown NH
I bought the DVDs for my 99 off of ebay for $49. It is all 3 volumes and appears to be identical to the factory printed manuals. I have an old laptop that I keep in my garage. It works fine for me In all aspects.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 355
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Some of the DVDs lack full sets of wiring diagrams that the FSMs have.
Part of the reason the FSM reproductions are so high is not only their production costs but also licensing; vendors and such that reproduce the FMSs are effectively reproducing what GM created. The multitudes of DVDs offered are not officially licensed material and in most cases are infringing on copyright.
Part of the reason the FSM reproductions are so high is not only their production costs but also licensing; vendors and such that reproduce the FMSs are effectively reproducing what GM created. The multitudes of DVDs offered are not officially licensed material and in most cases are infringing on copyright.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i bought the factory sets for like $200......and a cheap o DVD off of ebay for $14.....that $14 DVD is freaking awesome its kind of weird initially loading it but after that it is pretty amazing. i bought it on a whim and said WTF its only $14 and i ran a virus check on it first and it had no issues.
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