3 comments about Unbeatable BMW: Eighty Years of Engineering and Motorsport Success.

1. This book may well be the ultimate bmw book. It details everything down to the tee. If you have an avid interest in BMW, this book is a "MUST HAVE NOW" title.



2. I bought this book at amazon.com's great price when I knew the original edition was difficult (and expensive) to locate. The book, with its great commentary and numerous photos, really shows the essence of the motorsport successes (and failures) of one of the world's great auto makers. If you are interested in racing (and BMWs in particular), I very much recommend this book.



3. Taking into account the difficult task of giving fair representation to BMW's extensive motor racing history, this text serves as the definitive tome on BMW's racing exploits. For the most part it covers BMW's sedan racing from the 60's to 80's, with a smattering of formula car history thrown in, too. The text describes the overall racing history and details quite extensively the technical aspects of the various cars. This is augmented by a fantastic collection of photos of racecars, homologated streetcars, and technical drawings. While it isn't cheap (even on Amazon) it's well worth it.

No comments about Bmw 1500-2002, 1962-1977: A Documentation (Schiffer Automotive Series).

No comments about BMW Isetta Factory Repair Manual.

3 comments about Bmw Gsing Around the World.

1. I ordered "BMW GSing Around the World" directly from the author's web site. This book is a real rip-off and I'll send it back. It's 170 pages long (instead of 200 as advertised) and 30 of these are advertising for partner companies or for the other books from the same author. Remain 30 pages of text (one third of it for the "Big Dog" ride alone) and around 100 pages of totally uninspiring grainy black-and-white postcard-size pictures of a printing quality that doesn't even match a daily newspaper. Half of these show Mr Frazier's motorcycle in front of a road sign or at a mechanical workshop. The other ones show the motorcycles of Mr Frazier's encounters on his trips along with their owners in uptight poses. Unfortunately nothing is said about these very interesting people except for their citizenship and the model year of their faithful GS... "BMW GSing Around the World" is not only a rip-off but a show of disrespect for other long distance motorcycle travellers.



2. Gregory Frazier gives us a book that's an homage to his trusted steed, the BMW GS, in particular the BMW R80 G/S. While I do not fault him his chance to say something nice about the bike that took him around the world so many time, having read two other books by him, Riding South, and Alaska By Motorcycle, I was led to expect more. Yet its not that the book itself is misleading. Once you open the cover, before the table of contents, is the rundown of what the book hopes to achieve, a "reflection of these fascinating motorcycles as seen at different points on the globe." This is what Frazier did, supplementing his relflections with what was purported to be one of the largest and widest collections of BMW GS motorcycle photos in the world. Before I speak about the content, I would like to give you the rundown on the book: 145 pages, preceded by a dedication and a preface, and followed by 20 pages of "attatchments" and an authors bio. The 145 pages is broken down into 8 chapters ranging from such topics as his intro to the bike to repair/mods on the bike to various rides and adventures. Of those 145 pages, there are only 39+/- of text, with 203 photos, and 3 adverts over the remaining 106 pages. The attatchments at the end of the book, are adverts for his other books or for videos which cover similar globe-trotting adventures. I guess in retrospect, I expected a book of the same depth as his other two I had read, and was instead given a book that is a picturebook Hx of early model G/S motos. There is very little mentioned in the chapters about more recent bikes, although they are hinted at. So to say this covers 20 years of G/S motos is fair if you look at the pics, but the comments and words of Frazier are directed more towards his beloved R80 G/S than to the other bikes in the range. I would have to say if you are looking at buying this book, that you have a great love of the G/S, and of the people like Frazier who have ridden them "to the ends of the earth", otherwise you may blow through it in a night and wonder what, beyond a typical magazine/newspaper level article, you have just read. Frazier's style is informal, and we can see why he enjoys his bike, if only as a glimpse, but he does offer to take us "rambling" through his adventures, and it's a fun book to flip through; an expensive book, for what it is, but a fun book nonetheless. It's like sitting down at a family dinner, where your Uncle has just got back from a trip, and has a slide show and stories to tell you. Fun and interesting if you like the topic, but otherwise, it may just be something you could have missed.



3. Altough Dr Frazier is an icon on RTW travel, this book is nothing special. It is very useful if you have a old R80 G/S, since it gives the reader a lot of detail of the technical improvements you should do to the bike in order to make it sort of reliable. The pictures are the lowest quality possible and the book is really expensive for what it is. If you don't have a R80 buy his other book, Riding the World with good quality pictures and great literature. A must for the dual sport rider along with Adventure Motorcycling Handbook. These two books led me to buy a KLR 650 instead of my past dream machine BMW R1200 GSA. It is nice but not as realiable as a cheap japanese machine (plus saved me $ 15 grand). Just like a Toyota and a Land Rover. The other seems to be the best but it is just pure advertising. Hope this helps. Good luck. JP

5 comments about BMW 6 Series Enthusiast's Companion (BMW).

1. Given the fact that this is the only book available (to my knowledge) on the great BMW E24 6 series, it is a must for fans. Apart from that, there is heaps of info on all the different models and on BMW history. Jeremy Walton has certainly his share of research. There are just a few things that I would like to have read about/improved, but these things are just minor things. Some topics are not covered in chronological order, which makes it a bit confusing. The good things about this book is that is covers cars manufactured for both the American market as well as the European market (although I get the impression that mr. Walton focusses more on the English market), so it is a good read both sides of the atlantic. Bearing that in mind, most numbers are given in American and European units. Good stuff!



2. Having worked on a number of 6-Series cars, I can confidently say that this book is average at best, toilet paper at worst.

   The 'journalist's' ego is positively bursting from the pages of this book and it really is a painfully dull read. Lack of expertise can be covered by an entertaining style, if you have neither then I would imagine you are in real trouble.

   Gerhard Berger's name on the cover is bound to sell some copies, but I would imagine his involvement with the project ended when he agreed his royalty price.

   The only use for this book is to weigh down some paper or reach a higher shelf in the store. A poor effort...




3. This book is the most up to date one on the market. The only problem is that it tends to focus on alot of the european models. The BMW Buyers Guide from Fred Larimer is more useful on US models.



4. I just finished reading the book and find it a comprehensive look at BMWs (in my opinion) finest work. The author is an experienced automotive writer and he was able to recall many personal experiences when the vehicle was launched, as well as his life with his privately owned 6 series. I liked the way the book chronicled the previous BMW coupe offerings as well as discussing the relative failure of the 8 series that replaced the 6. I wish it would have had more color pictures, but that is a minor ding on a very good product.



5. Great book on the history of the BMW "Big Coupe". I currently own an 86 635CSi and learrned much about my car through this book. If you are an owner of an e24 6 series, buy this book and the Bentley e-28 5 series service manual.

No comments about BMW 2002 Ultimate Portfolio 1968-1976 (Ultimate Portfolio).

No comments about Zaha Hadid: BMW Central Building Source Book in Architecture 7 (Source Books in Architecture).

1 comments about Dynamic Forces: Coop Himmelb(L)Au : BMW Welt Munich.

1. The book relates in detail the design process and dramatic result of a building that stands among the best of new computer generated designs

3 comments about How to Find and Keep a BMW: Black Man Working.

1. This title I find to be to racist for me to even consider



2. How do you critique a book without reading it?



3. This is a book talking to the African America community. It just tells it like it is. Straight to the point no chaser!

5 comments about Clymer Bmw K1200rs, Gt & Lt 1998-2005 (Clymer Motorcycle Repair) (Clymer Motorcycle Repair).

1. I got this book as gift for my Dad. He loved it, he said it's way better than the CD version.



2. More than satified with the service. Within a week i received the book in Australia and at a great price. It has everything in the book I require to conduct minor service work and is the detail is a great help for the novist motorcycle enthusiast.



3. This is one of those Murphy Law situations. I bought the book hoping to find an answer to an electrical problem. Unfortunately the book doesn't seem to address any 'add-on' electricals, such as radio, gps etc. So, I had to wing it and found the partially disconnected wire the old way, just started moving wires until the break became apparent. Overall, however, it's great to have the book as a reference when I get to actual mechanical and body issues. It's really nice to have a manual available for a BMW, which is quite proprietary in most cases.



4. The Clymer BMW K12 book for 1998-2005 models is a must for owners. The manual will answer in detail most any question about maintenance, toubleshooting and repairs. It is very useful in determining what a non-profrssional can do and what is best left to the professionals at a shop or dealer. The book is detailed and methodical in its approach to periodic maintenace i.e. changing the oil, so the a person with basic skills can accomplish such tasks.



5. 
   A very nicely written manaual that has a lot of information not available in the BMW shop manual, including electrics, and how to do things if you don't own the special tool. Also about 1/4 the price.
   Recommended.