Are they worth to buy for modern/semi-modern cars? I think I owned one for Peugeot 106 2002. There wasn't that much really useful stuff in it No detailed exploded mechanical drawings of all parts, just drawings showing major assemblies and selected parts.
Then I bought some "service manual" cd on ebay and there was everything there. Even estimates how long it "should" take to replace specific parts.
I doubt it, I don't have one for my early 2000s vehicles but for my early 90s vehicles it's a boon. I think they stopped printing and moved to online. Perhaps it was an IP fear that led to them getting less detailed?
But the 1991 Nissan Patrol manual for instance doesn't show how to reflow your injectors. It does however indicate you can use a fish scale to measure the force of the throw for the steering swivel hub so you can decide if you need to add or remove shims from the king pin bearings. Rebuilding this hub and even the diff is described.
Then I bought some "service manual" cd on ebay and there was everything there. Even estimates how long it "should" take to replace specific parts.