I'd like to see some more basic do-it-yourself procedures, in particular, some real simple ones like changing your oil and filter. I have a 300sdl and would like to start doing the basic maintenance like oil changes and fuel filters. I ordered the MB customer maintenance booklet, but this site, MIGHT be a great place for this stuff... One additional item, you could publish the basic maintenance items needed for each type of maintenance (eg. 15,000 and 30,000 etc)by sample autos. (126 diesels post 85) with insights on what is really important and what else should be done (not documented). Another idea is to have a database that lets the members set up records of the cars they have (type, age, mileage, maintenance history) and they could either keep the records private or public. Public records could be searched.. (I could find everyone that has a 92 500E and send them an e-mail).

This is a great site...don't shoot but you could even charge a nominal fee for members to get to more advanced and helpful stuff... this would help keep the site up and growing.

Mark-
Great suggestions!

One of the things that we constantly struggle with is the wide variation in knowledge and capability that our MercedesShop members possess. Some people are insulted when you start with basic steps and others are lost without explaining every minute detail. We had kicked around the idea of dividing the DIY articles into 3 groups:

Level 1 - Basic stuff. Fluids, filters, wiper refills, light bulbs, simple lubrication and inspections. Minimal special tools needed.

Level 2 - Medium difficulty. Brake pads, rotors, belts, distributor caps, sunroof adjustment, electrical trouble shooting, antenna replacement, etc. Some special tools required.

Level 3 - Higher difficulty. Cylinder head service, radiator replacement, fuel injector replacement, air conditioner service, etc. Because some of these jobs can be so big and involved it is almost impossible for us to do a step by step instruction. Our thought was more along the lines of identifying where to get the instructions, identifying any special tools needed and mentioning any specific things to look out for or pay close attention to.

The other thing we struggle with is access to the cars to do the DIY articles and the time to do them. Benzmac for example, is the lead tech at a large independent Mercedes service facility. That's his day job. He can't very well stop everything to shoot pictures during the day and write an article. We have to do that on our own time and our own turf. We're looking for a better solution.

Your database idea really has some merit. I need more feedback from members such as yourself on what "fields" we would want in such a database. Then I can put my programmer's hat on and come up with an easy to access interface.

As far as charging for access. That is something we really want to avoid. Our current plan is to sell advertising to support the site and begin offering some specialty products for sale. We are extremely pleased that Robb Rice has taken a leap of faith by being our first advertiser. We need more like him but, we ONLY want ads for products that are Mercedes related AND are products we believe in. For example, We have used Rennsport and personally know that their quality is top notch.

I would be interested to hear thoughts from other members as well.

Thanks for the feedback.

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Bill Wood - President MercedesShop.com, LLC

A service / car owner database would be awesome... it would allow people to find other owners of their cars, and it would allow people to easily see what maintainance a particular car needs by looking at what others have done. Great idea..go for it.

Bill,
Your comments below:
"The other thing we struggle with is access to the cars to do the DIY articles and the time to do them. Benzmac for example, is the lead tech at a large independent Mercedes service facility. That's his day job. He can't very well stop everything to shoot pictures during the day and write an article. We have to do that on our own time and our own turf. We're looking for a better solution."

You guys that answer the question are owed our gratitude, if not a beer the next time we meet up.

On the Porsche list I belong to, most of this is type of documentation is done by the members themselves, that have used the Factory procedures but with the editors added tidbits concerning easier ways, what to look out for,tools,etc. Guys like BenzMac and MB Doc then could edit it for accuracy. As far as pictures they can be either a Digital camera or regular photos that have been scanned. I would be more than happy to help someone out in that reguard if needed.

A couple of things I would like to ask for that would be helpful and could be compiled by list members is a chassis # based FAQ's listing for perspective new buyers. a lot of times a new Mercedes purchase is a pre-owned one. What to look out for and common concerns would be helpful.

The second item is a perspective new buyers checklist that would help a buyer do a checklist of the car(s) he is looking at purchasing. When I was in the market for a 124 chassis I looked at 9-10 cars before buying. I helped in deciding which one to purchase, along with remembering which car had what problem.

I have a listing that I modified for use in the search, that people could use. Be more than happy to let you post it if it would help.

Mike



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Mike-
I really like your idea about getting more DIY articles published here at MercedesShop.
It would be GREAT if we could get our members to document their repairs, take a few digital pictures and e-mail to us. Benzmac and the technical guys could review the content, add any applicable tips, make needed corrections, etc. Lee could edit the draft and make it easy to read and I could do the Photoshop processing and conversion to HTML.

We're still kicking around the database ideas that you and Mark presented:
1) Maintenance database
2) Things to look for when buying preowned (by chassis#)
3) New buyers checklist

There might be a way to combine all three. Before I create the database, however, I'd like to get some comments from a few more members just to make sure we're on the right track. If this is something that most of our members want, we'll do it!

I know I promised, but it is election time here in Canada..........

I will keep sending you articles on my oil burner for your neew car feature.

This digital camera sounds neat, you can never be to simplistic when telling people how to do something, especially when it comes to cars that cost up to and over 6 figures.

One thing I know that I have already started, is to let you know everything that goes wrong with my new benz, and also the little things along the way.

Here is a great parallel, that I can draw for the members.

With my 94 Jeep Cherokee, I posted almost daily hints on the news server, and why not, this was a very high maintenance vehicle to own. The biggest thing, was actually the little things I learned along the way.

You do not have to be a mechanic to notice something, but you might have to be to explain it......

I have a vision as to what this site could grow "into", but it would be extremely labour intensive, and very big also.

But, it could also become the worlds best source for repair info and the like.

I am thinking on having a section for each car benx made(makes) filled with all the technical info one could gather about it.

Personally I am a tech junky, I like to know everything.

Actually, here is something I would like to share with Benz for there next models:

Make a 2-speed system motor that operates the seat. Time is money.

This site is still in its infancy, I remember when you got it up and running, I think I logged on that 1st day!

Hey, why dont we have a 1st year party/meeting in Atlanta?

I would love to see a database. I'm kinda new here and this site is awesome. I'm here everyday to find out everything i can about my 190E 2.6

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Thanks for the kind words. We are trying to come up with more DIY's and more reviews. I am happy to report that we should have more reviews up soon.

With Benzmac being the lead tech at the shop, he can't drop everything to take pictures of everything he (and the other techs) do all day long. We are working on a way that does not leave anyone "out in the cold" when it comes to getting these DIY articles done.

The database plan has great merit. Building the database can be done on our end, it is somewhat dependent on you the guest/viewer to submit us the raw material. ...If you are doing a DIY project, take some pics and make some notes. Then send it to us. We can review the material, edit if necessary, then share it with all. We'd love to help everyone out in that way. Actually, we have something of a database already...the Shop Forum archives. You can search every message posted with the Shop Forum's search engine. That gives you access to volumes of info right there. While the DIY database is something that would be great, and a great adjunct to our Shop Forum, the Shop Forum archives can help until we get more guest feedback.

Regardless, we will take every opportunity to get DIY's done. This is part of our commitment to be the best technical MB site on the web. We could not of come as far as we have without you the guest/viewer/member. We hope that you will continue to support and guide us in helping you.

Lee