What's the best service manual to get for a 96 E320? I've always used Haynes books. Do they make one for these cars? Should I get the MB factory book?

Haynes and Chilton don't make a manual for the W210 yet. MB probably won't release anything until the cars are out of production in the US.

Does the 96 E320 have an M104 or M112?

Sixto
91 300SE
86 300SDL (due soon)
81 300SD (for sale cheap)

I was a strong believer in chiltons manuals but I know recommend alldatadiy.com, this is a subscripion service over the internet available for most vehicles 1982 or newer. You would not believe the info available cost is about $25.00 U.S. per year

sixto,

I'm pretty sure it's the 104.

I can't believe there's not some kind of manual out there. Some of these MB Techs must have something we can get our hands on!

So then, what does the average Joe who wants to perform some of the less advanced repair items do?

I, for one would like to fix a few "simple" items, i.e. change a burnt out dashboard bulb, fix the driver side selt rectraction mechaism, adjust the tension on the trunk opening spring, etc.

Some of these jobs sounds very rotuine but I've learned that many times there's a trick involved and if you don't know about in advance, that simple '5 dollars in parts and 5 minute to repair' job becomes a 6 hour nightmare costing a couple hundred bucks. Without some sort of a service manual, I'm very leary. I'd take a chance and go for it on my other cars, but not on my 99 S-420.

3 posts went up in the time it took me to read the original and create my reply.

Next stop: alldatadiy.com

maybe the Alldata DIY thing may be the way to go. IF (and a big IF), If they have everything covered. Like pulling the instrument cluster out, little things. I don't want to pay $25 for just a few fixes like water pumps, etc.

I meant that MB won't release anything for public consumption. I'm sure techs have access to factory shop manuals.

Sixto
91 300SE
86 300SDL (due soon)
81 300SD (for sale cheap)

When you purchase a alldata subscription it includes everything. i bought 1 for my 95 GMC pickup and 83 suburban. Unfortunatly I cant buy 1 for my 81 300sd because they only go back to 1982 but i would spend the money on it if they did. I currently work full time as a heavy truck mechanic but have been doing benz diesel as a hobby for about 20 yrs. STILL learning new things an lovin every minute of it.

Except for a digit change in the VIN, I doubt you could tell an 81 SD from an 82 SD.

Sixto
91 300SE
86 300SDL (due soon)
81 300SD (for sale cheap)

Originally posted by captaincrunch
maybe the Alldata DIY thing may be the way to go. IF (and a big IF), If they have everything covered. Like pulling the instrument cluster out, little things. I don't want to pay $25 for just a few fixes like water pumps, etc.

What is the difference between alldata.com and alldatadiy.com? Or...are they the same?

Anyone else with a 1991 190E 2.6 care to share what manual/source they use? The MB CD doesn't do me a lot of good.

I believe alldata.com is the professional/shop subscription service for many cars and alldatadiy.com is the consumer/home mechanic subscription service for one year/make/model. I use the terms interchangably but you can only subscribe to the DIY service on-line. You need a sales rep to set up a shop subscription.

alldata is a little more user friendly if you can find what you need, and there's little things like pulling door panels for the S420, but it doesn't have the why and how things work sections like the MB shop manuals.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I would consider Sixto's post(the one in front of mine).

I bought an ALLDATA CD-Rom for the "home mechanic" about 5 yrs. ago. Total piece of crap. Poor images and half-baked info.

Not long after that I saw some absolutely beautiful electrical diagrams in an independent garage - owner pulled them up for me and told me he got them off of ALLDATA, so I strongly believe there are 2 different versions.

If this is the route you choose, definitely go the professional route.

I have heard that the pro-grade is $300/month.

I also find that the MB factory W201 CD is quite detailed.

They are the biggest rip off and waste of money. All they do is copy/scan pages and pictures from the OEM Mercedes Benz manual and either list the exact procedure as shown in MB manual or rewrite it in a few simple steps that make you wonder what's in-between the steps. They don't list everything. They are just copiers. I have the MB original CD and I verified they are nothing but copiers. Their pictures are TERRIBLE.
Bottom line, DON"T BUY THIER SUBSCRIBTION

Try ebay, they are factory workshop manual for most cars, you just have to look and keep looking until you find what you want, when I have a Ranger 99 I buy a factory workshop manuals 2 Books for only $40. You can beat Factory manuals.

Originally posted by Meza
[B]I have the MB original CD and I verified they are nothing but copiers. Their pictures are TERRIBLE.

I agree that the MB CDs are better but captaincrunch doesn't have much choice since MB hasn't published the W210 manuals in an affordable or practical form. I've seen microfische sets for the W140 on eBay.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Originally posted by acha3
Try ebay, they are factory workshop manual for most cars, you just have to look and keep looking until you find what you want, when I have a Ranger 99 I buy a factory workshop manuals 2 Books for only $40. You can beat Factory manuals.

I DO have the MB CD. I need something better, easier to decipher (pics are fuzzy), and more step-by-step.

You can locate hardcopy MB manuals as someone suggested but that will only get you better pictures. Between the Haynes USA manual for the 190 and the Haynes UK manual for the W124 you should have enough info for a 190E 2.6. Haynes manuals are step by step oriented but only major mechanical systems are covered. You can't fix ACC or power window problems with a Haynes manual. I don't think Chilton's in any better.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

The only Haynes manual I have seen only goes through 1988. I know that will get a good bit of the stuff, but a lot of things changed.

tHANKS for this thread.

Please I want to know your point of view about the "Professional CD-ROM Diagnostic Trouble Code by KGJRF Engeneers, sold by $64 and The Service CD ROM for only one Series, for instance, W124 for $159,00. by Mercede Benz.

Which of these are more complete?

Does The Service CD ROM by Mercedes say how to solve the troubles?.

Thanks.

Mario Farias

I hvae found ALLDATA, which we use daily, to often leave out repair steps, sometimes vague, etc, and yes, our rep told us they just scan info from other sources.

TOADHALL books at books4cars might have something you want, I got a pretty good GENERAL tune-up, etc book rom them for $25, for injection repair, try doing a search for bosch, they have manauls that are not make specific, just fuel injection type.

Originally posted by brookspw
I DO have the MB CD. I need something better, easier to decipher (pics are fuzzy), and more step-by-step.

"More step by step"

That approach isn't likely to be found in the MB CD-Roms. These were prepared for pro techs as reference and no do-it-yourselfers.

This maybe won't help you, but I'm using this German manual which I find very good:

"Jetzt helfe ich mir selbst' (http://www1.buch24.de/Mercedes_Benz_E_Klasse_Benziner_ab_Mai_1995_Jetzt_helfe_ich_mir_selbst/1060615307-14784359/3-143535-11.html)

autorecalls.us
http://www.autorecalls.us/aut-02/recalls/mercedes-benz/450sel/index.html

auto recalls usa
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=auto+recalls+usa&btnG=Google+Search

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Automotive repair training book on line, you can download it.
http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14273/

Automotive Air Conditioning Systems
http://www.familycar.com/ac1.htm

Aircondition.Com
http://aircondition.com/knowledge_base/Home.html

books4cars.com
http://books4cars.com

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/

http://www.haynes.com/

http://www.motolit.com/ind.html

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/ind.html

TMC Publications Automobile Literature Mercedes-Benz
http://www.tmcpubl.com/mercedes.html

http://www.alldatadiy.com

body manual 115 series mb
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1300556

MB Tech Manuals from MBUSA cost $19.99 plus S&H
http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=142445

617 5 Cylinder Turbo Diesel Engine "Basic engine parts identification graphic".
http://www.**************.com/dieselengine.html






Added some updated links.

It has a 104 engine, the 112 came in 98