Review of the Mercedes Service and Repair Manual
Review of the Mercedes Service and Repair manual download.
A parts or local garage will find very little problem navigating the software, but when considering to the varying knowledge of back yard dyi mechanics, it can present some challenges getting started.
Raised on a farm I acquired the man made it, I can fix it approach. The only difference is they knew how to fix and I never. Well this problem is pretty well eliminated with the purchase of this service and repair manual, and necessary tools. The first surprise that hits you is, 36 thousand pages plus. Overwhelming. You wonder how to download and onto what. A 4 gb stick is able to handle the material, so that was an easy resolve. Then when downloaded I could only access 13 thousand pages. A brief email to the support team and bam, problem solved. They suggested acrobat to read which I felt was exceptional service with the very prompt reply.
After scrolling around I found that the manual delivers the same. Bam, and you have the answer. But as in all things, there is a key to getting going. At first glance I wondered if I bought something that I was to behind tech wise, but the opposite is true as I now feel capable and advanced with this manual.
Being used to using book and research for many years, I found a glossary to be the most important feature on finding how to proceed. Well there is a key feature in this download called the co-pilot. Type in your question to the co pilot, hit enter and the search is started. For me I was wanting to change the Pcv valve. It gave more than I expected for an answer. You can get the symptoms of a bad part, the location explained, a picture, how to find it, how to remove it, the part number, torque values and the price. An aftermarket option is offered as the specific internal item was aftermarket only and it gave that information. To me it could not be better or easier. As I use it more I know I will find even other helpful features included in the service and repair manual.
What might help a buyer? A "read this first" getting started page would be helpful for those who are jumping into todays computer find and fix. Perhaps saying you will find more than you expect as this is like having a personal parts person with over 36 thousand pages to access to pass on to you. In a few minutes you will be navigate with amazing results effortlessly. The co pilot gets the information for you without needing you to navigate the index if you want it to do so for you. If you were used to flipping through a glossary or index you will like the co pilot much better. Clicking the "read for you option," will enable the co pilot to read the information to you,
To me I feel the price is to low for what you receive and I think a price of 150 - 400 dollars would be more fitting to reflect the quality and power of the item they just let you get ahold of.
An example, I dropped my Mercedes off at a shop here in my home town for a power steering fluid change, only to be told that the steering is electric. and no work was done. They did charge me 50 dollars for the appointment. Looking in the manual would have saved me from the garage customer abuse and waiting 3 weeks to get the car looked at. And yes, they were the go to Mercedes repair shop in the area so you think they would know. They need this manual and maybe I should buy them one for only 40 dollars.
Bill B
Campbell River Vancouver Island.