Customer Reviews

Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I would have given this 1 star but they did a good job organizing and presenting this collection of articles. The articles cover specific procedures for specific models, with some summary information and tables for a range of years and models. It is hit or miss (mostly miss in my case) that your vehicle will have a repair procedure that you need. If you don't happen to have the vehicle that they have covered in an article provided in the book, it is not much use to you. Example: cruise control problem? They cover the repair of a cruise control actuator for a '85 300SD. That's it. No other info on cruise controls. Just the repair of a specific component for one model.

I think you would do better to spend the money on joining the Mercedes Benz Club of America and using the technical forums and database of technical articles.

Good, well written articles. There is some value to the chapter summaries but not worth the price for the chance that a procedure you want to read about is going to be included.

Over the last year I became a Mercedes enthusiast, buying four older Benz. This book was a godsend to me. It has already paid for itself in guiding me through simple repairs that would have been rather expensive had I gone to a shop or, heaven forbid, a MB dealer.

The book is essentially a compilation of how-to and informative articles from Star Magazine. All classes are covered with emphasis on the more classic and popular classes, i.e. the older 190's, the diesels, and all the SL's.

The book is divided into various segments, such as chassis, engines, accessories. There are more finite divisions within each category. The downside is you have to scan the first page of each section to find your model, as all models are covered within each segment.

The book is well illustrated and very thorough. You can learn about simple maintenance or you can be guided through an engine rebuild.

If you're serious about being on top of maintenance and repair of your Benz, or just plain curious about German engineering, this book will serve you well.

Lots of information here, especially for diesel owners, though nothing of any real value for a 560 SL guy. There doesn't seem to be any logic to the way this book was catalogued/organized.

Very good information for those who has a Mercedes Benz
for those years it refers to.
It is NOT a repair manual for NEW Mercedes Owners.
THis is for used cars within certain years.

Great list of names to contact for your Mercedes problems.
They may or may not charge you money for help, because they are mechanics.


Great for DIY guys.

If you are a person that loves his Mercedes and enjoys working on it(or just likes to be in the know about your Mercedes and its' systems), this is the book for you. It is a compendium of articles from the magazine of the Mercedes Club of America and I can't say that I've ever seen a book of this kind that nails the topics that would appeal to the Mercedes enthusiast.

Early in the book, there is an article dealing with "when to let go" of your Mercedes, going over the pros and cons of repairing or selling your "baby". Real reasons were listed, each provided with solid, practical reasoning that does more to help those looking to either fix or possibly moving up to a newer model than any piece I've come across in 30 years of auto restoration.

The selection of articles run from changing the charcoal cabin air filter (a rather expensive job if one lets a dealer do it) to engine rebuilding, with many, many more practical selections included within these levels of difficulty. There is something for every Mercedes buff between these pages.

If you have a friend that loves Mercedes and likes to get his hands dirty, buy this book. Then, enjoy the way that they are consumed with devouring this tome cover to cover.

This manual has been very helpful for general task involved in maintaining and restoring my Mercedes. I own a 1987 300 SDL Turbo Diesel and this manual deals with certain common problems and solutions for my car needs. I do wish it was more targeted at the specific car I have, which is the only reason it gets four stars.

Even though my model wasn't covered very much, the Companion had a lot of pertinent information. I would recommend it for anyone who has an older Mercedes and likes to do their own work.

Rebuilding a Mercedes engine is not all that different from rebuilding a Ford engine, and you'll benefit from having procedures like these described by some of the best talent around. Best part: a section after each chapter with technical questions sent in by owners over the years. It provides insights into these cars (less reliable than you think), their owners (about as wealthy and as particular as you think), and serves as a history of the US models since the Sixties.

this book is good for older model. no tech information about MB 2001 SL 500.

THis book is full of great information. Some reviewers seem to have been looking for specific info on specific models, and this won't get you there -- for that, it's best to look for a manual specific to your model, or join one of the many fine MBZ forums on the web (mercedesshop.com is just one) to search for the answer to your question.

This book is an overview of most of the models MBZ has produced over several decades. You'll find lots of good info, some specific to your car, and much that will be applicable, if you've done your homework and know your car. This is NOT a repair manual, so don't buy it if that's what you need. But if you want to know how things were designed or what problems are unique to particular models and how to solve them, this is the book for you.