I too am extremely disappointed in the CD manuals. I find them almost useless for parts identification and exploded diagrams. While us DIY'ers may be a small minority of MB owners, it would not cost MB anything to put _real_ manuals in the parts book as something which could be ordered like any other part.

I've had Jags where I can get a shop manual that details everything down to every nut and bolt, and I have a CD for my BMW which does the same. The MB CD is barely one step beyond the Owner's Manual, IMHO.

I guess I will have to bit the bullet and buy the Stu Ritter book, even though it is reputed to be mediocre for the true DIY'er. To me it's a sin that good manuals can not be had from the OEM. Remember when GM cars included the postcard in the back of the owner's manual to order the shop manuals?

Chris W.
'93 500E awake from the winter sleep