The Steve Nervig index is still available!
 

Thanks, whunter, for this response to my query. But I have some good news. After posting my message, I kept searching for the Steve Nervig index site - and eventually I found it alive and well at this address
http://web.mac.com/dakota/iWeb/Mercedes/Indexes.html

I haven't checked back with the original link on this forum, but I guess that either the link was broken/inaccurate, or the site has moved since the original posts were put up back in 2004. I'm pleased to say that the index is still downloadable and works a treat.

And to be honest, I can't see why DC or MBUSA would want to obstruct this. The index doesn't trespass on their copyright. It is an original and free-standing piece of work which complements their product and is produced by a guy whose motives are entirely honourable.

We all owe Steve and his friends huge thanks...

br1anstorm

Hmmm
 

I was referring to braingears.com and other websites.

They all went down in a couple of months.

LITIGATION has that effect..

service/workshop manuals, and other things
 

Yup, it's clear that braingears.com (and other similar sites) have - sadly for some - ceased to function. But I'm happy to have the Steve Nervig index, which makes using the (official...?) MBUSA CD/DVD manual much easier.

On a vaguely related subject, it would be useful to have (as a sticky somewhere?) an expert explanation of the difference between Mercedes Benz' WIS (Workshop Information System), TIS (Technical Information System) and EPC (Electronic Parts Catalogue). It gets confusing when some, or all, of these are referred to as "workshop manuals"...

br1anstorm

Just a quick update to this one.

I think Steve Nervig closed down his site last year (2012), but the Mercedes list is now hosting the downloads of his manual index.

The Mercedes-Benz Discussion Lists - Home Page

Choose Other Stuff , MB Service Library Indexes from the menu.

Mercedes now hosts most of the manuals online at (you don't need to login or spend any money)

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/doclist.jsp

Good luck

Jonathan

If you want half way decent manuals or diagrams, then I HIGHLY recommend checking out Alldata.com. They provide most of the data for the garages and repair facilities, and they have everything you could ever want. Usually in far better quality than the original manuals or diagrams. They also have repair flow charts, detailed real world repairs from technicians, all kinds of stuff. For the wiring diagrams they have the COLOR wiring diagrams. In this case COLOR is a proper name as opposed to just a description. They go through all the wiring diagrams for vehicles, and they recreate them in a standardized, color, and interactive format. The corporate subscriptions are understandably expensive, but they offer subscriptions for personal use as well that are incredibly reasonable. The difference is basically instead of getting access to every vehicle ever made...you get access to your vehicle. A 2 year subscription is like $30, and a 5 year is like $50. You can also download the information once you have access. The downloads, unfortunately, aren't interactive like the online versions, but they are still exceptional.

Since your posting in June have you gone further with alldata?


Thank you

The English language W123 FSM has dreadful pictures - if however you can get your hands on the German language original version you will find perfect crystal clear pictures...

...I can only assume the pictures sent to the technical authors who did the English language version were first photcopied then faxed and then photocopied again and then had coffee spilt on them (!)