Is it possible to purchase a shop manual for a 1987 300E? I prefer the old fashioned book type that can be read as I sit next to the wood stove... one I can mark up, dog ear and smudge with greasy fingers. I've searched the net but have not yet managed to find one.

Smiles!

There was a set on ebay last week or so. There may well be one now, I don't recall. Try "(mercedes,benz) (service,manual) 124" and see what happens (w/o the quotes).

The CDs are mighty handy, but there is nothing like having a good book in hand. I just an inventory of all the shop manuals I have and it's 4 pages long, and that's just the offical benz stuff. That's over 75 books for service literature. I didn't count the parts books, owner's manuals or the fiche. And the scary thing? I don't yet have it all (but I'm "close").

-CTH

OK. Sounds like a good lead. I envy you your inventory of manuals. I usually send them along with the car whenever the car is sold.

Smiles.

As a dealer "wrench", the hardest part for non-dealer people has to be obtaining factory information. It's easy to get what passes for a service manual from MB, but in reality is the information is in so many different formats in a actual dealership. I'm sure CTH can testify to this. The best source is usually the microfiche, although much of this info is now on "WIS", the info computer. Then start adding books here: The ETM (electrical trouble shooting manual, fancy name for wiring diagrams) DM (diagnostic manual), SI (service info bulletins) MBNET messages, etc. So, even if you buy the "Manual", remember you are only getting the barest-bones of information that is available. The best part about the discs, or the WIS computer, is that you can print out a job and bring it right to the work area-under hood, inside the car, in the trunk, under the car-, and not have to worry about ruining a book. You can do the job and just toss it if it gets dirty or oil soaked or whatever.....Gilly

Thanks for the advice Gilly. I think I'll follow it. Where can I get a used copy of the computer CD that you suggest? Budget its severly restricted at the moment. I need one for the 1987 330E.

Smiles.

Earl: Sorry, being in the position that I'm in, I really don't have a clue on where you could get one used. Maybe you will come up with something by posting on the net here, or maybe Ebay or something....Gilly

Gilly, can you send me an email. I need to ask you a question about WIS.

-CTH (cth@mbz.org)

Amazon.co.uk lists a book Mercedes Benz 124 series by Steve Rendle 250pp by Haynes publishing. ISBN 1859602533.
It is about $25 or so. It might help you, but you will need yo be up to snuff on those english car words like spanner, bonnet etc.

WIS is available at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes for a just $2800 a year. It is the poorest database OE or otherwise I have ever seen but it does have most of the info.

Use of the discs requires a 50+ digit key generated from the LAN # of the computer its being installed on.

EJ,

There was a 124 CD set on eBay last week, for about $50.00 US, not sure if still there or how high it might have gone. Caution about the eBay CD's, you might be getting an illegal copy.

If you have enough in your budget, you could get a new CD set right here at PartsShop for $159.00.

http://www.peachparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=msps1&Product_Code=P-2700-124-099

Hope this helps.