PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

mpolli · #5 10-01-2004, 02:19 PM

I have been disappointed with alldata, as I have mentioned. But it is my first subscription so I cannot make a broad statement about them. Hopefully someone else has also subscribed and has another opinion, good or bad. Also, I have no other repair documents on my car (my Haynes still has not arrived from England) and I don't have the CD. But I do have experience with many different sources of tech docs and my complaint with alldata is that they advertise:

"ALLDATA DIY is your online source of individual car care information which includes Technical Service Bulletins, Maintenance schedules, Component locations and Illustrated diagnosis and repair procedures."

However I have found these problems (so far):

No information on changing the trans fluid or filter. Other than part number and capacity.

No information on changing the plugs or wires other than part numbers and torque value.

No information in fixing the electric headrest. (There was initially some incorrect info, then they removed that and left nothing)

Often the photos are of other chassis than what I have, a la Chilton.

Often, procedures are very vague. For example, the procedure to remove the wiper mechanism starts off "remove air inlets". This is actually a somewhat complicated multi-step procedure.

The procedure to remove the steering wheel starts off "remove air bag" It would have been nice to tell me that the screws recessed in the back of the steering wheel are T30. I couldn't even see in there with a mirror and flashlight.

They claim this info is for "do it yourselfers" and I consider myself an advance do it yourselfer, having been working on cars for 25 years, but I find the info at about a Chilton level, which is to say, not very good. IMHO.

Mike