w210 e300 shop manual, recommendations? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

citationtech · #1 06-17-2011, 09:24 AM

i'm looking to buy a maintenance manual for my e300. anyone have preferences? my dad has the "star" cd for his w124 diesel and i'm not a big fan of the format. thanks.

Diesel911 · #2 06-17-2011, 09:36 AM

This is the STAR manuals. I know that you do not like the format. I have not seen the DVD manuals but there is similar complaints with the CD manuals that I have.
The Fact is that despite the issues with the CD manuals for the amount of money you pay for them you get a huge volume of information that covers almost the whole Car.

You could wait and spend a lot buying the Printed Mercedes Manuals that come up on eBay.

Other than the above there does not seem to be anything between the Haynes,Clymer, Chilton manuals and the Factory Service Manual.

The Bently Company is another company that makes Manuals (Expensive) but in the case of my 123 there is nothing on the Diesel Engine in them. I do not know if that is so with your year and mode.

This is the official Mercedes site to get the Manuals. In you case it is a DVD.
If you buy one please let me know the Cost and shipping charge.

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/8002/?requestedDocId=8002
Contact Consumer Promotions at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes for current pricing and ordering information on the accompanying CDs and DVDs that are available for purchase. Please refer to Service Information S-B-99.00/222J for more on Star Service

Jeremy5848 · #3 06-17-2011, 10:58 AM

I have the DVD manual for my 1996 E300D. The DVD covers all W210 cars from 1996-1998, not just the diesel. It includes on-line links to the latest Mercedes information from the STAR system. It's somewhat hard to navigate but seems fairly complete. I don't think Mercedes made print manuals for this series. If not available any more from Mercedes, try eBay and Books4Cars.com. You'll pay at least $200 for a genuine DVD, less for a knock-off.

Fredmburgess · #4 06-17-2011, 07:05 PM

We've got a '98 and a '99. Only decent manual I could find and justify buying was the Star CD. It can take a while to find things but pretty much everything is in there - just not always where you might expect it to be. I've used it for everything including removing the engine/trans and pulling the engine apart. It's been a good investment for me.

citationtech · #5 06-17-2011, 08:21 PM

from what i've read mercedes is out of stock of the cd version for the 210 - indefinitely. is this correct???

i paid the $18 for a 24 hour subscription and printed about 2 reams of information. there is some pure gold within that website.

i was grumpy when i ranted about star's format with the 124 series. i recall the initial install is what had me cross. i had about an hour of seat time with pratt & whitney computer based maintenance manual today. i forgot just how bad a bad format can be.

again the $18 for the 24 hour subscription is worth every penny. i saved and printed everything from 606.962 diagnostics to 210 service bulletins and service campaigns...things that can only excite a true enthusiast.

and since threads without pictures are worthless:

Jeremy5848 · #6 06-17-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citationtech

from what i've read mercedes is out of stock of the cd version for the 210 - indefinitely. is this correct???

I would not be surprised. If it's no longer listed in their website then they are out of stock.

spark3542 · #7 06-20-2011, 02:37 PM

I purchased the Star CD and found it very painful to use.

I bit the bullet and purchased a year of Alldata DIY on my 97 E300D when I owned it, and now again on my 05 E320CDI. I would call it very useful. Not totally awesome, but very useful.