WELCOME TO OUR REPAIR MANUALS PORTAL

The repair manuals and guides we offer have evolved out of my experience working on Mercedes Benz professionally for the past 12 years. Maintaining and repairing a 20 year old car with limited special tools is a lot different from repairing a 5 year old car at a dealership with all the factory tools available. I found that factory manuals are often not much help when dealing with many age related issues on the older cars. I also found that the shotgun approach to many of the after-market repair manuals left you in kind of a "daze" with hit or miss information scattered all over the place. My own frustration at not being able to find relevant diagnostic and repair information lead me to start writing.

When I set out to write my manuals I had 6 goals in mind.

1. Make them easy to understand and follow.
2. Make the manual small enough that it can go in a tool box or glove box.
3. Bind each manual so it will stay fully open on a flat surface.
4. Zero in on a specific maintenance problem and deal with its diagnosis and repair in a step by step format.
5. Provide pictures for the majority of steps involved.
6. Back up the manuals by providing the reader with kits containing both parts and detailed installation instructions to complete needed repairs at home.

I hope you enjoy the format and find the information and guidance you need to maintain your own Mercedes. As you find the confidence to take on more of your own maintenance, I hope you experience the satisfaction that only comes from doing it yourself.

Safe and pleasant motoring, Kent Bergsma

read more below from our customers on how we produce manuals you can actually understand!

 

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"The service you provide for us Mercedes addicts is invaluable. I had a '76 240 that I took to 325K (126K that I put on). Had I had some of your maintainence and tuning guides and kits, I might have taken it to 400 or even 500K. In the past six months I purchased two 300D turbos, an '82 I bought and am fixing up for my daughter and an '83 I bought for parts, but am beginning to fix up for myself. The knowlege you've given me to fix it myself, makes the repairs affordable. I've also gained confidence to take these cars to 300K and beyond. I deeply appreciate you sharing this invaluable knowledge you share with Mercedes enthusiasts like me. Thanks again for this newest instruction booklet." - Owen
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I ordered several books from you about my 1983 300D Turbo Diesel. They are easy to use and are worth every penny that I have spent on them. They explain the maintenance procedures in exact detail. The vacuum troubleshooting procedures were of particular use. I have purchased other books on this car and they were not any where as near as helpful. You are a great credit to the automotive repair field. You sir are truly a great technician. P.S. - I train automotive techs for a living. - "Terry B."
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"To make a long story short, I bought the car about three years ago from someone whom I feel was a very dishonest mechanic in St. Augustine, FL (I later found out he was a cocaine addict). In the past few years I have spent many thousands of dollars trying to make this car reliable for my family. Even at the beginning I felt I had too much into the car to cut my losses and I am trying to keep it going through area mechanics and my own repair efforts. I love the 300td, to me it's a great looking vehicle that was built very well - my biggest regret is not having your manuals and contact information three years ago. I know I would have made a much happier and wiser purchase. Thank you so much Kent for your extraordinary contribution to me and Mercedes diesel owners all over the country. I hope I can keep mine going a long, long time."
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"Kent - got the manuals last night and had to force myself to go to sleep. Very enjoyable stuff a lot of information, very informative I feel more confident now going to work on the thing I am a diesel engine mechanic by trade and hope to have this car for a long time... You're doing a great job Kent keep up the good work. - Lesra"
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"First of all, Thanks for all you do, Bought 3 manuals off Ebay. I am so impressed with the 1978 300 D we purchased in September 2002 , I have not rested until I sold my Eagle Talon , and bought another 300 D for a daily driver, I drive 2-300 miles per day across southern Utah and eastern Nevada, Your manuals and Mercedes craftsmanship have returned me to the first sense of security in 25 years of being able to work on my own cars, and know they will be dependable, with reasonable parts, tools and backyard common sense and test equipment. Look forward to a long and happy business partnership. Any tips on turning up a 300 D nonturbo, the 1978 could use it, ( a lot of grades around here, )and the 81 has already been done , I have outrun a lot of cars in it."
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"Kent - got the manuals last night and had to force myself to go to sleep. Very enjoyable stuff a lot of information, very informative I feel more confident now going to work on the thing I am a diesel engine mechanic by trade and hope to have this car for a long time... You're doing a great job Kent keep up the good work. - Lesra"
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"You are doing me a wonderful service not only part wise, but also knowledge wise when it comes to the Mercedes and their diesels. As the weather starts to turn to the milder side here in Minnesota I'll be interested in doing some of the other chores that you have suggested, ie; vacuum pump overhaul, driveline flex disk replacement, rear door check straps. The list does go on but I really like my '84 300TD and want it to eventually be as tip-top as it can be. Again Kent, thanks for being there for me."
Respectfully, L. Strom."
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"I got your book and other parts yesterday in the mail. I really like the diesel tuning book, its great! You realy did a good job with it, I found it very informative and interesting. I also really like the valve wrenches I bought from you and look forward to using them this weekend. You really have a unique business and I am thankful for it."
Thanks again, Rob
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"I feel confident after reading about your manuals and products that I can take care of most, if not all, of these issues myself and without major investment. On your site you have touched upon every issue I'm experiencing, including the tendency for the rear window to leak. Yes, I have that musty smell and will be ordering the rear window seal after I know the mechanical issues can be rectified. I have also experienced a rough-idle problem, intermittently, after the vehicle has warmed up. When I turn on the climate control the problem goes away (versus having it off or set on normal). I'm hoping the steps I take as outlined in your manuals and products will resolve this issue also. You will see additional orders from me in the near future (heater motor repair kit, EGR valve, water pump, voltage regulator, vacuum overhaul kit, window seal, xenon dash lights, and who knows what else). I gotta tell you, if everything works out as I hope you will have a big fan here in the state of Michigan. You'll need to put a testimonial page on your website. I will definitely contribute, as I'm sure many others want to als0. Thanks again. I'll let you know about my successes."
- Jeff
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"First off, I bought one of your diesel tunning guides off Ebay, best money I ever spent on the car!! I have read it cover to cover and there are few pages without a smudge print on it.
- Rick W.
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"Hi Kent,
The manual came in yesterday and I'm very pleased with it (diesel performance). THe blue gloves are a nice touch! I skimmed the book beginning to end and found a lot of great relevant information for me to use to better maintain my "fleet". I own a 1982 240D/auto (was fortunate to find one that had been imported from Arizona, as most of the ones up here in Eastern Canada are rusted out by now); it has 200,000 miles but was dealer serviced all its life, and runs quite well, though I'll have a look at some of the things you mention in the book. I'll consider the timing chain replacement, as you suggest. My other vehicle is a 1973 MB 406D delivery van (converted to a camper), which was imported by someone from Holland last year. It actually has the same engine as the 240D (albeit with different linkages, oil bath air filter etc.), in a vehicle that is much heavier. So I'm going to have to pay more attention to that engine, and your book will greatly assist. Too bad I'm not closer to you or I'd gladly pay your shop a visit one of these days. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with diesel owners like myself. You do a great service to our community."
Best regards, --Robert
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"I ordered your book on tuning mercedes diesels and had a chance to apply some of your suggestion to a car that was not doing too well on dirt roads where I live. It turned out that three simple problems were responsible for making the car almost useless on these roads. The transmission was shifting at the wrong point due to the need for adjustment of the cable from the throttle to the transmission. We had had an experience with a rip off transmission shop where they put garbage in the oil and tried to sell us a transmission job when all that was needed was a vacuum modulator. I think that they also misadjusted the cable in order to "prove" that the transmission was getting even worse. Anyway finding this simple adjustment and also cleaning out the banjo fitting and replacing the line to the alda unit made the car run almost like new again. Just wanted to let you know how helpful the book has been so far. SpencerKent, I can't tell you how helpful your books have been. They are so easy to understand. Do you have any other titles that are not listed on your website? I would love to see one about trouble shooting and repairing the climate control system."
B. Neel
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"Hi Kent,
I just wanted to drop you a line. I set the valves with your wrenches, did the purge, and then changed the filters.. she is running great! I just wanted to thank you for the SUPER directions and tech help. Needless to say, we will be doing business in the future."
Thank you again, Eric Anderton
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"Hi Kent,
I received the Benz vacuum system troubleshooting manual yesterday and read it cover to cover during dinner...wow...what a gold mine of helpful info. I'm so very happy to have a resource like that..practical, hands on "nuts and bolts" information for people like me who can troubleshoot and solve problems with the right info in hand; WITH pictures! Only thing better would be color photos, but gray scale works well. I'll be purchasing a vacuum gage and hand pump this weekend so I can service the multiple symptoms my 1980 300SD exhibits; all of which are covered in the manual you wrote. I'll leave positive feedback on E-bay for you, and I'm interested in any other manuals you have for the Benz. Too bad for me you are in the Pacific NW; I'd love to visit your shop."
- Robin M.