( 
)A GUIDE TO COLLECTABLE & CRITICAL MERCEDES BENZ PUBLICATIONS
Including service manuals, spare parts lists, illustrated parts catalogs, owner's manuals, maintenance booklets, and technical data books - for a wide range of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, produced between 1946 and the late 70's.
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Daimler-Benz / Mercedes-Benz Literature Can Be Confusing
So much so that at times it sometimes seems like a conspiracy to keep the automobile consumer an unwitting dependent. But this is not the case... and a great topic to explore in a different guide. Till then it will be helpful to understand the following:
Daimler-Benz has produced literature for over one hundred years, in perhaps over a dozen different languages, for automobiles produced in a variety of factories and locations, for hundreds, perhaps thousands of different models.
All this literature has had to meet varying requirements reflecting CHANGE. Changing technology, changing industry capabilities, automobile capabilities, and consumer demands, auto industry safety standards, changing and conflicting state - national -&- international pollution standards, etc.
Briefly stated, to meet requirements for on multiple continents, dozens of countries, over the entire spectrum of technological, cultural, and logistical changes regarding motorized vehicles.
Below are the descriptions of various literature items authored, published, and printed by Daimler-Benz Corporation and, occasionally in the latter years, by Mercedes-Benz Of North America.
These Volumes are mostly:
- Out of print
- Very rare
- Getting rarer quickly
- Increasing in price quickly
- The finest information available for collectable Mercedes-Benz care, repair, and related data
The descriptions contained in this guide are short and general. Mostly to give the novice Mercedes-Benz enthusiast an overview of the types of literature available, and aid in makeing a more informed choice regarding the need for the literature.
Each of the following automobile literature catagories, or titles, might have come in several very different formats over many different years. Manual formats ranged from average media quality paperback volumes -to- high quality glossy media contained within official 2, 3, or 4 holed plastic binders designed for use in dealership shop environments. Covers for these manuals ranged from several grades of laminated media, might contain clear plastic cover sheets, or have special thick covers bound together with brass binding posts. These variations, and how they influence the monetary value of this literature is too much to cover in this guide, and fodder for the next. However, it will be the single largest factor in the cost of similar literature that is inherent in the publications themselves. Another words, not including eBay variability’s.
THE LITERATURE SELECTION (Alphabetical)
Chassis Body Manuals act as detailed guides to chassis systems and components of a vehicle series, several series, and occasionally a specific vehicle. They contain descriptions of all important assembly, adjustment and inspections to be performed regarding these vehicles chassis systems and components. Pertinent data, dimensions, and tolerances, as well as special tools for various individual operations are listed in separate tables. Chassis Body Manuals also give repair instructions in detailed steps assisted by drawings, photographs and charts. These manuals are approximately 400 to 1200 pages in length.
Electrical Troubleshooting Manuals contain detailed schematic diagrams and component locations for various models electrical systems and components. Also included in these manuals is information on: symbols, troubleshooting procedures and sometimes emissions / Automatic Climate Control issues. Use these schematic diagrams when troubleshooting. Electrical Troubleshooting Manuals may vary both in size and in content, but are generally 200-500 pages.
Electrical Wiring Diagram Manuals contain detailed schematic diagrams and component locations for various models. These manuals are very detailed, and used for information regarding the extensive information about the wiring of a specific vehicle. Electrical Wiring Diagram Manuals vary in length, but are approximately 400 pages
Often, the two manual types above are incorporated into one volume for a multiple series. This is especially the case as the time period discussed move back through the years.
Engine Manuals act as a detailed guide to the specified engine(s). They can be for individual engines, multiple engines, gasoline engines, diesel engines, or some functional combination of the foregoing engines. They contain descriptions of all important assembly, adjustment and inspections to be performed. Pertinent data, dimensions, and tolerances, as well as special tools for various individual operations are listed in separate tables. Engine Manuals also give repair instructions in detailed steps assisted by drawings, photographs and charts. Engine Manuals usually contain extensive information on engine auxiliary systems and components, like fuel systems, exhaust, electrical, etc.
Depending on the specific information desired, the manual could range from approximately 200 to 1200 pages in length.
Illustrated Parts Catalogues contain exploded view drawings. There are no part numbers shown. These catalogues can be helpful to the hobbyist who wants a diagram for reassembly or wants to speed up purchasing parts at a dealership. Sometimes for individual models, sometimes several models/series. These catalogues are approximately 75 to 200 pages in length. They were, in the past, sometimes part of the normal informational packet presented to a new vehicle buyer at time of delivery.
Introduction Manuals give a brief introduction to specific new models, and important updates to previous models still in production at the time of writing, that have undergone significant technological or other changes. They are used as an overview of the vehicle, and contain basic information to help familiarize an owner with the most significant features of these models. Introduction Manuals also include some information on lubrication, maintenance work, as well as repair work. These Manuals are approximately 50 pages in length. For more detailed information regarding your vehicle try Engine/Chassis/Maintenance or Service Manuals.
Maintenance Booklets serve as the documentation and notation of maintenance performed on a vehicle. Use them to demonstrate your proper upkeep of a well-maintained vehicle. These booklets are roughly 25 to 125 pages in length; sometimes cover an individual model, sometimes a series. They are part of the normal informational packet presented to a new vehicle buyer at time of delivery.
Maintenance Manuals give detailed descriptions of periodic maintenance to be performed for vehicles. Usually including a wide range of vehicles (example: Passenger Vehicles, 200D-Type 600), for the given volumes effective publication period. They introduce new information for new models, as well as new information for ongoing models produced before the manuals publication period. Another words, Maintenance Manuals tend to be inclusive, accumulative, or appending in nature for any model/sales designation (example: 280S -or- 300 D) as long as that model designation continues in the production line-up. Introducing important updates to previous models still in production at the time of writing, which have undergone significant technological or other changes.
Maintenance Manuals include the following: illustrations, all necessary checking and adjustment data, filling quantities, fuels, lubricants, and coolants, information on required special tools and specified tightening torques. Besides the maintenance specifications, these manuals also contain some practical hints that may assist you in emergencies. Maintenance Manuals are approximately 300-1200 pages, and cover many different sales designations.
Owner's Manuals cover a great deal of useful information that allows a driver to familiarize himself or herself with a vehicle. Specifically, they give information about the operation and service of a specific vehicle. It is imperative that every vehicle contains an Owner's Manual, because instructions and warnings that are included in these manuals provide for greater safety and longer service life of the vehicle. These manuals are approximately 25 to 200 pages in length. They are part of the normal informational packet presented to a new vehicle buyer at time of delivery.
Service Manuals act as a detailed guide to the vehicle repair, and component replacement. They contain descriptions of all important assembly, adjustment and inspections to be performed. Pertinent data, dimensions, and tolerances, as well as special tools for various individual operations are listed in separate tables. Service Manuals also give repair instructions in detailed steps assisted by drawings, photographs and charts. Service Manuals sometimes include information on both the engine and the chassis of a specified vehicle, or vehicle series. Alternately, sometimes Service Manuals are for Engine(s) only, or Chassis & Body only. They vary in size from approximately 400 to 1500 pages in length. Occasionally use of a Service Manual Supplement is included as a separate volume (example: 190 SL, Supplement to Type 190 Service Manual).
Spare Parts Lists show exploded view schematic drawings, Part Numbers, and other related data / information about individual parts and components. The catalogues range in length from approximately 600 to 1200 pages. Some cover a single make / model, some cover a series. They are some of the most desirable Daimler-Benz collector literature. Often commanding very high prices, while allowing for a wide price gap depending on the model or series of vehicle covered, and of course, the condition of the literature.
Technical Data Books, usually "Pocket-sized" were intended for technicians familiar with the maintenance and repair of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. These little gems, sometimes called "chart manuals" contain the most important data and adjustment values, usually in lists, graphs, or diagrams. Technical Data Books include information about capacities, operating materials, dimensions, weights, measures and tolerances, settings, performance curves and much more.
They introduce new information for new models, as well as new information for ongoing models produced before the manuals publication period. Another words, Technical Data Manuals tend to be inclusive, accumulative, or appending in nature for any model/sales designation (example: 280S -or- 300 D) as long as that model designation continues in the production line-up. Thereby, introducing important updates to previous models still in production at the time of writing, that have undergone significant technological or other changes.
Technical Data Books are approximately 400-600 pages in length and are considered the "best kept secret" of Daimler-Benz publications useful to any "hands-on" Mercedes owner/enthusiast/collector.
Beyond the above-related basic collector literature is a wide spectrum of original Daimler-Benz collectable literature. All of it is functionally important. Much or it is far more difficult to attain than the normal while rare volumes above. Examples of this literature type include original sales brochures, prestige brochures, publications pertaining to vehicle colors, upholsteries, DIN information, options lists and brochures, data cards, and more. Some of this literature is simply unknown to the normal Mercedes enthusiast. Some is unknown even to avid collectors.
I hope to introduce it to those with a desire to be more knowledgeable of Daimler / Mercedes collector literature. Via future guides like this, and also by offering it for sale in the rare cases I can find, attain, evaluate, prepare, and offer it.
Sincere and kind regards,
Mike Batts / sphere360, BENZ PRINT
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