Repair Manual

[ddodson1]

Can anyone recommend a good repair manual for my 1965 230SL?  I've picked up a couple, but they don't seem to have enough detail (like torque specs for reassembly, etc.)  I do have the original MB Parts and Technical CD's.  Are these specs in there somewhere?

Thanks

[Mark280SL]

If you don't find what you want on the CD's or the Bluebook you may want to try the Haynes Manual if you have not already. The Classic center may be a resource also if the Haynes manual does not help you.

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Documents.Haynes

quote:Originally posted by ddodson1

Can anyone recommend a good repair manual for my 1965 230SL?  I've picked up a couple, but they don't seem to have enough detail (like torque specs for reassembly, etc.)  I do have the original MB Parts and Technical CD's.  Are these specs in there somewhere?

Thanks

Mark
1970 280 SL Ivory/Cognac

[ddodson1]

Is the Bluebook something other than the Owner's Manual?  If so, where could I purchase it?

Thanks,
Drake

[Mark280SL]

The "Big" Blue Book  - BBB is the original bound paper shop/Factory repair manual available for the cars from Mercedes, I thought the CD's had all the same info though but I'm not 100%

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Documents.BBB

Original Blue Books can sometimes be found on ebay and some other internet sources as well.... and don't forget to check with the classic center also...

[mbzse]

quote:Originally posted by Mark280SL

The "Big" Blue Book  - BBB is the original bound paper shop/Factory repair manual available for the cars from Mercedes, I thought the CD's had all the same info .../.. and don't forget to check with the classic center also...

Mercedes has an extensive range of technical literature for the older cars available to us enthusiasts.    In principle it can be ordered via your local dealer,
but also direct from the Classic Center in Germany or the US.

The web listing of what is available can be found here:
http://www.mercedes-benz-oldtimerservice.com/content/classic/retailer/classiccenter/en/home/home/home/oldtimerservice/spare_parts/technical_literature.html
Then click "Order this literature here" and then, click ">Produktubersicht" to the left.

The link to our wiki that Mark mentions in his post below gets you to the same place at Mercedes, then click "online web-shop"

In the choice that comes you can pick Mercedes clocks or sweaters or model cars etc, but category "Technical Literature for Classic cars" is what we are after.
Click there, and all the different DVD, books, leaflets, CD-ROM etc. are presented, complete with order Numbers.

For specific details like torque values and much more, I suggest the Tech Data books (book of tables) edition 1966 or 1969, depending on when your car was built.
These are most useful  

Also, IMHO, stay well away from Haynes...

.

/Hans in Sweden

[glennard]

Have one -BBB- in excellent condition.  The book has not been used in maintaining any vehicle.  Kinda like 'there's a lotta hits left in his bat'.  And it is for sale.

quote:Originally posted by ddodson1

Is the Bluebook something other than the Owner's Manual?  If so, where could I purchase it?

Thanks,
Drake

[ja17]

Hello doddson,

I have most of the factory literature, and it is best for in depth information. However one of my favorites for the 230SL is "Glenn's Mercedes Benz reapair and Tune-Up Guide" c. 1966. It has good simple charts and diagrams for all kinds of information, torques, tune-up specs, starter and battery specs, distributor specs, etc and the information is designed to be understood by the amatuer. I see them on Ebay often for less than $10.00.
It also covers some other MBs of the era (300-SL, 190-SL, some ponton and findback sedans).  A nice historical refference guide.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[hill]

quote:Originally posted by Mark280SL

The "Big" Blue Book  - BBB is the original bound paper shop/Factory repair manual available for the cars from Mercedes, I thought the CD's had all the same info though but I'm not 100%

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Documents.BBB

Original Blue Books can sometimes be found on ebay and some other internet sources as well.... and don't forget to check with the classic center also...

BBB,s have more info and are better organized. The CD's for my 107,108 were not as inclusive as the BBB.

Happy Benzing
Darryl, Hill
350 SL4.5 #60
1967 250sl "California"

[Raymond]

www.books4cars.com will often have a used BBB.  They buy and sell old tech manuals for most any car.  That's where I bought mine.  I like the feel of a book.  It's more fun to flip through and it's often faster to access than loading the CD and stepping through the index.  Especially if the computer is off.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[J. Huber]

Not sure if its still available but I have Kenneth Ball's Owners Workshop Manual: 230 (Autobooks #851). It focuses on 230, 230S, and 230SL only unlike Haynes, which I believe targets the later models primarily. It has the essentials and I think much was lifted right out of the BBB. I also have the Classic Center CD.

James
63 230SL

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by ddodson1

...like torque specs for reassembly, etc...

Need a torque spec?  Get the Technical Data book like Hans says.

Need an example of the detail offered?  I just pulled mine off the shelf and randomly opened to page 121.  There is a table called "Specified Starting Quantity per Injection Valve."  The detail lists "Starting quantity per injection valve in cubic cm per strokes at 60 RPM of injection pump and using Bosch test oil OL 61 v. 1.

For the 230SL, average is 11 - 13, minimum is 8.  So, to start your 230SL you need at minimum 8 cubic centimeters of fuel delivered per stroke per injector valve with the pump running at 60 RPM.

8 (cm3) x 6 (valves) x 60 (RPM) = 2,880 cubic centimeters of fuel per minute is the minimum rate of fuel delivery to start the car.

The book has almost 450 pages.

Rodd
Pagoda Technical Manual
please contibute: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php
1966 230SL
2006 C230 Sport Sedan

[cth350]

Principly, there are actually four major versions of the BBB.

- The original is an expanding set of loose-leaf volumns that were heavily updated from 1959 to 1968.  It started off as a single loose-leaf binder and a slim set of pages covering the most timely repair jobs and specifications needed on a new car (ie no rear axle overhaul).  By 1963, the manual had 20 revisions and grew to 2 volumns.  If you find these on ebay, make sure they've got revision 40 in them.  Heck if you make it to rev 38, you're in good shape.

- With revision 38, there was a special reprint of the manual that fit in a single loose-leaf volumn. To get that to work, they removed a few things, including the hydraq pages and the meat of section 60.  The section 60 material is fascinating.  It describes how to get a new body from Germany to rebuild your car.  Special techniques for welding in repair panels are also present.

- After revision 40 came out, with its statement "this is the end of line; no more updates", they republished the book in paperback form. In doing so they restored the hydraq section and a few other things. Section 60 stayed out.  The automatic transmission rebuild data went to a separate book.

- The CD is based on the paperback edition, but with the transmission manual present.  Also the 1965 and 1968 introduction to service manuals, owners manual and glove box parts book are incorporated into it.

In short, get the CD.  If you don't like reading things on-line, print the pages you need when you need them.

-CTH