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I did an extensive Google search and found the usual "online access" service manuals, but then also found a downloadable pdf manual that you pay $29.99 for ONCE and you then get a download screen, a downloaded .rar archive file, and a password to open the .rar file.
It appears to be very extensive. Once you unzip the archive package, there are 121 separate pdf files included, which appear to cover every system and subsystem in the car. Here is a screenshot of only a small portion of the pdf files (all that would fit onto my laptop screen):
I have only opened a handful so far, but they look like either licensed copies or knockoffs of the actual MB online pages, as they talk about using special tools that are clearly MB tools.
Anyway, I have no comparison standard to compare their content to, but for $29.99 US, some of you might be interested in this setup as it is a 1-time cost, costs far less than any official MB service manual access system, gives you a permanent set of pdf files on your own computer or laptop, and is fully printable so you can print the actual pages you need for a given job.
The only hiccup in the easy and very fast download is you initially get a "cannot open" screen after clicking on the downloaded .rar file, but once you click "ok" on that dialog box, it invites you to enter the password that was sent to you, and when you do, it unzips just fine. The entire purchase, download, and open process took me just a few minutes.
I noticed you're using a Mac. So you were able to download and unzip it just fine? And the whole PDF is only 170MB? Reason why I ask is because I purchased a copy of the manual for the W204 and it came with like 6 dvds. That's like 24GB. I was going to get a surface 3 just for the manual. If this is the whole manual only 170MB, I might just put this on my iPad and call it a day.
That 640x480 full screen cap is too tiny to see what it is on my screen.
Jim, if you are on Mac press Command/shift/4 and that will let you do a screenshot of just a selected area. You will see a dot with a cross hair come up where your cursor was. Move it to your starting point, one corner of the document for example. Then, when it is in your starting place click down on your track pad, scroll along and that dot will spread out in both directions (like a rubberband highlight). Release your trackpad, and it takes a snapshot of what was in the highlighted area. It should end up on your desktop. You can put those in your post via the photo attachment icon same as any other pic, but they will be bigger than what you have now.
I noticed you're using a Mac. So you were able to download and unzip it just fine? And the whole PDF is only 170MB? Reason why I ask is because I purchased a copy of the manual for the W204 and it came with like 6 dvds. That's like 24GB. I was going to get a surface 3 just for the manual. If this is the whole manual only 170MB, I might just put this on my iPad and call it a day.
The 170 MB was compressed format. Uncompressed, it is still only about 220MB (I went through the entire folder listing adding up the individual file sizes). I THINK this may be because it is in the more efficient pdf format versus an "imaged" format. Because it is pdf format, it will open on any device that can handle pdf files, and it also opens and paginates very quickly.
That 640x480 full screen cap is too tiny to see what it is on my screen.
Sorry. I have the very high resolution Retina screen, but when you snap a screenshot, that actually makes it harder to read BECAUSE the high resolution of the Retina screen crams much more onto a small display screen.
Jim, if you are on Mac press Command/shift/4 and that will let you do a screenshot of just a selected area. You will see a dot with a cross hair come up where your cursor was. Move it to your starting point, one corner of the document for example. Then, when it is in your starting place click down on your track pad, scroll along and that dot will spread out in both directions (like a rubberband highlight). Release your trackpad, and it takes a snapshot of what was in the highlighted area. It should end up on your desktop. You can put those in your post via the photo attachment icon same as any other pic, but they will be bigger than what you have now.
Ok, here we go with a closeup shot of specified torque values:
Note for example that the torque spec for the wiper system to body is about 10% lower for the W204 than the other models.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jun 3, 2017 at 11:12 AM.
I'm looking at it on a high res monitor and it still looks low res, even on your Photobucket with the image expanded to full res. You saved it wrong.
When you use the normal Shift-Control-3 screenshot method on a Mac, you get a PNG file. I did that and then simply uploaded the file to Photobucket. What different technique, beyond 604 C63's partial page method, should I use?
One problem is that I am trying to capture a "portrait" (high and narrow) 8.5" x 11" page on a "landscape" (wide but short) screen.
You could always extract a couple PDF pages using an app like PDF Suite or PDF Expert and post them in their native format.
For $2.79 and this will do most things you want, short of editing, signatures and the like.
I noticed you're using a Mac. So you were able to download and unzip it just fine? And the whole PDF is only 170MB? Reason why I ask is because I purchased a copy of the manual for the W204 and it came with like 6 dvds. That's like 24GB. I was going to get a surface 3 just for the manual. If this is the whole manual only 170MB, I might just put this on my iPad and call it a day.
Originally Posted by JimGnitecki
The 170 MB was compressed format. Uncompressed, it is still only about 220MB (I went through the entire folder listing adding up the individual file sizes). I THINK this may be because it is in the more efficient pdf format versus an "imaged" format. Because it is pdf format, it will open on any device that can handle pdf files, and it also opens and paginates very quickly.
Jim G
Sounds like he's comparing the actual WIS (full blown interface using an indexed DB with extensive data for every vehicle) vs your rendered PDF aftermarket manual.
I can tell from the micro screenshot it's not the official documents. They may have used the WIS to c&p some literature and steal some images but can't compare the two in the slightest.
I was just suggesting you post a couple examples of something specific so I you can see if it's accurate by comparing to the real thing.
Easiest solution might be for me to email one of the pdf modules to someone here on the forum who is familiar with the MB service manual setup and can review it for authenticity?
Here's something engine specific. MY shouldn't affect the procedure.
Good test. I'm afraid it showed that while the content appears to be genuine MB content, it is very incomplete. i.e. The download I got, while very detailed in some areas (e.g. rear axle, transmission, electrical wiring diagrams, even engine mount replacement), misses entire sections of normally forseeable work processes. For example, the intake manifold removal process that JasonOff's link describes is nowhere in the entire package of modules - I looked in every module that had the word "engine" in its title, and even some others that were more general in content.
I say that I believe the content IS originally from MB because of sections of text like this:
It is possible I suppose that something went wrong with my specific download package, but right now it does not look good. Lot sof very specific info on some stuff, but entire sections simply not there.
I'll try to repeat the download process if it will allow it, and update here if I have any success.
I just repeated the download process and got exactly the same outcome as the first time. I'll email the provider and see if they can assist with getting the rest of the content.
Time to buy the real thing. For someone who's afraid to install software you sure have a lot of it. MSN? Really. C'mon lol...
VMWare is not sketchy by any means. If you want the actual "manual" you either need to pay for the online subscription, get a copy of the full installer with a license key (requires Windows), or get a VM image with it pre-installed which is easy to find on eBay.
It's Saturday, so I'm sure the place I bought the manual from is closed. I sent them an email explaining that a lot appears to be missing, and will see what they say next week.
By the way, have you checked MB's own official consumer pricing for access to the service manuals on the Canadian website? It's a real eye opener. No one but a bonified business can afford THEIR price. :
$78 for 3 days access
$325 for 30 days access
$3600 per year
And taxes apply to all 3 levels of access.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jun 3, 2017 at 05:22 PM.
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