Where to go to learn how to fix my mercedes

[OM2]

I want to become my own mechanic
I'd like to be able to repair or fix almost *anything* relating to my Merc

I've never done anything relating to the car!
Though... I'm very hands on with everything and not afraid to get hands dirty

Can someone tell me where to start...?
Are there any video guides anywhere?

OK... so there's mechanical - do I have to learn any theories or do some sort of book work before or during opening bits up?

Then there's the electrics - is this a separate discipline?

Then we have diagnostics - this is what really interests me... where do I start with this?

Thanks


OM

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I think for diagnostics you would need to get hold of a STAR machine

 

[mikestrivens]

Get a job as an apprentice with Mercedes.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

Get a job as an apprentice with Mercedes.

Now why didn't I think of that

 

[giuseppe]

you could enquire at your local college

 

[huey]

As Lyn said for diagnostics you will need a star diagnostic system£££££s and also I think there is an annual fee to pay aswell £s.
As for the other things you mention there are Haynes manuals etc.
The MB indies I know have all served time at MB. Could you not enrol at a local colledge to get the basics?

 

[grober]

Joining this forum is a start. Lots of video how to's on Utube if you search. Unfortunately modern Mercedes are pretty complex bits of kit and it requires a lot of dedicated diagnostic equipment to be able to diagnose faults. Certain operations are still within the purview of the DIY owner such as oil and fluid level checks and changes-- brake pad and disc replacement---- but you will find most DIY guys cut their teeth on older/cheaper/simpler cars first. There are some very expensive mistakes to be made by the novice so be careful. Your best bet is probably find a sympathetic MB specialist to service your car for you. They will have also invested in the appropriate diagnostic gear-- which is only economically viable if you are servicing hundreds of mercs annually - the sums simply don't add up. You can learn a lot from them also.
It is regrettable there is no cheaper aftermarket diagnostic system such as VAG -COM for audi/vw/seat/skoda for MB products which you could " cut your teeth on" but afaik such a system doesn't exist.:sad:

 

[d215yq]

Report any problems here and see what people say - they soon tell you what it almost certainly is or what to do to diagnose it...If it needs STAR i'm sure this can be arranged at a small fee at an indie...the trouble is i guess once you've paid £45 and the car's at the indie the temptation is to leave it there and not DIY the fault if it can be fixed in a day for reasonable cost by the garage.

Once diagnosed I'm sure you could easily replace most of the parts yourself with the correct tools. I am a practically minded person and build my own furniture, do DIY, etc but similarly have no experience fixing cars. Whenever I've tried a fix on a car I've found with decent information off here/from a good manual the limiting factor isn't information/skill/understanding but a lack of good tools/ramps is!

Having said that, with no specialist tools I've replaced an alternator, bodged a fan repair, replaced a radiator, wiper motor, spark plugs, engine sensors, windscreen drain assembly, fitted speakers (mostly on my old rovers in the student days... the merc just doesn't breakdown enough and when it needs bits it's mostly on suspension items which i won't touch as I don't have a ramp/tools that could get the required torque for rusted on suspension bits so it has to go into the garage).

I'd be wary of a "general principles" course as I'd imagine the general principles nowadays are very specialised and increasingly less important with ECUs/computers

 

[Troon]

If you join the Official Club, you get access to MB's own WIS (Workshop Information System) and EPC (Electronic Parts Catalogue) systems.

With the right tools and some mechanical common sense, you should be able to tackle the simpler jobs on your car without needing a STAR system. Do as much research on the job as you can before starting: you'll often find how-tos or video tutorials, and we'll be able to offer advice and things to not do on here.

I've had no formal training but do most jobs and all regular servicing that don't require specialist tools or serious force. For example: springs, brakes, rust (Mk1 Fiesta); aux belt tensioner, rear wheel bearings, battery, drop links (Mk3 Mondeo); rear shocks, turbo outlet pipe, battery (C-MAX); front discs (S211 (non-SBC)). All of these require little more than a good socket set, torque wrench and workshop instructions (IMO, essential for torque figures and unusual things to look out for).