Since 1956, informed Mercedes-Benz owners have relied upon The Star, the magazine of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, for advice about maintenance, service and repair of their cars. Bentley Publishers has collected some of the best of these do-it-yourself articles and tech tips into the Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion. No matter which Mercedes-Benz model you drive or desire, this compilation will serve as a valuable technical reference to help you understand and care for your Mercedes-Benz. This insightful and informed technical compilation has something for the Mercedes-Benz owner, service professional and enthusiast. You will also find useful technical guidance that pertains to Mercedes-Benz vehicles in general, based on the contributors' long-time dedication to Mercedes-Benz service and ownership. Article topics collected in the Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion include: Technical and Restoration Forum: questions and answers on subjects such as bleeding brakes, aligning headlights, choosing fuel and preparing a vehicle for storage. Maintenance and preservation procedures – from resetting the service indicator lights to washing and waxing your car. Heating and air-conditioning system repair including rebuilding the automatic climate control push button unit and converting from R-12 to R-134a. Driving tips, including the difference between torque and horsepower, and tire selection. You will even find informative diagrams showing oversteer, understeer and vehicle dynamics. Step-by-step instructions on how to replace shock absorbers and air suspension bellows. How to choose a shop for maintaining and repairing your Mercedes-BenzFixes for vacuum door locks, mechanical clocks and trip odometers. Extensive model, chassis number, engine number and production year reference charts: 1946-2005Detailed electronic component repairs, such as the Becker Electronic Grand Prix radio and the W210 E-Class seat control switch.