Recent Transactions (Details)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Aug. 02, 2011 Vikas Emissions Systems India Private Limited [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Haldex [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Haldex [Member] SEK	Jan. 03, 2011 Haldex [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Beru Eichenauer [Member] USD ($)	May 01, 2010 Beru Eichenauer [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 10, 2010 Dytech ENSA S. L. [Member]	Apr. 10, 2010 Dytech [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Etatech, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2009 Etatech, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 BERU [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 BERU [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 BERU [Member] EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2010 BERU [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 10, 2010 BERU [Member]	May 22, 2009 BERU [Member] USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Loss on disposals	$ (21,500,000)	$ 0	$ 0
Proceeds from sale of tire pressure monitoring business	22,900,000
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling owners				40.00%
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	29,400,000	0	48,500,000
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest				2,800,000
Adjustments to capital in excess of par value				26,600,000
Ownership percentage of parent				100.00%
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired					100.00%		100.00%			100.00%	100.00%			95.60%				100.00%
Gross cost of acquisition					214,900,000	1,380,000,000					147,700,000
Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired	203,700,000	164,700,000	7,500,000
Liabilities assumed from businesses acquired					5,300,000
Debt assumed from business acquired	5,900,000	0	0		5,900,000
Aggregate estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition consummated
Receivables, net					31,800,000						54,300,000
Inventories, net					10,400,000						44,700,000
Property, plant and equipment, net					26,400,000						45,000,000
Goodwill					96,200,000						74,100,000
Other intangible assets, net of tax					86,400,000						31,100,000
Other assets and liabilities, net											(9,300,000)
Other assets and liabilities					3,800,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses					(40,100,000)						(81,500,000)
Assumed debt											(10,800,000)
Net cash and cash equivalents								9,600,000			147,600,000	7,500,000	7,500,000
Cash paid, net of cash acquired					203,700,000
Increase in intangible assets after acquisition									17,600,000
BERU-Eichenauer equity investment gain								8,000,000
Annual perpetual dividend paid																			1,900,000
Purchase price paid for additional shares including transaction fees					214,900,000	1,380,000,000					147,700,000
Squeeze-out share price																	$ 73.39
Increase in price per share																	$ 2.07
Domination And Profit Transfer Agreement share price														71.32
Amount paid for outstanding shares															33,500,000	22,900,000
Outstanding shares															311,000	311,000
Cost of tendering															$ 46,600,000