Recent Transactions (Details)	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 BERU Korea [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Spark Plug Business [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Spark Plug Business [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Spark Plug Business [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Tire pressure monitoring [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 02, 2011 Vikas Emissions Systems India Private Limited [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Haldex [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2011 Haldex [Member] SEK	Dec. 31, 2011 Beru Eichenauer [Member] USD ($)	May 01, 2010 Beru Eichenauer [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Dytech [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 10, 2010 Dytech [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Etatech, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Etatech, Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 BERU [Member] EUR (€)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling owners				49.00%					40.00%
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	$ 15,000,000	$ 29,400,000	$ 0	$ 15,000,000
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest				7,000,000					2,800,000
Adjustments to capital in excess of par value				8,000,000					26,600,000
Ownership percentage of parent				100.00%					100.00%
Loss on disposals	(39,700,000)	(21,500,000)	0		(1,800,000)	(37,900,000)
Proceeds from sale of business							55,200,000	22,900,000
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired										100.00%					100.00%
Gross cost of acquisition										214,900,000	1,380,000,000	9,600,000			147,700,000	7,500,000	7,500,000
Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired	0	203,700,000	164,700,000											147,600,000
Liabilities assumed from businesses acquired										5,300,000
Debt assumed from business acquired										5,900,000
BERU-Eichenauer equity investment gain												8,000,000
Other intangible assets	206,300,000	243,300,000											17,600,000
Squeeze Out Share Price																		€ 73.39