Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 483,168	$ 530,228	$ 463,975
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	294,077	230,203	206,086
Impairment on Mekonomen equity method investment	70,895	0	0
Impairment of goodwill	33,244	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	22,760	22,832	22,472
Loss on debt extinguishment	1,350	456	26,650
Loss on sale of business	0	10,796	0
Impairment on net assets of discontinued operations	0	0	26,677
Gains on foreign exchange contracts - acquisition related	0	0	(18,342)
Gains on bargain purchases	(2,418)	(3,870)	(8,207)
Deferred income taxes	(2,180)	(46,537)	(16,162)
Other	9,534	1,301	19,550
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
Receivables, net	241	(55,979)	(50,801)
Inventories	(127,153)	(203,857)	(64,114)
Prepaid income taxes/income taxes payable	(2,125)	8,376	14,944
Accounts payable	(77,621)	45,136	18,577
Other operating assets and liabilities	6,967	(20,185)	(6,291)
Net cash provided by operating activities	710,739	518,900	635,014
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(250,027)	(179,090)	(207,074)
Proceeds from Disposal of Property, Plant, and Equipment	27,659	8,707	3,510
Acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired	(1,214,995)	(513,088)	(1,349,339)
Proceeds from disposals of business/investment	0	301,297	10,304
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(60,300)	(7,664)	(185,671)
Proceeds from foreign exchange contracts	0	0	18,342
Receipts of deferred purchase price on receivables under factoring arrangements	36,991	0	0
Other investing activities, net	1,733	5,243	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,458,939)	(384,595)	(1,709,928)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	5,303	7,470	7,963
Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards	(5,567)	(5,525)	(4,438)
Debt issuance costs	(21,128)	(4,267)	(16,554)
Proceeds from issuance of Euro Notes (2024)	0	0	563,450
Proceeds from issuance of Euro Notes (2026/28)	1,232,100	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock	60,000	0	0
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities	1,667,325	839,171	2,636,596
Repayments under revolving credit facilities	(1,528,970)	(946,477)	(1,748,664)
Borrowings under term loans	0	0	582,115
Repayments under term loans	(354,800)	(27,884)	(255,792)
Borrowings under receivables securitization facility	10,120	11,245	106,400
Repayments under receivables securitization facility	(120)	(11,245)	(69,400)
Repayments of assumed debt and notes issued from acquisitions	(54,888)	0	0
(Repayments) borrowings of other debt, net	(11,730)	19,706	(31,156)
Repayment of Rhiag debt and related payments	0	0	(543,347)
Other financing activities, net	(5,350)	(5,239)	1,436
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	882,995	(112,567)	1,225,737
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(77,311)	23,512	(3,704)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	57,484	45,250	147,119
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations, beginning of period	279,766	227,400	87,397
Add: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of discontinued operations, beginning of period	0	(7,116)	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing and discontinued operations, beginning of period	279,766	234,516	87,397
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	337,250	279,766	234,516
Reconciliation Of Cash, Cash Equivalents And Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents	331,761	279,766	227,400
Restricted Cash	5,489	0	0
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	337,250	279,766	227,400
Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:
Income taxes, net of refunds	200,098	273,019	230,036
Interest	137,866	95,707	86,021
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Stock issued in acquisitions	251,334	0	0
Contingent consideration liabilities	3,107	6,234	0
Notes payable and other financing obligations, including notes issued and debt assumed in connection with business acquisitions/investment	105,566	59,045	568,032
Noncash property, plant and equipment additions	16,518	18,122	10,715
Notes and other financing receivables in connection with disposals of business/investment	$ 0	$ 4,000	$ 0