Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3 1991 User manual

Mercedes-Benz
Owner’s Manual

What You Should Know
at the Gas Station
See last page
MERCEDES-BENZ
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
1-800-222-0100
(U.S.A. only)
Drive Sensibl - Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operat
ing conditions.
To save fuel ou should:
• keep tires at the recommended
inflation pressures,
• remove unnecessar loads,
• remove ski racks or roof-mounted
luggage racks when not in use,
• allow engine to warm up under low
load use,
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration,
• have all maintenance work
performed at regular intervals b
an authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer.
Fuel consumption is also increased
b driving in cold weather, in
stop-and-go traffic, on short trips and in
hill countr .

Mercedes-Benz
Owner’s Manual
1991
190 E 2.3
190 E 2.6

Kindly observe the following in your own best interests:
We recommend using MERCEDES BENZ original parts as
well as conversion parts and accessories explicitly approved
by us for your vehicle model.
We have subjected these parts to a special test in which
their reliability, safety and their special suitability for
MERCEDES BENZ vehicles have been determined.
We are unable to make an assessment for other products
and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in
individual cases an official approval or authorization by
governmental or approval agencies should exist.
MERCEDES BENZ original parts as well as conversion parts
and accessories approved by us are available at your
MERCEDES BENZ service station where you will receive
comprehensive information, also on permissible technical
modifications, and where expert installation will be
performed.
Printed in Germany
We reserve the right to modif the technical details of the vehicle as given in the data
and illustrations of this Owner’s Manual (s.e.e.o.). Reprinting, translation and cop ing, even
of excerpts, is not permitted without our prior authorization in writing.
V K T/09.05.90 RS/12K

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of
your new MERCEDES BENZ.
Your selection of our product is a demonstration of your trust
in our company name. Further, it exemplified your desire to
own an automobile that will be as easy as possible to
operate and provide years of service.
Your MERCEDES BENZ represents the efforts of many
skilled engineers and craftsmen. To ensure your pleasure of
ownership, we ask you to make a small investment of your
time:
• Please read this manual carefully before putting it aside.
• Please abide by the recommendations contained in this
manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the
operation of your MERCEDES BENZ.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe,
pleasurable driving.
Mercedes Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Intr ducti n
This Owner’s Manual contains a great deal of useful
information. We urge ou to read it carefull and famil
iarize ourself with the vehicle before driving.
For our own safet and longer service life of the vehicle,
we urge ou to follow the instructions and warnings.
Ignoring them could result in damage to the vehicle or
personal injur .
Your vehicle ma have some or all of the equipment
described. Therefore, ou ma find explanations of
equipment not installed in our vehicle. If ou have an
questions about the operation of an equipment, our
authorized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad to
demonstrate the proper procedures.
Owner’s Service and Warranty P licy
The Owner’s Service and Warrant Polic Booklet con
tains detailed information about the warranties covering
our MERCEDES-BENZ, including:
• New Car Limited Warrant
• Emission S stem Warrant
• Emission Performance Warrant
• California Emission Control S stem
Warrant (California Onl )
4
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the necessar
maintenance work which should be performed at regular
intervals.
Alwa s have the Maintenance Booklet with ou when ou
take the vehicle to our authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer for service. The service advisor will record each
service in the booklet for ou.
R adside Assistance (in the U.S.A. nly)
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program
provides factor trained technical help in the event of a
breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside Assistance
number:
1-800-222-0100
will be answered b Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Representatives 24 hours a da , 365 da s a
ear.
On-site service calls b a local Mercedes-Benz Roadside
Assistance technician are available weekda s from
5:00 PM till midnight, weekends and legal holida s from
8:00 AM till midnight.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance Program brochure in our glove
box.

Change f Address r Ownership
If ou change our address, be sure to send in the
“Change of Address Notice” found in the Owner’s Service
and Warrant Polic Booklet. It is in our own interest that
we can contact ou should the need arise.
If ou sell our Mercedes, please leave all owner’s
literature with the vehicle to make it available to the next
owner.
If ou bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in the
“Notice of Purchase of Used Car” found in the Owner’s
Service and Warrant Polic Booklet.
Operating Y ur Vehicle Outside the U.S.A. r Canada
If ou plan to operate our vehicle in foreign countries,
please be aware that:
• unleaded fuels for vehicles with catal tic converters
ma not be available; the use of leaded fuels will
damage the catal sts,
• fuel ma have a considerabl lower octane rating, and
improper fuel can cause engine damage,
• service facilities or replacement parts ma not be
readil available.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are available for deliver
in Europe under our European Deliver Program. For
details, consult our authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer or write to:
Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
European Deliver Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645
In Canada write to:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Deliver Department
849 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Ontario M4G 2L5
5

Optional equipment is also described in this manual,
including operating instructions wherever necessary.
Since they are special order items, the descriptions and
illustrations herein may vary slightly from the actual
equipment of your vehicle.
If there are any equipment details that are not shown or
described in this Owner’s Manual, your authorized
MERCEDES BENZ dealer will be glad to Inform you of
correct care and operating procedures.
The Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Booklet are impor
tant documents and should be kept with the vehicle.
6

Instruments and C ntr ls, Starting the Engine
Driving Instructi ns, Service and Maintenance
Operati n
Driving
Practical Hints
Technical Data
Fuels, C lants, Lubricants, etc.
C nsumer Inf rmati n
Index

Check Regularly and
Bef re a L ng Trip
See page 124
The First 1500 km (1000 Miles)
The more cautiousl ou treat our
vehicle during the break-in period, the
more satisfied ou will be with its per
formance later on. Therefore, drive
our vehicle during the first 1500 km
(1000 miles) at moderate vehicle and
engine speeds.
During this period, avoid heav loads
(full throttle driving) and high RPM (no
more than 2/3 of maximum permissible
speed in each gear as indicated on
the speedometer).
Downshift at proper engine speed!
On vehicles with automatic transmis
sion avoid accelerating b kick-down.
It is not recommended to brake the
vehicle b manuall shifting to a lower
gear. We recommend to select posi
tions “3” or “2” onl at moderate
speeds (for hill driving).
After 1500 km (1000 miles) speeds
ma graduall be increased to the
permissible maximum.
8

Instruments and C ntr ls, Starting the Engine
Driving Instructi ns, Service and Maintenance
Instruments and Controls 10
Instrument Cluster 12
Indicator Lamp S mbols 13
Catal tic Converter 14
Starting and Turning Off the
Engine 15
Driving Instructions 16
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance S stem 19
9

Instruments and C ntr ls
For more detailed descriptions see specified pages.
1 Air volume control lever for side air outlets
(page 22)
2 Adjustable side air outlets (page 22)
3 Exterior lamp switch (page 49)
4 Combination switch (page 50)
5 Cruise control (page 63)
6 Rear passenger compartment lamp switch (page 53)
7 Instrument cluster (page 12)
8 Horn, airbag (page 43)
9 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch (page 48)
10 Rear window defroster switch (page 53)
11 Snow chain switch (page 67)
12 Adjustable center air outlets (page 22)
10
13 Air volume control lever for center air outlets
(page 22)
14 Glove box, illuminated (onl with ke in steering
lock positions 1 or 2)
15 Fan speed control lever (page 22)
16 Tempmatic climate control (page 22)
17 Cassette box
18 Radio
19 Ashtra with lighter (pages 54, 99)
20 Power window switch group (page 55)
21 Hazard warning flasher switch
22 Adjusting switch for exterior mirror on front
passenger side (page 51)
23 Loudspeaker front to rear fader control
24 Left front seat heater switch (page 37)
25 Right front seat heater switch (page 37)

P68-0023-B37C
11
Instruments and Controls

P54-0028-B34
Instrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature gauge. See page 70
2 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp ( ellow).
See page 71
3 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 69
4 Turn signal indicator lamp, left (green)
5 Speedometer
6 ASR function indicator lamp ( ellow).
See page 67
ASD function indicator lamp ( ellow).
See page 68
7 Main odometer
8 Trip odometer
9 Knob for instrument lamps and trip odometer
Rotate knob: to var intensit of instrument lamps
Depress knob: to reset trip odometer
10 Outside temperature indicator. See page 71
11 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in and rotate for adjustments)
12 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
13 Tachometer
14 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine speed
15 Electric clock
12

Indicat r Lamp Symb ls
Functi n Indicat r Lamp
High beam
Warning Lamps
(should go out with the engine running unless)
Batter not being charged.
See page 69
Brake pads worn down.
See page 65
Brake fluid low (except Canada).
Parking brake engaged.
See pages 58, 65
Brake fluid low (Canada onl ).
Parking brake engaged.
See pages 58, 65
Engine oil level low.
See page 69
CD
ID
□ Coolant level low
See page 70
ASR malfunction.
See page 67
ASD malfunction.
See page 68
Fluid level for windshield and
headlamp washer s stem low.
See page 71
ABS malfunction.
See page 66
SRS malfunction.
See page 43
CHECK
ENGINE
Engine malfunction.
If the lamp comes on when the engine is
running, it indicates a malfunction of the
0 2-sensor on Federal version vehicles,
and fuel injection s stem or emission
control s stem on the California version
vehicles. In either case, we recommend
that ou have the malfunction checked as
soon as possible.
See page 72 13
Instrument Cluster
Indicator Lamp S mbols

Catalytic C nverter
Your MERCEDES-BENZ is equipped
with monolithic catal tic converters, an
important element in conjunction with
the 0 2-sensor to achieve substantial
control of the pollutants in the exhaust
emissions. Keep our vehicle in proper
operating condition b following our
recommended maintenance instruc
tions as outlined in our maintenance
booklet.
Cauti n!
To prevent damage to the catal tic
converters, use onl premium
unleaded gasoline in this vehicle. An
noticeable irregularities in engine
operation should be repaired promptl .
Otherwise excessive unburned fuel
ma reach the converter causing it to
overheat.
Warning!
As with any vehicle, d n t idle,
park, r perate this vehicle in
areas where c mbustible mate
rials such as grass, hay r leaves
can c me int c ntact with the
h t exhaust system, as these
materials c uld be ignited.
14

Starting and Turning Off the Engine
Bef re Starting
• Engage parking brake.
• Move gearshift lever to neutral
(selector lever position “P” on
automatic transmissions).
• Turn ke in steering lock to
position 2. The charge indicator
lamp should come on.
C ld Engine
Turn ke in steering lock clockwise
to the stop. Do not depress accele
rator. Release ke onl when the
engine is firing regularl .
H t Engine
Turn ke in steering lock clockwise to
the stop. Do not depress accelerator.
If the engine has not fired after
approx. 4 seconds, depress accel
erator and continue cranking until the
engine is firing regularl . Release ke
and back off accelerator.
At ver high coolant temperatures the
engine starting time can be shortened
if the accelerator is depressed slowl
at the beginning of the starting
process.
Turning ff
Turn the ke in the steering lock to
position 0 onl when the vehicle has
stopped moving.
Note:
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
the ke can onl be removed with the
selector lever in position “P”.
If the coolant temperature is ver high
(e.g. after hard driving on mountain
roads), do not shut off the engine
immediatel , but allow it to run for
1 -2 minutes at increased idle speed
with selector lever in neutral or
position “P”.
Imp rtant!
Due to the installed starter non-repeat
feature, the ke must be turned
completel to the left before attempt
ing to start the engine again.
Observe the oil pressure gauge
immediatel after starting the engine.
In a ver cold engine the oil pressure
will rise slowl . Do not speed up the
engine before pressure is registered
on the pressure gauge.
The charge indicator lamp should go
out as soon as the engine has started.
In areas where temperatures fre
quentl drop below -2 5 °C (-13°F),
we recommend that an engine block
heater be installed. Your authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will advise
ou on this subject.
I
15
Catal tic Converter
Startina

Driving Instructi ns
P wer assistance
When the engine is not running, the
brake and steering s stems are with
out power assistance. Under these
circumstances, a much greater effort
is necessar to stop or steer the ve
hicle.
Brakes
Cauti n!
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
b shifting into a lower gear (selector
lever position “3” or “2” in the case of
automatic transmission). This helps
prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear. Do not exceed
engine speed limits (see page 62).
After hard braking it is advisable to
drive on for some time so the air
stream will cool down the brakes
faster.
Warning!
After driving in heavy rain f r
s me time with ut applying the
brakes r thr ugh water deep
en ugh t wet brake c mp nents,
the first braking acti n may be
s mewhat reduced and increased
pedal pressure may be necessary.
Be sure t maintain a safe
distance fr m vehicles in fr nt.
The condition of the parking brake
s stem is checked each time the car is
in the shop for the required mainte
nance.
Between maintenance checks, it is a
good practice to appl the parking
brake once or twice while driving at
approximatel 50 km/h (30 mph) on a
dr straight road. Appl brake lightl
until a slight drag on the wheels is
felt. Keep appl ing brake for about
10 seconds while holding the release
button in before releasing the parking
brake completel . This practice will
keep the parking brake at maximum
efficienc .
Warning!
The st p lamps will n t c me n
when applying the parking brake
nly. Perf rm the pr cedure in the
previ us paragraph nly when the
r ad is clear f ther traffic.
Resting y ur f t n the brake
pedal will cause excessive and
premature wear f the brake pads.
It can als result in the brakes
verheating thereby significantly
reducing their effectiveness. It
may n t be p ssible t st p the
car in sufficient time t av id an
accident.
All checks and maintenance work on
the brake s stem should be carried out
b an authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer.
If the parking brake is released and the
brake warning lamp in the instrument
cluster sta s on, the brake fluid level in
the reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the s stem
ma be the reason for low brake fluid in
the reservoir.
Have the brake s stem inspected
at an authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer immediatel .
Install onl brake pads and brake fluid
recommended b MERCEDES-BENZ.
Warning!
If ther than rec mmended brake
pads are installed, the braking pr 
perties f the vehicle can be affec
ted t an extent that the safety
is substantially impaired.
16

1801
Tires
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are
required b law. These indicators are
located in six places on the tread cir
cumference and become visible at a
depth of approx. 2 mm (1/i6 in), at
which point the tire is considered worn
and should be replaced.
The tread wear indicator appears as a
solid band across the tread.
Warning!
D n t all w y ur tires t wear
d wn t far. With less than 3 mm
(Vs in) f tread, the adhesi n
pr perties n a wet r ad fall ff
sharply.
Depending up n the weather and/
r r ad surface (c nditi ns), the
tracti n varies widely.
Specified tire pressure must be main
tained. This applies particularl if the
tires are subjected to high loads
(e.g. high speeds, heav loads, high
ambient temperatures).
Tire tracti n
The safe speed on a wet, snow cov
ered or ic road is alwa s lower than
on a dr road.
You should pa particular attention to
the condition of the road as soon as
the prevailing temperatures fall close
to the freezing point.
Warning!
D n t drive with a flat tire. A flat
tire affects the ability t steer r
brake the vehicle. Y u may l se
c ntr l f the car. C ntinued
driving with a flat tire r driving at
high speed with a flat tire will
cause excessive heat build-up
and p ssibly a fire, r tire bl w
ut.
Aquaplaning
Depending on the depth of the water
la er on the road, aquaplaning ma
occur, even at low speeds and with
new tires. Avoid track grooves in the
road and appl brakes cautiousl in
the rain.
Warning!
If ice has f rmed n the r ad, tire
tracti n will be substantially
reduced. Under such weather
c nditi ns, drive, steer and brake
with extreme cauti n.
We recommend M + S radial-pl
tires for the winter season for all four
wheels to insure normal balanced
handling characteristics. On packed
snow, the can reduce our stopping
distance as compared with summer
tires. Stopping distance, however, is
still considerabl greater than when
the road is wet or dr .
I
17
Dr v nn In ctr i^+5/m-*.

Parking
Warning!
T reduce the risk f pers nal
injury as a result f vehicle
m vement, bef re turning ff the
engine and leaving the vehicle
always:
1. Keep f t n brake pedal.
2. Pull up parking brake lever.
3. Engage first r reverse gear
(select r lever p siti n “P”
in the case f aut matic
transmissi ns).
4. Sl wly release brake pedal.
5. Turn fr nt wheels t wards the
r ad curb.
6. Turn the key t steering l ck
p siti n 0 and rem ve.
Imp rtant!
It is advisable to set the parking brake
whenever parking or leaving the ve
hicle. In addition, engage first or re
verse gear (selector lever position
“P”). When parking on hills, alwa s
appl the parking brake.
Clutch
Cauti n!
Resting our foot on the clutch pedal
will cause excessive and premature
wear of the clutch disc.
Winter Driving Instructi ns
The most important rule for slipper or
ic roads is to drive sensibl and to
avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and
steering action. Do not use the cruise
control s stem under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of
skidding, declutch, or in case of an au
tomatic transmission move selector
lever to position “N”. Tr to keep the
vehicle under control b corrective
steering action.
Road salts and chemicals can
adversel affect braking efficienc .
Increased pedal force ma become
necessar to produce the normal
brake effect. We therefore recommend
depressing the brake pedal repeatedl
when traveling on saltstrewn roads at
length. This can bring road salt im
paired braking efficienc back to nor
mal. A prerequisite is, however, that
this is possible without endangering
other drivers on the road.
If the vehicle is parked after being
driven on salt treated roads, the
braking efficienc should be tested
as soon as possible after driving is
resumed while observing the safet
rules in the previous paragraph.
Warning!
If the vehicle bec mes stuck in
sn w, make sure that sn w is
kept clear f the exhaust pipe and
fr m ar und the vehicle with en
gine running. Otherwise, deadly
carb n m n xide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interi r resulting in
unc nsci usness and death.
T assure sufficient fresh air ven
tilati n, pen a wind w slightly n
the side f the car that is ut f
the wind.
18