Mercedes-Benz 1985 380SE User manual

Owner's Manual
380 SE
500SEL
500 SEC
Mercedes-Benz
II I I III III) | | | |(l

Drive Sensibly — Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent on driving habits and operating
conditions
In order to save fuel you should:
• ensure that tire pressures are
correct
• not carry unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roof-mounted
luggage racks when not in use
• not warm up your engine at idle
and with the vehicle at standstill
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration
• have all the maintenance jobs
specified by us carried out at
regular intervals by an authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer
Driving in low temperature weather, in
stop-and-go city traffic and on short
hops, and in hilly country also
increases fuel consumption

Owner’s Manual
380 SE
500 SEL
500 SEC
Chassis 126
1985
Mercedes-Benz
®

O u r company and staff wish you many hours
of enjoyment with your new vehicle
You have placed a lot of trust in our company name
by purchasing a MERCEDES, from which you may expect
that it will give you long service with a minimum of trouble,
and is easy to operate
We have just one request to make, hoping that it will benefit
you as well:
Please do not put this manual aside without first carefully
reading it
You may notice that it contains many important
recommendations that should make the operation
of your MERCEDES easier and even increase your
pleasure driving it
We wish you many miles of motoring pleasure
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
Special equipment is also described
in this manual, including operating
instructions wherever necessary.
Since there 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 Owners Manual, your
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad
to inform you of correct care and
operating procedures.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls 10
Instrument Cluster 12
Keys, Doors 14
Master Key and
Supplementary K ey 14
Flat Key 14
Obtaining Replacement
K eys 14
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of D oors 15
Central Locking System 16
Anti-Theft Alarm System 17
Seats 18
Adjusting Power Seats, Front 18
Safety Head Restraints, Rear 19
Rear Seat Adjustment
500 SEL 20
Electrical Adjustment of the
Individual Rear Seats
500 SEL 20
Orthopedic Seat Backrest 21
Arm Rest (Front Seats) 21
Arm Rest (Rear Seat) 22
Seat Heater 22
Supplemental Restraint
System 23
Seat Belts and Emergency
Tensioning Retractor 23
Driver A irbag 26
Controls 28
Steering L o ck 28
Lighting S w itch 29
Combination S witch 30
Cruise Control 31
Automatic Climate Control 32
Various Equipment 37
Exterior M irrors 37
Inside Rear View Mirror 37
Sun Visors 38
Sliding Roof 38
Interior Lamps 39
Heated Rear Window 39
Lighter 40
Shelf below Rear Window 40
Power Windows 40
R ad io 41
5

Contents
Driving
Hood 48
Parking Brake 48
Regular Inspections 49
Catalytic Converter Cautions 50
Starting and Turning
off the Engine 51
Starting and Shifting Gears 52
Safe Driving 54
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lamp 55
Brake Fluid 55
ABS-Brake System
(Anti-Lock Brake System) 56
Charge Indicator Lamp 57
Fuel Reserve Warning Lamp 57
Outside Temperature
Indicator 57
Oil Pressure Gauge 57
Coolant Temperature Gauge 57
Engine Oil Consumption 57
Emission Control 58
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles 58
Driving Economically 58
Economical Driving
Indicator (ECONOMY) 58
Special Operating Conditions 59
Winter Driving 59
Hints for Driving 59
Tire Chains 60
Traveling Abroad 60
6
Vehicle Care Practical Hints
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System
62
Spare Parts Service
63
Cleaning and Care
of the Vehicle
63
Jobs related to Care 64
Safety Head Restraints 68
Rear Seat Cushion 69
Ash trays 69
First Aid Kit 70
Luggage or Ski R acks 70
Spare Wheel, Jack,
Vehicle Tool Kit 71
Wheels, Tires, Changing Wheels 72
Wheels, Tires 72
Changing W heels 73
Tire Inflation Pressure 74
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc 75
Engine Oil Level Check 75
Checking Coolant Level 76
Adding C oolant 76
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level 77

Contents
Electrical System 78
Headlamp Adjustment 78
Replacing B ulbs 78
Fuses 82
Spark P lu gs 82
Battery 83
Windshield W ipers 84
Emergency Operation of
Sliding Roof 84
Unlocking the Fuel Filler Flap 84
Jump Starting 85
Tow-starting and Towing
the Vehicle
85
Technical Data, Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc
Identification Plates 88
Vehicle Data C a rd s 89
Warranty Coverage 89
Technical Data 90
380 S E 90
500 SEL, 500 SEC 92
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc 94
Capacities 94
Engine O ils 96
Fuel Requirements 96
Brake Fluid 96
Coolants 97
Service Literature 98
Consumer Information 99
Vehicle Operation ^
Driving ^
Vehicle Care ^
Practical Hints ^
Technical Data, Fuels, ^
Coolants, Lubricants, etc r
7

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Speaker grilles
2 Side ventilation outlets (page 32)
3 Swivelling outlets for nonheated fresh air
(page 32)
4 Parking brake release handle (page 48)
5 Handle to disengage hood lock (page 48)
6 Parking brake pedal (page 48)
7 Combination switch (page 30)
8 Lighting switch (page 29)
9 Cruise control (page 31)
10 Instrument cluster (page 12)
11 Horn control
12 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch
(page 28)
13 Lever for nonheated fresh air (page 32)
14 Switch for heated rear window (page 39)
15 Switch for electric sliding roof (page 38)
16 Switch for hazard warning flasher system
17 Switch for automatic antenna (page 46)
18 Switch for rear passenger compartment
lamp (page 39)
19 Automatic climate control (page 32)
20 Radio (page 41)
21 Ash tray with lighter (page 40, 69)
22 Switch for left front seat heater (page 22)
23 Switch for right front seat heater (page 22)
24 Switch group for power windows (page 40)
25 Adjusting lever for exterior mirror on front
passenger side (page 37)
26 Loudspeaker — fader control
27 Glove compartment, illuminated (only in steering
lock positions “1” or “2”)

Instruments and Controls
11

instrument Cluster
1 Economical driving indicator (ECONOMY)
■ I See page 58
V 2 Coolant temperature gauge
||P Up to red marking: Maximum permissible tempe-
^ rature for an anticorrosion/antifreeze-blended fill
protecting down to -30° C/-22° F See page 57
3 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow):
Comes on when the steering lock key is moved to
driving position “2” and must go out when the
engine is idling See page 57
Fuel reserve and capacity, refer to page 95 and
last page
4 Oil pressure gauge (bar) See page 57
5 Turn signal indicator lamp, left (green)
6 Main odometer
7 Trip odometer
8 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
9 Tachometer
10 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine speed
11 Electric clock
12 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
12
13 0 2-Sensor replacement indicator lamp (red):
When the indicator lamp comes on, the
0 2-Sensor must be replaced
14 Supplemental restraint system indicator lamp
(red) See page 26
15 Seat belt warning lamp (red)
16 ABS indicator lamp (yellow) See page 56
17 Outside temperature indicator See page 57
18 Brake warning lamp (red) comes on if
• the parking brake is engaged
• not enough brake fluid is in the reservoir
19 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow):
Lights up during braking if the front wheel brake
pads are worn down See page 55
20 Charge indicator lamp (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is moved to
driving position “2” and must go out when the
engine is idling See page 57
21 High beam indicator lamp (blue)
22 Knob for instrument lamps and trip odometer
Rotate knob: instrument lamps intensity are infini
tely variable
Depress knob: trip odometer is reset

Instrument Cluster
13

Master Key - square head with a
red dot - fits all locks on the car
Arms/disarms the anti-theft alarm
system
Supplementary Key - rounded
head - fits only the door locks and
the steering lock This key is
intended to be used whenever the
car is left with an attendant Be sure
to lock glove compartment and
trunk with the master key The
supplementary key cannot be used
to de-activate the anti-theft alarm
after the car was locked with the
master key
Flat Key
TThe flat key with a red dot
fits all vehicle locks
Arms/disarms the anti
theft alarm system We
recommend that you carry
the flat key with you and
keep it in a safe place so
that it is always handy, if
needed (eg in your
wallet) Never leave the
flat key in the vehicle
Obtaining Replacement Keys
You are given 4 keys with your
vehicle Replacement keys
can be obtained only via an autho
rized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer
For security reasons, obtaining
replacement keys requires consi
derable time
14

Keys Doors
When the rear door buttons are
pushed down, the rear doors cannot
be opened from the outside or the
inside They can only be opened
after pulling buttons up
The driver’s door can be locked only
if it is closed and the door lock has
properly engaged
i
Opening the Doors
From outside: pull handle
outwards (1)
From inside: pull handle in door
trim panel (4)
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key
From the inside: actuate button
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
15

Keys Doors
Central Locking System
The entire vehicle may be locked or
unlocked with the central locking
system:
• Using the master key, supple
mentary key, or by pushing down
or pulling up the interior door
lock buttons at the front doors
• From the trunk using the master
key only
The central locking system allows
you to lock or unlock all doors, trunk
lid and fuel filler flap simultaneously
Doors
When you lock the car, all door lock
buttons should move down If any
one stays up, the respective door
was not properly closed You should
then unlock the car, open and re
close this door, and lock the car
again
Note:
The central locking system can be
engaged from the driver-side door
lock button, provided the door is
completely closed It can also be
engaged from the passenger-side if
the ignition key is removed, or
engaged in the lock without being
turned (key in position “0”)
If the car has been locked from the
outside with the master key, the
anti-theft alarm will come on if a
door is opened from the inside
Trunk
To unlock the trunk with the central
locking system, turn the master key
in the trunk lock completely to the
left and let it return to the normal
position Push in trunk lock button
and open the trunk To lock the
trunk, turn the master key comple
tely to the right and let it return to
the normal position
The trunk can remain locked while
the central locking system is
unlocked (eg while driving or when
leaving the car in a situation where it
must be driven using the supple
mentary key but you wish the trunk
to remain locked at parking lots,
workshops, etc ) Turn the master
key completely to the right and pull
it out in that position Now the trunk
can only be unlocked with the
master key by turning it back to the
left
Important!
Contrary to prior model year
vehicles, if the trunk is unlocked
with the central locking system
engaged, the doors and fuel filler
flap will also be unlocked After clos
ing the trunk, the central locking
system must again be engaged
using the key!
Note:
If the fuel filler flap cannot be
opened, refer to “Unlocking the Fuel
Filler Flap” (page 84)

Keys Doors
Anti-Theft Alarm System
The anti-theft alarm can be armed or
disarmed with the master key (iden
tified by red dot) by locking or
unlocking either front door or the
trunk
Operation
Once the alarm system has been
armed, the vehicle lamps will flash
and the horn will sound intermit
tently when an unauthorized person
tries to:
• open a door
• open the trunk
•remove the radio
• switch on or bridge the steering
lock
• step on the brake pedal
•raise the vehicle, i e towing
away
The alarm will last approximately
150 seconds in the form of blinking
exterior lamps At the same time an
additional horn will sound intermit
tently for 60 seconds, and repeat for
another 60 seconds after a
30 second pause
The alarm will stay on even if the
arming element (a door, for
example) is immediately closed
To avoid setting off the alarm unin
tentionally, do not arm the alarm
system in the following situations;
e g : Auto ferry, auto train, when
hitching/unhitching a trailer, or
heavy loading/unloading For this
purpose use the supplementary key
and not the master key for locking
the vehicle
Special Function
To activate the anti-theft alarm from
the trunk, turn the master key in the
trunk lock completely to the right
and pull it out in this position
If you want the alarm system to be
armed at the trunk only, turn the
master key in the trunk lock comple
tely to the right and pull it out in that
position Then disarm the rest of the
vehicle by unlocking either front
door with the master key You can
now lock or unlock the doors and
filler flap, as well as start the engine,
in the usual manner using the
supplementary key
Do not give the master key to an
unauthorized person We recom
mend that you carry the flat key
safely with you (eg in your wallet)
so that it is always handy, if needed
This key has the same function as
the master key

Seats
Adjusting Power Seats, Front
The switches are located in each
front door
Turn key to steering lock position
“2” (with the driver’s door opened,
the power seats can also be oper
ated with the key removed or in
steering lock position “1" or “0”)
18
Seat and Head Restraint
Adjustment:
A Seat cushion adjustment
B Seatback adjustment
C Head restraint adjustment
Adjust head restraint to support
the back of the head approxima
tely at ear level The head
restraint can also be turned
forward by hand
Note:
The head restraint should not be
pulled up past the detent when
making adjustments
Warning!
Do not make adjustments with
vehicle in motion
Storing seat and safety head
restraint positions in memory:
D Memory button
E Position buttons “1” and “2”
Two sets of seat/head restraint posi
tions may be programmed in
memory After the seat and head
restraints are positioned, push
memory button D, and within
3 seconds push position button “1”
The second set of positions for the
seat and head restraint can be
stored by pushing position buttons
D and “2”
Recalling seat and head restraint
positions stored in memory:
To recall a seat/head restraint posi
tion, push position button “1” or “2”
until seat/head restraint movement
has stopped For safety reasons, the
seat/head restraint movement stops
after releasing the position button
Warning!
Do not make adjustment with
vehicle in motion
To remove head restraint refer to
“Practical Hints”