Mercedes-Benz 1989 560 SL User manual

~ MERCEDES-BENZ
Owner's Manual
1989
560 SL

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 aspecial 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 pro-
ducts and therefore cannot be held responsible for them,
even if in individual cases an official approval or authori-
zation 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 modify the technical details of the
vehicle as given in the data and illustrations of this Owner's
Manual (S.8.80.). Reprinting, translation and copying, even of
excerpts, is not permitted without our prior authorization in
writing.
ZKDI7.88.8/Rung

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase
of your new MERCEDES-BENZ.
Your selection of our product is ademonstration of your
trust in
our company name. Further, it exemplifies 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 asmall investment of
your time:
•Please read this manual carefully before putting it
aside.
sPlease consider 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.
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Introduction
This Owner's Manual contains agreat deal of useful
information.
We urge you to read it carefully and
familiarize yourself with the vehicle before driving.
For
your own safety and longer service life of the
vehicle, we urge you to follow the instructions and
warnings. Ignoring them could result
in damage to
the vehicle or personal injury.
Your vehicle may have some or all of the equipment
described. Therefore, you may find explanations of
equipment not installed in your vehicle. If you have
any questions about the operation of any equipment,
your authorized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad
to demonstrate the proper procedures.
Owner's Service and Warranty Policy
The Owner's Service and Warranty Policy Booklet
contains detailed information about the warranties
covering your MERCEDES-BENZ, including:
•New Car Limited Warranty
•Emission System Warranty
•Emission Performance Warranty
•California Emission Control System
Warranty (California Only)
4
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the necessary
maintenance work which should be performed at
regular intervals.
Always have the Maintenance Booklet with you when
you take the vehicle to your authorized MERCEDES-
BENZ dealer for service. The Service Advisor will
record each service.
Roadside Assistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program
provides factory trained technical help
in the event of
abreakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside Assist-
ance number:
1-800-222-0100
will be answered by Mercedes-Benz Customer
Assistance Representatives 24 hours aday, 365 days
ayear.
On-site service calls by alocal Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance technician are available week-
days from 5:00
PM ti11
9midnight, weekends and legal
holidays from 8:00
AM till midnight.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance Program brochure
in your glove
compartment.

Change of Address or Ownership
If you change your address, be sure to send in the
"Change of Address Notice" found
in the Owner's
Service and Warranty Policy Booklet.
It is in your own
interest that we can contact you should the need
arise.
If you sell your Mercedes, please leave all owner's
literature with the vehicle to make it available to the
next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in
the "Notice of Purchase of Used Car" found in the
Owner's Service and Warranty Policy Booklet.
Operating Your Vehicle Outside the U.S.A. or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in foreign coun-
tries, please be aware that:
•unleaded fuels for vehicles with catalytic conver-
ters may not be available; the use of leaded fuels
will damage the catalysts,
•fuel may have aconsiderably lower octane rating,
and improper fuel can cause engine damage,
•service facilities
or replacement parts may not be
readily available.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are available for deliv-
ery
in Europe under our European Delivery Program.
For details, consult your authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer
or write to:
Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale,
NJ 07645
In Canada write to:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery 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 im-
portant documents and should be kept with the vehicle.
6

The First 1500 km (1000 Miles)
Check Regularly and
Before aLong Trip
See page 112
8
The more cautiously you treat
your
vehicle during the break-in period,
the more satisfied you will be with
its performance later on. Therefore,
drive
your vehicle during the first
1500 km (1000 miles) at moderate
vehicle and engine speeds.
During
this period, avoid heavy
loads (full throttle driving) and high
RPMs (no more than
2/3 of maxi-
mum permissible
speed in each
gear).
Avoid accelerating
by kickdown. It
is not recommended to brake the
vehicle by manually shifting to a
lower gear.
We recommend to se-
lect positions "3" or "2" only at
moderate
speeds (for hill driving).
After 1500 km (1000 miles)
speeds
may gradually be increased to the
permissible maximum.

What You Should Know
at the Gas Station
See last page
Drive Sensibly -Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to agreat extent,
depends on driving habits and oper-
ating conditions.
To save fuel you should:
•keep tires at the recommended
inflation pressures
•remove unnecessary 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 per-
formed at regular intervals by
an
authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer.
Fuel consumption is also increased
by driving
in cold weather, in stop-
and-go traffic,
on short trips and in
hilly country.

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What You Should Know at the Gas Station
•Fuel: Use premium unleaded gasoline:
Posted Octane
91 (Average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Fuel tank capacity approx. 85 I(22.5 US gal),
this includes approx.
11.5 I(3.0 US gal) reserve.
Only fill fuel tank until the filler nozzle unit
cuts out -do not overfill.
•Engine Oil: Engine oil level check, see page 74.
Quantity differential between upper and lower
dipstick marking level: 2.0 I
(2.1 US qt).
Year-round multigrade oils 10 W-40, 10 W-50,
15 W-40, 15 W-50.
For further information, refer to page 100.
• Automatic Transmission: MB Automatic transmis-
sion fluid.
For level checks and replenishment, refer to
page
75.
., Coolant: For normal replenishment, use water
(potable water quality).
For further information (e.g. anticorrosion/
antifreeze), refer to page 103.
•Bulbs: High and low beams: Halogen type NO.1
and 2, fog lamps H3, turn signal, parking and
standing lamps, front 21/5
W/32/3 cp, turn signal
lamps, rear 21 W/32 cp, tail and standing lamps,
rear
10 W, stop lamps 21 W/32 cp, license plate
lamps 5
W.
• Spark Plugs: Bosch W 9 DC, W 9 DCO, W 9 DP,
Beru 14-9 DU, 14-9 DPU,
Champion N 12 YC, N 12 YCC.
Electrode gap: 0.8 mm (0.032 in).
• Tire Pressure: Cold tires:
For driving up to
180 km/h
(110 mph).
[s~mmer ti~S~ ~
l \VInt~rtires:
Warm tires:
Pressure may rise by up to
+0.5 bar (+ 7psi).
Never release any air from awarm tire
to offset pressure increase!
1For driving above 180 km/h (110 mph)
where permitted, add 0.4 bar (6 psi).