Mercedes-Benz 260 E 124 1988 User manual

What You Should Know
at the Gas Station
See last page
Drive Sensibly - Save Fuel
Fuel consumption to a great extent
depends on driving habits and operat
ing 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
performed 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.

Ownert Manual
260 E
300 E
300 CE
Model 124
1988

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.e.e.o.). eprinting, translation
and copying, even of excerpts, is not permitted without our prior authorization in
writing.
Z K D /12.87.10/K

O u r 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 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 a small investment of your
time:
• Please read this manual carefully before putting it aside.
• Please consider the recommendations contained in this
manual. They are designed to acquaint you with the oper
ation of your MERCEDES-BENZ.
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe pleas
urable driving.
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Introduction
This Owner’s Manual contains a great deal of useful infor
mation. 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 cover
ing 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.
oadside Assistance
Although your Mercedes-Benz is built to be as trouble-
free as possible a Roadside Assistance Program is avail
able to provide emergency roadside service after normal
dealer hours and on weekends and holidays in the conti
guous United States.
Roadside Assistance is available Monday through Friday
from 5:00 PM to 12:00 Midnight and on Saturday Sunday
and legal holidays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight. In the
event of a breakdown during these hours telephone this
toll-free number: 1-800-222-0100.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance Program Booklet in your glove com
partment.

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 litera
ture 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 countries
please be aware that:
• unleaded fuels for vehicles with catalytic converters
may not be available; the use of leaded fuels will
damage the catalysts
• fuel may have a considerably 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 delivery
in Europe under our European Delivery Program. For de
tails 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 Owners Manual, your authorized
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad to inform you of
correct care and operating procedures.
The Owners Manual and Maintenance Booklet are
important documents and should be kept with the vehicle.
6

Instruments and Controls, Starting the Engine
Driving Instructions, Service and Maintenance
Operation
Driving
Practical Hints
Technical Data
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Consumer Information
Index

Check egularly and
Before a Long Trip
See page 116
The First 1500 km (1000 Miles)
The more cautiously you treat your
vehicle during the break-in period the
more satisfied you will be with its per
formance 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 RPM
(no more than 2/3 of maximum permis
sible speed in each gear).
Downshift at proper engine speed!
On vehicles with automatic transmis
sion avoid accelerating by kick-down.
It is not recommended to brake the
vehicle by manually shifting to a lower
gear. We recommend to select posi
tions “3” or “2” only at moderate
speeds (for hill driving).
After 1500 km (1000 miles) speeds
may gradually be increased to the
permissible maximum.
8