Mercedes-Benz 280 E 1981 User manual

Owner’s 280 E

Drive Sensibly—Save Fuel
Fuel consumption depends to a
reat extent on drivin habits and
operatin conditions.
In order to save fuel you should:
• ensure that tire pressures are
correct
• not carry unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roof-
mounted lu a e racks when
not in use
• not warm up your en ine at idle
and with the vehicle at standstill
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration
• avoid frequent brakin
• avoid unnecessarily hi h speeds
• have all the maintenance jobs
specified by us carried out at
re ular intervals by a
MERCEDES-BENZ service
station
Drivin in low temperature weather,
in stop-and- o city traffic and on
short hops, and in hilly country also
increases fuel consumption.

280 E
280 CE
Type 123
1981

You have chosen to drive a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and production we have taken reat pains because we
believe that quality is not a matter of chance.
Perhaps you have already had experience with a MERCEDES, maybe
this is your first car from the DAIMLER-BENZ company. In both
cases-for your own benefit - please read this owner’s manual
before puttin it away. Even thou h you have been drivin a car for
years, some thin s in this car may be new to you, and this manual
certainly contains a few hints which will help you to make the most of
your new car.
We wish you safe and pleasant motorin .
DAIMLER-BENZ Aktien esellschaft
3

Contents
This Owner’s Manual also
describes optional extras as far as
an introduction on their handling
is required. /4s these extras need
to be ordered separately, the
equipment of your ehicle may
de iate from the descriptions and
illustrations to some extent.
The last pa e
What you should know at the
as station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and C ontrols 8
Instrument Cluster ......................... 10
Keys, Doors ..................................... 12
Master and Supplementary
Key .............................................. 12
Openin , Lockin and
Unlockin of D oors .................. 12
Master Lock System ................ 13
Seats ................................................ 14
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat
and Front Passen er Seat .... 14
Seat Heater ................................. 15
Safety Headrests ....................... 15
Arm Rest (Rear Seat) ................ 16
Safety Belts ............................... 16
Controls .......................................... 18
Steerin L ock ............................. 18
Li htin Switch .......................... 19
Combination Switch ................. 20
Cruise Control ............................ 21
Various Equipm ent ........................ 22
Interior Lam ps ............................ 22
Outside Rear View Mirror .... 22
Inside Rear View M irror 22
Sun Visor .................................... 23
Heated Rear W indow ................. 23
Shelf below Rear Window .... 23
Electric Li hter .......................... 24
Slidin R oo f ................................ 24
Electric Window Lifters 25
Automatic Climate C ontrol 26
Radio ............................................... 28
Driving
H ood ................................................. 32
Re ular Inspections ..................... 33
Parkin Brake ................................ 34
Catalytic Converter Cautions ... 35
Startin and Turnin off the
En ine .......................................... 36
Startin and Shiftin Gears .... 37
Safe Drivin .................................. 39
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lamp .......................................... 41
Brake F luid ................................ 41
Char e Indicator Lam p 41
Oil Pressure Gau e ................... 41
Coolant Temperature Gau e . 41
Emission C ontrol ........................ 42
En ine Oil Consumption 42
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles ... 42
Special Operatin Conditions .. 43
Winter Drivin ......................... 43
Hints for D rivin .......................... 43
Tire Chains .................................. 44
Travelin Abroad ....................... 44
4

Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System ..........................................
Severe Operatin Conditions .
En ine Oil Chan e and Filter
Chan e ......................................
Automatic T ransmission -
Fluid and Filter Chan e ...........
Spare Parts Service .....................
Cleanin and Care of the Vehicle
Jobs related to Care .................
Practical Hints
Ash trays ......................................
Rear Seat Cushion .....................
First Aid K it ..................................
Lu a e or Ski Racks ...............
Spare Wheel, Jack, Vehicle
Tool K it ........................................
Wheels, Tires, Chan in Wheels
Wheels, T ire s .........................
Chan in Wheels .................
Tire Pressure .........................
Checkin Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc .............................
En ine Oil Level C heck ........
Replenishin C oolant ...........
Fluid Level-Automatic
Transmission .........................
Electrical System ...............
Replacin Bulbs ...........
Fuses ..............................
Battery ............................
SparkPlu s ...................
Emer ency Operatin of
Slidin R oof .......................
Unlockin of the Fuel Tank
Filler F lap ...........................
Emer ency-startin and
Towin the Vehicle ...........
Jump Startin ...................
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates .............
Vehicle Data Cards .............
Technical D ata .....................
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants,
Capacities .......................
En ine O ils .......................
Brake Fluid .......................
Coolants ...........................
Service-Literature ...............
46
46
46
46
47
48
49
52
52
53
53
53
54
54
55
56
57
57
58
59
Contents
60
60
64
64 Vehicle Operation
64
65
65
66
67
Drivin
Vehicle Care
. . . 70
. . . 71
. . . 72
tc. 74
. . . 74
. . . 76
. . . 76
. . . 77
. . . 78
Practical Hints
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Speaker rilles
2 Swivellin side ventilation outlets (pa e 26)
3 Parkin brake release knob (pa e 34)
4 Hood lock release handle (pa e 32)
5 Parkin brake pedal (pa e 34)
6 Combination switch (pa e 20)
7 Li htin switch (pa e 19)
8 Cruise control (pa e 21)
9 Instrument cluster (pa e 10)
10 Horn control
11 Steerin lock with i nition/starter switch
(pa e 18)
12 Swivellin outlets for cooled air (pa e 26)
13 Switch for rear courtesy lamp
14 Switch for automatic antenna (pa e 29)
15 Switch for electric slidin roof (pa e 24)
16 Switch for heated rear window (pa e 23)
17 Automatic climate control (pa e 26)
18 Radio (pa e 28)
19 Ash tray with electric li hter (pa e 24,52)
20 Switch for left front seat heater (pa e 15)
21 Switch for ri ht front seat heater (pa e 15)
22 Speaker-fader control (pa e 29)
23 Switch roup for window lifters (pa e 25)
24 Hazard warnin flasher switch
Push switch = hazard warnin flasher system
switched on
Push switch once more = hazard warnin
flasher system switched off
25 Glove compartment, illuminated (only if steerin
lock is in position “ 1” or “ 2” )
To open, move handle sideways

Instruments and Controls
9

Instrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature au e (°C)
Up to red markin : Maximum permissible
temperature for an antifreeze-blended fill
protectin down to -30°C /-22°F. See pa e 41
2 Fuel au e with reserve warnin lamp (yellow)
Fuel reserve for approx. 40 km/25 miles
For capacity, refer to pa e 75 and last pa e
3 Oil pressure au e (bar). See pa e 41
4 Turn si nal indicator lamp, left ( reen)
5 Main odometer
6 Trip odometer
7 Turn si nal indicator lamp, ri ht ( reen)
8 Electric clock
9 0 2-Sensor replacement indicator lamp (red):
When the indicator lamp comes on, the
0 2-Sensor must be replaced
10 Seat belt warnin lamp (red)
11 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
12 Knob for instrument lamps and trip odometer
Rotate knob: instrument lamps are infinitely
variable
Depress knob: trip odometer is turned back
13 Brake warnin lamp (red) comes on if
• the parkin brake is en a ed
• too little brake fluid is in the reservoir
14 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow):
Lamp comes on while brakin and drivin
if the front wheel brake pads are worn down.
Refer to pa e 41
15 Char e indicator lamp (red):
Comes on when the steerin lock key is
moved to drivin position “2” and must o
out when the en ine is idlin . See pa e 41
16 Hi h beam indicator lamp (blue)
Note
A stop is provided on the speedometer at the
138 km/h/85 mph readin . Speeds in excess of
138 km/h/85 mph will no lon er be recorded.

i
Instrument Cluste r
11

Keys Doors
>
Master Key-square head-fits all
locks on the car.
upplementary Key - rounded head
- fits only the door locks and the
steerin lock. This key is intended
to be used whenever the car is left
with an attendant. Be sure to lock
love compartment and trunk with
the master key.
Opening the Doors
From outside: pull handle
outwards (1).
From the inside: pull handle in door
trim panel.
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key.
From the inside: actuate safety
plun er (sedan) or safety lever
(coupe).
2 Unlockin
3 Lockin
When the rear door plun er’s are
pushed down the rear doors cannot
be opened from the outside or the
inside. They can be opened after
pullin plun ers up.
One cannot lock:
• the driver’s door if it is open.
• any door if the door lock has not
en a ed fully. In this case open
the door and close it a ain.
8878
12

Keys Doors
Master Lock ystem
The master lock system simultane
ously locks or unlocks to ether with
the driver’s door all other doors, fuel
tank filler flap and trunk lid. As the
driver’s door plun er is moved, the
plun ers of all other doors must
move at the same time. If this is not
the case, the lock of the correspond
in door has not en a ed fully.
Open the door once more and close
it correctly.
When the master lock system has
been applied, the lock plun ers of
the front passen er door and the
rear doors can also be operated
manually from inside. In addition to
this, the front passen er door can be
locked or unlocked by means of the
key.
The master lock system can only be
applied by depressin the plun er
on the driver’s door. Lock plun ers
of the other doors cannot be de
pressed individually.
The trunk lid can also be unlocked
separately by turnin master key
counterclockwise to the stop. Push
the trunk lock button in with it and
lift the lid. Return the key to its initial
position and withdraw it. To lock the
lid, close it firmly. It will then be
locked a ain by the master lock
system.
A provision has been made to
facilitate permanent lockin of the
trunk lid for positive prevention of
access to trunk by unauthorized
persons.
Before leavin vehicle with an
attendant, lock trunk with master
key (square head) by turnin key
clockwise to stop (tumbler slot
vertical), then provide attendant with
round-headed supplementary key.
Thus, the trunk lock has been ex
cluded from the operation of the
master lock system and cannot be
opened except with the square
headed master key.
To reverse this, turn trunk lock
counterclockwise back to horizontal
position of the tumbler slot with
master key. Lock will then be reen
a ed in master lock system; that is,
it will automatically be locked or un
locked dependin on whether the
driver’s door is locked or unlocked.
The master lock system operates
on vacuum enerated by the en ine.
A reservoir allows the master lock
system to be actuated about five
times after the en ine is turned off.
If the system can then no lon er be
en a ed, idle en ine for a short
period.
If no vacuum is available, the locks
can be actuated individually in the
normal manner. The fuel tank filler
flap, however, remains unlocked.
Note:
If the filler flap cannot be opened
when the master lock system is un
locked, refer to “ Unlockin of the
Fuel Tank Filler Flap” (pa e 65).

Seats
Adjustment of Driver’s eat and
Front Passenger eat
Forward and backward adjustment:
lift handle (1); slide seat to desired
position and allow handle to re
en a e.
Hei ht of seat: raise lever (2);
to raise seat, move seat forward;
to lower seat, move seat backward;
allow leverto reen a e.
Seat back position: turn handwheel
(3) forward or backward.
For full reclinin of backrest, seat
should be moved to one of the
forwardmost positions and headrest
removed. For drivin , return back
rest to upri ht position and push
seat back. Replace headrest.
Note:
Prior to operatin the vehicle, the
driver should adjust the seat hei ht
for proper vision as well as fore-aft
placement and seat back an le to
insure adequate control, reach,
operation, and comfort. The head
rest should also be adjusted for
proper hei ht so that when the
cushion is tipped completely for
ward, it should form a cradle behind
the seat occupant’s head. Both the
inside and outside rearview mirrors
should then be adjusted for ade
quate rearward vision. Fasten seat
belts. Children under the a e of six
or underthe wei ht of 23 k /50 lb
should be seated in the back seat
with an approved restraint system
properly secured.
All seat, headrest, and rearview
mirror adjustments as well as
fastenin of seat belts should be
accomplished before the vehicle is
put into motion.
Coupe: When the doors are closed
the backrests are locked by means
of vacuum. The locks can be re
leased by pushin button (4). When
the doors are opened the backrests
can be folded forward readily.
14

Seats
:: 9348
eat Heater
The seat heater can be switched on
with the steerin lock in positions
“ 1” or “2” .
Pushbutton center position
= seat heater switched off
Pushbutton position 1
= continuous operation
Pushbutton position 2
= quick heatin
An indicator lamp in the switch
comes on when the seat heater is
switched on.
To save the battery, position 2
should not be switched on any
lon erthan absolutely necessary if
the en ine is switched off.
afety Headrests
Adjust headrest to support the back
of the head approximately at ear
level.
Safety headrests, front
Hei ht adjustment:
Press headrest sli htly forward (1)
and reset upward or downward as
required.
Detachin headrests:
Pull headrest out to the stop. Re
lease arrester by depressin release
knob to be felt under the coverin
material in rear of back rest and pull
headrest upward quickly, holdin it
by the LH headrest post (viewed in
drivin direction). Finally, pull out
head rest completely with both
hands.
The headrest release knob is located
below the LH headrest post (2).
i
Safety headrests, rear
Hei ht adjustment:
Press headrest sli htly forward and
reset upward or downward as
required.
Detachin headrests:
Pull up headrest until resistance can
be felt. Then pull it out quickly usin
both hands.
15

Seats
Arm Rest (Rear Seat)
A center arm rest is provided in the
rear seat which can be pulled out
with a loop. When replacin , lift at
the rear. For the removal of the rear
seat cushion see “ Practical Hints” .
afety Belts
Warnin system:
The indicator is illuminated for 4 -8
seconds after turnin the steerin
lock key to position “ 2” . If the safety
belt of the driver’s seat is not
fastened a warnin buzzer sounds
simultaneously.
Fastenin :
• Pull belt with latch plate (1)
across shoulder and lap. The belt
must not be twisted and must be
ti ht.
• Press latch plate (1) into buckle
(2) and allow to en a e audibly.
Unfastenin :
• Depress red button (3) in
buckle (2).
• Return latch plate (1) to initial
position.
16

eats
Operation:
The safety belt inertia reel stops
the belt from unwindin further in
case of vehicle deceleration in any
direction or if the belt is pulled out
quickly.
Functional test:
The lockin function of the inertia
reel can be tested by brakin , driv
in around a bend or by pullin the
belt out quickly.
Lap Belt in the Rear:
To fasten the lap belt, pull belt end
across your lap and insert the latch
plate in the buckle. The belt must
not be twisted and must be ti ht.
To shorten the belt, pull the loose
belt end. To len then the belt, turn
latch plate so that it is at ri ht an les
to the belt webbin and pull the belt.
Note:
No safety belt can be used for more
than one person. Belts are not in
tended for children.
After an accident, inspect the safety
belts and replace them, if required.
The belt anchors in the vehicle
should also be checked.
Belt webbin must not be routed via
sharp ed es.
No modifications which may affect
the efficiency of the belts must be
made.
For cleanin and care of belt web
bin , refer to pa e 49.
17

Controls
teering Lock
0 Steerin is locked when the key
is withdrawn and the steerin
lock is en a ed. The key can be
withdrawn only in zero position.
Note:
Do not remove key from steerin
lock while the vehicle is in mo
tion as this will cause the en
a ement of the steerin lock
thus renderin the vehicle in
operable.
1 Steerin is unlocked. (If neces
sary, move steerin wheel sli ht
ly to turn the key clockwise to
position “ 1".)
2 Drivin .
Startin position:
Continue turnin key clockwise
to the stop. The starter is en
a ed when the key is pressed
a ainst the stop. The starter non
repeat unit requires the key to be
returned to position “0” prior to
a new startin attempt.
For startin and turnin off the
en ine, refer to pa e 36.
Notes:
The followin items can be operated
with the key in steerin lock posi
tion "1” :
Wipers, windshield washer, head
lamp flasher, electric li hter, love
compartment lamp, radio, electric
seat heater.
The power supply to the standin
lamps is disrupted if the key in the
steerin lock is in position "2” .
A warnin buzzer sounds when the
key has been left in steerin lock
positions “ 1 ” or “ 0” and the driver’s
door is opened.
18