Mercedes-Benz 280 SE User manual

WhatYouShould Knowat the GasStation
• Fuel:
Usepremium unleaded gasoline:Posted Octane
Index 91 (Average of 96RON/86 MON).
Fuel tank capacity approx.26.4USgal (l.00 り．
This includes approx. 3.3USgal (12.5りreserve.
Only fill fuel tank until the filler nozzle unit cuts out
‑donot overfill.
Warning!
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisenous.
It burnsviolently andcan cause serious
inju町.Wheneveryouare around gasoline,
avoid inhaling fumesand skin contact, extin‑
guish all smoking materials. Neverallow
sparks, flame orsmoking materials near
gasoline!
• Engine Oil:
Engine oil level check, see Index.
Fill quantity between upper and lower dipstick
marking level: 2.1USqt (2 .0り．
Recommendedengine oils,see Index.
• Coolant:
For normal replenishing,use water (potable water
quality).
For further information (e.g.anticorrosion/
antifreeze),refer to Index.
• SparkPlugs:
Approved spark plugs,refer to Technical Data"
• Bulbs:
High beam:H1 (55 W),
low beam:Xenon,
fog lamps:H1 (55 W),
turn signal,standing,side marker and parking
lamps, front: 2357 NA (28.5/8.3 W/30/2.2 c
同，
turn signal lamps, rear:21 W/24cp,
tail ,parking and standing lamps,rear: 5W/4cp,
rear fog lamp: 21/4 W/35/1.2 cp,
stop and side marker lamps,rear:
21/4 W/35/1.2cp,
license plate lamps:5W.
・Tire Pressure:
For tire pressure, refer to tire pressure label inside
the fuel filler flap.
• Air Conditioner:
R‑134a refrigerant and special lubricant,
refer to Technical Data"(also see Index).

Owner’s
Manual 280 SE
450 SEl
Type 116
Mercedes-Benz

You have chosen to drive a M E CEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and productio n we have taken great pains because
we believe that q uality is not a m atter of chance.
Perhaps you have already had experience w ith a ME CEDES, maybe
th is is your first car from the D AIM LE -BEN Z com pany. In both
cases — for your own benefit — please read this ow ne r’s manual
before putting it away. Even though you have been driving
a car fo r years, som e things in this car may be new to you, and this
m anual certainly contains a few hints which w ill help you to
make the m ost of your new car.
We wish you safe and pleasant m otoring.
DAIM LE -BEN Z Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
This O wner's M anual also describes
optional extras as far as this is
required for their operation.
>As the scope of delivery is deter
m ined by the order the equipm ent
of your vehicle may deviate from
the descriptions and illustratio ns to
som e extent.
The last page
What you should know at the gaso
line station.
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls .... 8
Instrument C lu s te r .......................... 10
Keys, D o o rs ....................................... 12
Master Key and
Supplementary K e y ................... 12
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of D oors ...................... 12
Master Lock System ................... 13
S e a ts .................................................... 14
Front Seat Adjustment .... 14
Safety H e a d re st .......................... 14
Arm est ( ear S e a t) 14
Safety Belts ................................ 15
C o n tro ls ............................................. 17
Steering Lock ............................. 17
Light S w itch ................................... 17
Combination S w itc h ................... 18
Cruise C o n tro l ............................. 19
Automatic Climate Control . . . 20
Various E quipm ent .......................... 24
Interior L ig hts ................................ 24
ear View M irro rs ...................... 24
Sun V is o r ....................................... 24
Electric Window Lifters .... 25
L ig h te r ............................................. 26
Heated ear W in d o w 26
Sliding o o f ................................ 26
a d io .................................................... 27
Driving
H o o d .................................................... 32
Parking Bra ke ................................... 32
egular In sp ectio n s ...................... 33
Catalytic Converter Cautions . . 34
Starting and Turning
off the E ng in e ................................... 35
Starting and Shifting Gears . . . 36
Safe D rivin g ...................................... 38
Brake Pad Wear Indicator . . 40
Charge Indicator Light .... 40
Oil Pressure G a ug e ................... 40
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 40
Fuel C on su m ption ...................... 40
Engine Oil Consumption . . . 40
Emission C on trol ......................... 41
The First 1,000 Miles (1,500 km) . 41
Special Operating Conditions . . 41
Winter Driving ............................. 41
High Altitude Correction
D e v ic e ............................................. 42
Traveling Abroad ...................... 42
4

Contents
Vehicle Care
ME CEDES-BENZ Maintenance
S ystem ................................................ 44
Severe Operating Conditions . 44
Engine Oil Change and Filter
C h a n ge .......................................... 45
Automatic Transmission —
Fluid and Filter Change .... 45
Spare Parts S e rv ic e ...................... 45
Cleaning and Care of the Vehicle 46
Jobs related to C are ................... 47
Practical Hints
A s h tra y s ............................................. 50
ear Seat C ushion ......................... 50
Vehicle Tool K it ................................ 50
Wheels, Tires, Changing Wheels 51
Wheels, T ire s ................................ 51
Changing W h e e ls ...................... 52
Tire Inflation Pressure 53
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc....................................54
Engine Oil Level Check .... 54
eplenishing C oola n t 55
Automatic Transmission
Fluid L e v e l ................................... 56
Electrical System ............................. 57
Spark P lugs .................................... 57
F u s e s ............................................. 57 Vehicle Operation f
B atte ry ............................................. 57 ~
eplacing B u lb s .......................... 58
Sliding oof Emergency
O p e ra tin g .......................................... 61
Tow-starting and Towing
the Vehicle ....................................... 62 Driving
Technical Data, Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc.
Identification P la te s ...................... 64
Vehicle Data C ards .......................... 65
Technical D a ta ................................ 66
280 S E ............................................. 66
450 S E L .......................................... 68
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 70
C ap acities ....................................... 70
Engine O ils ................................... 73
Brake F lu id ................................... 73
C oolan ts .......................................... 74
Service-Literature ............................. 75
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
Technical Data, Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
►
►
►
5

Vehicle Operation
7

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Adjustable louvers for side ventilation (page 20)
2 Control lever for side ventilation (page 20)
3 Parking brake release knob (page 32)
4 Instruction tag (except tourist vehicle).
Use only unleaded gasoline
5 Cruise control (page 19)
6 Light switch (page 17)
7 Combination switch (page 18)
8 Handle to disengage hood lock (page 32)
9 Parking brake pedal (page 32)
10 Horn control
11 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch (page17)
12 Adjustable louvers for cooled air (page 20)
13 Switch for rear passenger compartment light
14 Switch for automatic antenna (page 29)
15 Switch for heated rear window (page 26)
16 Electric sliding roof control (page 26)
17 Automatic climate control (page 20)
18 adio (page 27)
19 Ashtray with lighter (page 26, 50)
20 Loudspeaker - fader control (page 28)
21 Hazard warning flasher switch
22 Glove compartment (to open, shift handle
sideways). Only illuminated if steering lock is
in position “2”.
23 Loudspeaker cover, right and left

Instruments and Controls
8872
<
9

Instrument Cluster
1 Coolant temperature gauge (° F)
ed marking: Maximum permissible temperature
for an antifreeze-blended fill protecting down to
-2 2 ° F (-3 0 ° C)
2 Fuel gauge with reserve warning light (amber)
Fuel reserve for approx. 30 miles (45-50 km)
For capacity, refer to page 72 und last page.
3 Oil pressure gauge
4 Total odometer
5 Trip odometer
6 Knob for clock pointers
(press in for adjustments)
7 Electric clock
8 Tachometer
9 ed mark on tachometer:
Maximum permissible engine revolutions,
do not exceed a maximum of 6,500 rpm (280 SE)
or 5,300 rpm (450 SEL).
10 Turn signal indicator light, right (green)
11 Catalyst replacement indicator (only California
vehicles of type 280 SE). When the indicator light
comes on, the catalyst must be replaced
12 Seat belt warning
13 Brake pad wear indicator (red):
Light comes on while braking and driving if the
front wheel brake pads are worn down, refer
to page 40
14 Dimmer knob for instrument lighting,
continuous adjustment
15 eset knob for trip odometer
(push button)
16 Brake warning light (red) comes on if
• the parking brake is engaged
• too little brake fluid is in the reservoir
• there is a leak in the brake system
17 High beam indicator light (blue)
18 Charge indicator light (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is
moved to driving position "2” and must go
out when the engine is idling
19 Turn signal indicator light, left (green)

Instrument Cluster
8891
11

Keys Doors
- IL F
r
i - = — = j
Master Key — square head - fits all
locks on the car.
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.
Opening the Doors
From outside: swing handle
outwards (1).
From inside: pull handle in door
trim panel.
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key.
From the inside: actuate plunger.
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
When the plunger is pushed down
the rear doors cannot be opened
from the outside or the inside.
One cannot lock:
• the driver’s door if it is open.
• each door if the door lock has
not engaged fully. In this case
open the door and close it again.
12

Keys Doors
Master Lock System
The master lock system simulta
neously locks or unlocks together
with the driver’s door all other
doors, fuel tank filler flap and trunk
lid. As the driver’s door plunger is
moved, the plungers of all other
doors must move at the same time.
If this is not the case, the lock of
the corresponding door has not
engaged fully. Open the door once
more and close it correctly.
When the master lock system has
been applied, the lock plungers of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors can also be operated
manually. In addition to this, the
front passenger door can be locked
or unlocked by means of the key.
The master lock system can only be
applied by depressing the plunger
on the driver’s door. Lock plungers
of the other doors cannot be de
pressed individually.
On a vehicle with master lock
system the trunk lid can also be
unlocked separately. Turn master
key counterclockwise to the stop,
push in the trunk lock button with it
and lift the lid. eturn the key to
its initial position and withdraw it.
To lock the lid, close it firmly.
It will then be locked again by the
master lock system.
A provision has been made to
facilitate permanent locking of the
trunk lid for positive prevention
of access to trunk by unauthorized
persons.
Before leaving vehicle with an
attendant, lock trunk lock with
master key (square head) by turning
key clockwise to stop (tumbler slot
vertical), then remove square
headed key and provide attendant
with round-headed supplementary
key. Thus, the trunk lock has been
excluded 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 hori
zontal position of the tumbler
slot with master key. Lock will then
be reengaged in master lock
system, that is, it will automatically
be locked or unlocked depending
on whether the driver’s door
is locked or unlocked.
The master lock system operates
on vacuum generated by the engine.
A reservoir allows the master lock
system to be actuated about five
times after the engine is turned off.
If the system can then no longer be
engaged, idle engine for a short
period.
If no vacuum is available, doors and
trunk have to be locked individually
in the normal manner. The fuel
tank filler flap, however, remains
unlocked.

Seats
Front Seat Adjustment
Forward and backward adjustment:
lift handle (1); slide seat to desired
position and allow handle to re
engage.
Height of seat: raise lever (2);
to raise seat, move seat forward;
to lower seat, move seat backward;
allow lever to reengage.
Seat back position: turn handwheel
(3) forwards or backwards.
For full reclining of backrest, seat
should be moved to one of the
forwardmost positions and headrest
removed. For driving, return seat
rearwards and backrest to upright
position. eplace headrest.
Safety Headrest
Adjust headrest to support the
back of the head at the level of
the upper end of ear. For height
adjustment or for removal, push
headrest slightly forward (1). To
detach the headrest, release arrester
by depressing a button to be felt
under the backrest covering material.
Front seats: button below L/H
headrest stirrup (2).
ear seats: button above between
both headrest stirrups.
Arm Rest (rear seat)
A center arm rest is provided in the
rear seat which can be pulled out
with a loop.
For the removal of the rear seat
cushion see “ Practical Hints” .
14

Seats
Safety Belts
Warning system:
The indicator marked “ FASTEN
SEAT BELTS” is illuminated for 4 - 8
seconds if the steering lock is in
position “ 2” . If the safety belt of the
driver’s seat is not fastened a
warning buzzer sounds simul
taneously.
4
Fastening of front and rear outer
seat belts (with inertia reel):
• Pull belt with tongue (1) across
shoulder and lap. The belt must
not be twisted and must be tight.
• Press tongue (1) into buckle (2)
and allow to engage audibly.
Unfasten, front and rear:
• Depress red button “ P ESS” (3)
in buckle (2).
• eturn tongue (1) to initial
position.
Fastening of rear center belt
(without inertia reel):
• Pull belt across the lap. It must
not be twisted and must be tight.
• Press tongue into buckle and
allow to engage audibly.
Adjustment of rear center seat belt:
To lengthen, turn belt buckle (on
LH side of belt) to be at right angles
to the belt and pull the tongue.
To shorten, pull loose end of belt.
15

Seats
Operation:
The safety belt inertia reel stops the
belt unwinding further in case
of vehicle deceleration in any
direction or if the belt is pulled
out quickly
The rear center seat belt can only
be adjusted manually.
Functional test:
The locking function of the inertia
reel can be tested by braking,
negotiating a bend or by pulling
the belt out quickly.
16
Note:
No safety belt can be used for more
than one person. Belts are not
intended for children.
Anchoring points for a child seat
are provided. Any ME CEDES-
BENZ service station will be
pleased to advise you on the
installation of suitable child seats.
After an accident, inspect the safety
belts and replace them, if required.
The belt anchors in the vehicle
should also be checked.
enew damaged belt webbing.
Belt webbing must not be routed
via sharp edges.
No modifications which affect the
efficiency of the belt must be made.

Steering Lock
0 Off position: When the key is
withdrawn the steering is locked.
To unlock the steering, the key
must be turned to position “ 1 ” .
The lights can be switched on.
The key can be removed only
in this position.
2 Driving: The steering is un
locked. (When turning the key clock
wise to position “2” , slightly move
the steering wheel, if required.)
The red charging control light
comes on.
3ower supply to standing lights
s cut off.
Starting position:
Turn key clockwise to the stop. The
starter is engaged as long as the key
is held up to the stop. Due to the
installed starter tripping relay, the
key must be returned to position
“1" or “0” before making another
starting attempt.
With the key in position “ 1” , the
steering is unlocked. The radio can
be switched on.
A warning buzzer sounds when the
key has been left in steering lock
positions “ 1” or ” 0” and thedriver’s
door is opened.
Controls
4
Light Switch
0 Off-position
1 Parking lights(includesside mar
ker lights, tail lights, license plate
lights, instrument panel lights)
2 Same as pos. 1 plus headlights
3 Standing lights, right
4 Standing lights, left
A Turn to position 2 and pull out
to first detent = same as
position 2 plus fog lights
B Available for an optional extra
17

Controls
Combination Switch
1 Low beam (turn light switch
clockwise two notches)
2 High beam (turn light switch
clockwise two notches)
3 Headlight flasher (high beam
available independent of light
switch position)
4 Turn signals, right
5 Turn signals, left
To operate the turn signals, engage
combination switch. The switch is
automatically reset when the
steering wheel is turned through
a fairly large angle.
To signal minor directional changes
of the vehicle, press combination
switch to the point of resistance
only and hold it there.
6 Control for windshield washer
system
When the washer system is
switched on, the wipers also
operate
7 Windshield wiper control
0 Windshield wiper switched off
1 Intermittent wiping
II Normal wiper speed
III High wiper speed
Hints:
If one of the turn signals fails,
the turn signal indicator system
flashes and sounds at a faster
sequence than under normal
operating conditions.
Fog lights will only operate together
with low beam headlights. Fog
lights are turned off automatically
when light switch is returned to
off-position.
18