Mercedes-Benz 300 SE User manual

Mercedes-Benz
•wner’s Manual

y
What You Should Know at
the Gas Station
See last page
MERCEDES-BENZ
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
1-800-222-0100
Drive Sensibl - Save Fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operat
ing conditions.
To save fuel ou should:
• keep tires at the recommended
inflation pressures,
• remove unnecessar 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 b
an authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer.
Fuel consumption is also increased
b driving in cold weather, in
stop-and-go traffic, on short trips
and in hill countr .

Mercedes-Benz
Owner’s Manual
1990
300 SE
300 SEL

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 a special 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 products
and therefore cannot be held responsible for them, even if in
individual cases an official approval or authorization by
governmental or approval agencies 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 per
formed.
Printed in Germany
We reserve the right to modif the technical details of the vehicle as given
in the data and illustrations of this Owner's Manual (s.e.e.o.). Reprinting,
translation and cop ing, even of excerpts, is not permitted without our prior
authorization in writing.
V K T /28.09.89 RS/10 PVL

Our 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 exemplified 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 abide by 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,
pleasurable driving.
Mercedes Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Introduction
This Owner's Manual contains a great deal of useful
information. We urge ou to read it carefull and familiar
ize ourself with the vehicle before driving.
For our own safet and longer service life of the vehicle,
we urge ou to follow the instructions and warnings.
Ignoring them could result in damage to the vehicle or
personal injur .
Your vehicle ma have some or all of the equipment de
scribed. Therefore, ou ma find explanations of equip
ment not installed in our vehicle. If ou have an ques
tions about the operation of an equipment, our author
ized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad to demon
strate the proper procedures.
Owner’s Service and Warranty Policy
The Owner’s Service and Warrant Polic Booklet
contains detailed information about the warranties
covering our MERCEDES-BENZ, including:
• New Car Limited Warrant
• Emmission S stem Warrant
• Emission Performance Warrant
• California Emission Control S stem
Warrant (California Onl )
4
Maintenance
The Maintenance Booklet describes all the necessar
maintenance work which should be performed at regular
intervals.
Alwa s have the Maintenance Booklet with ou when ou
take the vehicle to our authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer for service. The service advisor will record each
service in the booklet for ou.
Roadside ssistance
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Program
provides factor trained technical help in the event of a
breakdown. Calls to the toll-free Roadside Assistance
number:
1-800-222-0100
will be answered b Mercedes-Benz Customer Assist
ance Representatives 24 hours a da , 365 da s a ear.
On-site service calls b a local Mercedes-Benz Road
side Assistance technician are available weekda s from
5:00 PM till midnight, weekends and legal holida s from
8:00 AM till midnight.
For additional information refer to the Mercedes-Benz
Roadside Assistance Program brochure in our glove box
or console storage compartment.

Change of ddress or Ownership
If ou change our address, be sure to send in the
“Change of Address Notice" found in the Owner’s Ser
vice and Warrant Polic Booklet. It is in our own
interest that we can contact ou should the need arise.
If ou sell our Mercedes, please leave all owner’s
literature with the vehicle to make it available to the next
owner.
If ou bought this vehicle used, be sure to send in the
“Notice of Purchase of Used Car” found in the Owner’s
Service and Warrant Polic Booklet.
Operating Your Vehicle Outside the U.S. . or Canada
If ou plan to operate our vehicle in foreign countries,
please be aware that:
• unleaded fuels for vehicles with catal tic converters
ma not be available; the use of leaded fuels will
damage the catal sts,
• fuel ma have a considerabl lower octane rating, and
improper fuel can cause engine damage,
• service facilities or replacement parts ma not be
readil available.
Certain Mercedes-Benz models are available for deliver
in Europe under our European Deliver Program. For
details, consult our authorized MERCEDES-BENZ
dealer or write to:
Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
European Deliver Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645
In Canada write to:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Deliver 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 equip
ment 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 impor
tant 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
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Index

Check Regularly and
Before a Long Trip
See page 120
The First 1500 km
(1000 Miles)
The more cautiousl ou treat our
vehicle during the break-in period, the
more satisfied ou will be with its
performance later on. Therefore, drive
our vehicle during the first 1500 km
(1000 miles) at moderate vehicle and
engine speeds.
During this period, avoid heav loads
(full throttle driving) and high RPM (no
more than 2h of maximum permissible
speed in each gear as indicated on
the speedometer).
Avoid accelerating b kickdown. It is
not recommended to brake the vehicle
b manuall shifting to a lower gear.
We recommend to select positions “3”
or “2” onl at moderate speeds (for hill
driving).
After 1500 km (1000 miles) speeds
ma graduall be increased to the
permissible maximum.
8