Mercedes-Benz 300D 2.5 1990 User manual

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 .

Our company and staff congratulate you on the purchase of
your new MERCEDES-BEN .
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-BEN 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-BEN .
We extend our best wishes for many miles of safe, pleas
urable 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
described. Therefore, ou ma find explanations of
equipment not installed in our vehicle. If ou have an
questions about the operation of an equipment, our
authorized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be glad to
demonstrate 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 Assistance
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--0100
will be answered b MERCEDES-BENZ Customer Assis
tance Representatives 24 hours a da , 365 da s a ear.
On-site service calls b a local MERCEDES-BENZ
Roadside 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 Address or Ownership
If ou change our address, be sure to send in the
“Change of Address Notice” found in the Owner’s Service
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.A. or Canada
If ou plan to operate our vehicle in foreign countries,
please be aware that 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 spe-
cial-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-BEN
dealer will be glad to inform you of correct care and operating
procedures.
The Owner’s 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
I
I
I
Technical Data
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Consumer Information

Check Regularly and
Before a Long Trip
See page 116
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 2/3 of maximum permissible
speed in each gear as indicated on
the speedometer).
Avoid accelerating b kickdown. It is
not recommended to brake the vehi
cle b manuall shifting to a lower
gear. We recommend to select posi
tions “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

Instruments and Controls, Starting the Engine
Driving Instructions, Service and Maintenance
Instruments and Controls 10
Instrument Cluster 12
Indicator Lamp S mbols 13
Starting and Turning Off the
Engine 14
Driving Instructions 15
MERCEDES-BENZ
Maintenance S stem 18
9

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see specified pages.
1 Adjustable side air outlets (page 20)
2 Exterior lamp switch (page 48)
3 Parking brake release (page 58)
4 Hood lock release (page 72)
5 Parking brake pedal (page 58)
6 Combination switch (page 49)
7 Air volume control for side air outlets (page 20)
8 Cruise control (page 62)
9 Instrument cluster (page 12)
10 Horn, airbag (page 42)
11 Steering lock with preglow/starter switch (page 47)
12 Adjustable center air outlets (page 20)
13 Air volume control for center air outlets (page 20)
14 Glove box (illuminated in steering lock positions 1
or 2) is not installed in vehicles equipped with a front
passenger airbag
10
15 Rear window defroster switch (page 53)
16 Switch for folding rear seat head restraints backward
(page 35)
17 Switch for rear window sun shade
18 Air recirculation switch (page 20)
19 Hazard warning flasher switch
20 Automatic antenna switch (page 56)
21 Rear passenger compartment lamp switch (page 54)
22 Automatic climate control (page 20)
23 Radio
24 Ashtra with lighter (pages 52, 95)
25 Left front seat heater switch (page 36)
26 Right front seat heater switch (page 36)
27 Left power window switch group (page 55)
28 Adjusting switch for exterior mirror on front passenger
side (page 51)
29 Loudspeaker front to rear fader control
30 Right power window switch group (page 55)