Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL 126 1981 User manual

Owner’s
Manual 380SEL Mercedes-Benz

Drive Sensibly — Save uel
uel consumption depends to a great
extent on driving habits and operating
conditions,
In order to save fuel you should:
• ensure that tire pressures are
correct
• not carry unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roof-mounted
luggage racks when not in use
• not warm up your engine at idle
and with the vehicle at standstill
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration
• avoid frequent braking
• avoid unnecessarily high speeds
• have all the maintenance jobs
specified by us carried out at
regular intervals by a MERCEDES-
BENZ service station.
Driving in low temperature weather, in
stop-and-go city traffic and on short
hops, and in hilly country also
increases fuel consumption.

380 SEL
Type 126
1981

You have chosen to drive a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and production we have taken great 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 putting it away. Even though you have been driving a car for
years, some things 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 motoring.
DAIMLER-BENZ Aktiengesellschaft
3

This Owner’s Manual also describes
optional extras as far as this is
required for their operation. As the
scope of delivery is determined by
the order, the equipment of your
vehicle may deviate from the
descriptions and illustrations to
some extent.
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls
Instrument Cluster . . .
Keys, D o o rs .................
Master Key and
Supplementary Key. .
lat K e y ....................
Obtaining Replacement
Keys ...........................
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of Doors . .
Master Lock System .
Seats...............................
Electrical Adjustment of
Driver’s and ront
Passenger’s Seats . .
Safety Headrests . . .
Rear Seat Adjustment
Orthopaedic Seat Back
Arm Rest (Rear Seat) .
Arm Rest ( ront Seats)
Seat H eater ..............
Safety B e lts ..............
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Contents
C ontrols .................................. 22
Steering L o c k .................... 22
~ Lighting Switch ...................... 23
] Combination Switch .... 24
14 Cruise Control ...................... 25
Automatic Climate Control . . 26
^4 Various Equipment .................. 28
14 Exterior Mirrors ...................... 28
Inside Rear View Mirror . . . 28
14 Sun Visors ............................. 29
Sliding R o o f ........................ 29
Interior Lam ps .................... 30
Heated Rear Window .... 30
16 Electric Lighter ...................... 31
Shelf below Rear Window . . 31
Electric Window Lifters . . . 31
}° Radio .......................................... 32
18
18
18
19
19
20
5

Contents
Driving
Hood ......................................... 38
Parking B ra k e ........................ 38
Regular Inspections .............. 39
Catalytic Converter Cautions . 40
Starting and Turning
off the Engine ........................ 41
Starting and Shifting Gears . . 42
Safe D rivin g ........................... 44
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
L a m p .................................. 45
Brake luid ........................... 45
Charge Indicator Lamp . . . 46
Oil Pressure Gauge .............. 46
Coolant Temperature Gauge 46
Engine Oil Consumption . . 46
Emission Control ................. 46
The irst 1500 km/1000 Miles . 47
Driving Economically .............. 47
Gauge for Economical
Driving (ECONOMY) .... 47
Special Operating Conditions . 48
Winter D riving .................... 48
Hints for D riving ................. 48
Tire Chains ........................... 49
Traveling Abroad ................. 49
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System .....................................
Severe Operating Conditions
Engine Oil Change and ilter
Change ..............................
Automatic Transmission —
luid and ilter Change . . .
Spare Parts Service .............
Cleaning and Care
of the Vehicle ........................
Jobs related to Care ....
Practical Hints
Ash trays .................................. 58
52 Rear Seat Cushion .................. 58
52 irst Aid K it ............................... 59
Luggage or Ski Racks .... 59
53 Spare Wheel, Jack,
Vehicle Tool K it ........................ 59
53 Wheels, Tires, Changing Wheels 60
53 Wheels, Tires ........................ 60
Changing Wheels ................. 61
54 Tire Inflation Pressure .... 62
55 Checking uels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc .......................... 63
Engine Oil Level Check . . . 63
Checking Coolant Level... 64
Replenishing Coolant. . . . 64
Automatic Transmission
luid Level ........................ 65
6

Contents
Electrical System .................... 66
Replacing B ulbs ................. 66
uses .................................. 69
Battery .................................. 70
Spark P lugs ........................ 70
Windshield W ipers ................. 71
Emergency Operation of
Sliding R o o f ........................... 71
Unlocking the uel iller lap . 71
Jump S ta rtin g ........................ 72
Tow-starting and Towing
the Vehicle .............................. 72
Technical Data, Fuels, Coolants,
Lu ricants, etc.
Identification Plates ................. 76
Vehicle Data Cards ................. 77
Warranty Coverage ................. 77
Technical D ata ........................ 78
uels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 80
Capacities ........................... 80
Engine Oils ........................... 82
Brake luid ........................... 82
Coolants ............................... 83
Service Literature .................... 84
Vehicle Operation ^
Driving ^
Vehicle Care ^
Practical Hints ^
Technical Data, Fuels, k
Coolants, Lu ricants, etc. r
7

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Speaker grilles
2 Side ventilation outlets (page 26)
3 Swivelling outlets for nonheated fresh air
(page 26)
4 Parking brake release handle (page 38)
5 Handle to disengange hood lock (page 38)
6 Parking brake pedal (page 38)
7 Combination switch (page 24)
8 Lighting switch (page 23)
9 Cruise control (page 25)
10 Instrument cluster (page 12)
11 Horn control
12 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch
(page 22)
13 Lever for nonheated fresh air (page 26)
14 Switch for rear passenger compartment
lamp (page 30)
15 Switch for electric sliding roof (page 29)
16 Switch for hazard warning flasher system
17 Switch for automatic antenna (page 36)
18 Switch for heated rear window (page 30)
19 Automatic climate control (page 26)
20 Radio (page 32)
21 Ash tray with lighter (page 31, 58)
22 Switch for left front seat heater (page 19)
23 Loudspeaker — fader control
24 Switch for right front seat heater (page 19)
25 Switch group for window lifters (page 31)
26 Adjusting lever for exterior mirror on front
passenger side (page 28)
27 Glove compartment, illuminated (only in steering
lock positions “1 ” or “2”)

Instruments and Controls
11

Instrument Cluster
1 Gauge for economical driving (ECONOMY). See
page 47
2 Coolant temperature gauge (° C)
Up to red marking: Maximum permissible tempe
rature for an antifreeze-blended fill protecting
down to -30° C/-22° . See page 46
3 uel gauge with reserve warning lamp (yellow)
uel reserve for approx. 45-50 km/30 miles
or capacitiy, refer to page 81 and last page
4 Oil pressure gauge (bar). See page 46
5 Turn signal indicator lamp, left (green)
6 Main odometer
7 Trip odometer
8 Turn signal indicator lamp, right (green)
9 Tachometer
10 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine speed
11 Electric clock
12 Knob for clock adjustment
(press in for adjustments)
13 0 2-Sensor replacement indicator lamp (red):
When the indicator lamp comes on, the
0 2-Sensor must be replaced
14 Seat belt warning lamp (red)
15 Brake warning lamp (red) comes on if
• the parking brake is engaged
• not enough brake fluid is in the reservoir
16 Brake pad wear indicator lamp (yellow):
Lamp comes on while braking and driving if the
front wheel brake pads are worn down, refer to
page 45
17 Charge indicator lamp (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is moved to
driving position “2” and must go out when the
engine is idling. See page 46
18 High beam indicator lamp (blue)
19 Knob for instrument lamps and trip odometer
Rotate knob: instrument lamps intensity are infini
tely variable
Depress knob: trip odometer is turned back
Note
A stop is provided on the speedometer at the
138 km/h/85 mph reading. Speeds in excess of
138 km/h/85 mph will not be indicated.

Instrument Cluster

Keys Doors
)
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.
Flat Key
T
The flat key fits all vehicle
locks. We recommend
that you carry the flat key
with you and keep it in a
safe place so that it is
always handy, if needed
(e.g. in your wallet). Never leave the
flat key in the vehicle.
O taining Replacement Keys
Replacement keys can be obtained
only via MERCEDES-BENZ service
stations. If the keys are lost, assist
ance is rather time consuming and
expensive.
14

Keys Doors
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
rom the outside: turn key.
rom the inside: actuate plunger.
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
When the rear door plungers are
pushed down, the rear doors cannot
be opened from the outside or the
inside. They can be opened after
pulling plungers up.
One cannot lock:
Opening the Doors
rom outside: pull handle
outwards (1).
rom inside: pull handle in door
trim panel (4).
(
• the driver’s door if it is open.
• any door if the door lock has not
engaged fully. In this case open
the door and close it again.
15

Keys Doors Seats
| L Master Lock System
■ The master lock system locks or
unlocks the driver’s door, the other
H r vehicle doors, the fuel tank filler flap
and the trunk lid simultaneously.
The lock plungers of the other
vehicle doors must then move
together with the lock plunger of the
driver’s door. If this does not
happen, the lock of the respective
door is not properly engaged. Open
the door again and shut it correctly.
The front passenger door and the
rear doors can also be locked or
unlocked individually from inside.
The front passenger door can also
be locked and unlocked with the
key.
With the master lock system in the
locked position, the trunk lid can
also be unlocked individually: To do
so, turn the main key to the left as
far as it will go, then depress the
trunk lid lock push button with the
key and open the trunk. Turn the
key to its initial position and
withdraw it. To lock the trunk lid,
close it firmly; the trunk lid will then
be locked by the master lock
system again.
The trunk lid can also be locked
independently (for instance, to leave
the vehicle in a workshop) without
actuating the master lock system.
Turn the main key to the right as far
as it will go and withdraw it. In this
case the trunk lid can only be
unlocked with the main key which
must be inserted and turned back to
the left.
Note:
If the fuel tank filler flap cannot be
opened, refer to “Unlocking the uel
iller lap” (page 71).
Electrical Adjustment of Driver’s
and Front Passenger’s Seats
Turn key in steering lock to
position “2”.
Seat and seat back can be adjusted
individually by means of the
switches. These are accommodated
in the front doors.
When the key is withdrawn or
turned to steering lock positions “1”
or “0”, seat and seat back can be
adjusted only if the driver’s door is
open.
16

Note:
Prior to operating the vehicle, the
driver should adjust the seat height
for proper vision as well as fore-aft
placement and seat back angle to
insure adequate control, reach,
operation, and comfort. The head
rest should also be adjusted for
proper height so that when the
cushion is tipped completely
forward, it should form a cradle
behind the seat occupant’s head.
Both the inside and outside rear
view mirrors should then be
adjusted for adequate rearward
vision. asten seat belts. Children
under the age of six or under the
weight of 23 kg/50 lb should be
seated in the back seat with an
approved restraint system properly
secured.
All seat, headrest, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as faste
ning of seat belts should be accom
plished before the vehicle is put into
motion.
Safety Headrests
Adjust headrest to support the back
of the head approximately at ear
level.
Safety headrests, front
Height adjustment:
Press headrest slightly forward (1)
and reset upward or downward as
required.
Detaching headrests:
Pull headrest out to the stop.
Release arrester by depressing
release knob to be felt under the
seat back covering material and pull
headrest upward quickly, holding it
by the LH headrest post (viewed in
driving direction). Then pull out
headrest completely with both
hands.
The headrest release knob is
located below the LH headrest
post (2).
Safety headrests, rear
Height adjustment:
Raise or lower headrest as required.
Detaching headrests:
Pull up headrest until resistance can
be felt. Then pull it out quickly using
both hands.

Seats
Rear Seat Adjustment
Move key in steering lock to
position “2”.
The rear seat can be adjusted in
longitudinal direction by means of
the switch located in the rear door.
The inclination of the seat back is
altered together with the adjustment
of the seat cushion.
Orthopaedic Seat Back
Turn handwheel (1) to adjust the
spinal support. The spinal support
must not be inflated when being
adjusted. A red mark in window (2)
indicates the height it is adjusted to.
To inflate the spinal support, actuate
hand pump (3) as required. or
deflation, push button (4).
Arm Rest (Rear Seat)
An arm rest is provided in the rear
seat which can be pulled out with a
loop.
or the removal of the rear seat
cushion see “Practical Hints”.
18