Mercedes-Benz 380 SL 1985 User manual

M erce de s-B enz
Owner's Manual

Drive Sensibly — Save Fuel
Fuel 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
• have all the maintenance jobs
specified by us carried out at
regular intervals by an autho
rized MERCEDES-BENZ dealer
Driving in low temperature weather,
in stop-and-go city traffic and on
short hops, and in hilly country also
increases fuel consumption

Owner's Manual
380 SL
Chassis 107
1985
M ercedes-B enz
®

O u r company and staff wish you many hours of enjoy
ment with your new vehicle
You have placed a lot of trust in our company name by
purchasing a MERCEDES, from which you may expect that
it will give you long service with a minimum of trouble, and
is easy to operate
We have just one request to make, hoping that it will
benefit you as well:
Please do not put this manual aside without first carefully
reading it
You may notice that it contains many important recommen
dations that should make the operation of your MERCEDES
easier and even increase your pleasure driving it
We wish you many miles of motoring pleasure
Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
Special equipment is also described
in this manual, including operating
instructions wherever necessary.
Since there are special-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 Owners Manual, your
MERCEDES-BENZ dealer will be
glad to inform you of correct care
and operating procedures.
The last page
What you should know at the
gas station
Vehicle Operation
Instruments and Controls 8
Instrument Cluster 10
Keys, Doors 12
Flat Key, Master Key
and Supplementary Key 12
Obtaining Replacement Keys 12
Opening, Locking and
Unlocking of Doors 12
Central Locking System 13
Seats 14
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat
and Front Passenger’s Seat 14
Safety Head Restraints 15
Seat Heater 15
Supplemental Restraint System 16
Seat Belts and Emergency
Tensioning Retractor 16
Driver Airbag 18
Controls 20
Steering Lock 20
Lighting Switch 21
Combination Switch 22
Cruise Control 23
Automatic Climate Control 24
Various Equipment 29
Exterior Mirrors 29
Inside Rear View Mirror 29
Sun Visors 30
Heated Rear Window 30
Shelf below Rear Window ___ 30
Lighter 31
Interior Lamps 31
Power Windows 31
Soft Top 32
Hardtop 34
Radio 36
Driving
Hood 44
Parking Brake 44
Regular Inspections 45
Catalytic Converter Cautions 46
Starting and Turning off
the Engine 47
Starting and Shifting Gears __ 48
Safe Driving 50
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lamp 51
Brake Fluid 51
ABS-Brake System
(Anti-Lock Brake System) ___ 52
Charge Indicator Lamp 53
Fuel Reserve Warning Lamp 53
Outside Temperature
Indicator 53
Oil Pressure Gauge 53
Coolant Temperature Gauge 53
Engine Oil Consumption 53
Emission Control 54
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles 54
Driving Economically 54
Economical Driving Indicator
(ECONOMY) 54
Special Operating Conditions 55
Winter Driving 55
Hints for Driving 55
Tire Chains 56
Traveling Abroad
56
4

Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System 58
Spare Parts Service 59
Cleaning and Care
of the Vehicle
59
Jobs related to Care 60
Practical Hints
Ash tray 64
Luggage or Ski Racks 64
Spare Wheel, Jack,
Vehicle Tool Kit 64
Wheels, Tires,
Changing Wheels 65
Wheels, Tires 65
Changing Wheels 66
Tire Inflation Pressure 67
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc 67
Engine Oil Level Check
67
Checking Coolant Level 68
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level 69
Electrical System
Headlamp Adjustment
Replacing Bulbs
Fuses
Battery
Spark Plugs
Tow-starting and Towing
the Vehicle
Jump Starting
Unlocking of the Filler Flap
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, ubricants, etc.
Identification Plates
Vehicle Data Cards
Warranty Coverage
Technical Data
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants,
Capacities
Engine Oils
Fuel Requirements
Brake Fluid
Coolants
Service Literature
Consumer Information __
Contents
70
70
70
73 Vehicle Operation
74
74
75
76
76 Driving
78
79 Vehicle Care
79
80
82
82
84
84 Practical Hints
84
85
86
87 Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, ubricants, etc.
5

Vehicle Operation

Instruments and Controls
For more detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Swivelling side ventilation outlets (page 24)
2 Control lever for side ventilation (page 24)
3 Parking brake release button (page 44)
4 Hood release lever (page 44)
5 Parking brake pedal (page 44)
6 Combination switch (page 22)
7 Lighting switch (page 21)
8 Instruction tag (except tourist vehicle)
Use only unleaded gasoline
9 Cruise control (page 23)
10 Instrument cluster (page 10)
11 Horn control
12 Steering lock with ignition/starter switch
(page 20)
13 Swivelling outlets for nonheated fresh air
(page 24)
14 Outside temperature indicator (page 53)
15 Switch for heated rear window (page 30)
16 Switch for automatic antenna (page 41)
17 Switch for front dome lamps (page 31)
18 Radio (page 36)
19 Automatic climate control (page 24)
20 Ash tray with lighter (page 31, 64)
21 Switch for left power window (page 31)
22 Switch for left seat heater (page 15)
23 Switch for hazard warning flasher system
24 Switch for right seat heater (page 15)
25 Switch for right power window (page 31)
26 Adjusting lever for exterior mirror on front
passenger side (page 29)
27 Glove compartment (to open, shift handle
sideways) Only illuminated if steering lock is
position “1” or “2”
28 Loudspeaker cover, right and left