Mercedes-Benz 450 SL 1980 User manual

450 SL
450 SLC Mercedes-Benz

Drive Sensibly — Save Fuel
Fuel consum tion de ends to a
great extent on driving habits and
o erating conditions.
In order to save fuel you should:
• ensure that tire ressures are
correct
• not carry unnecessary loads
• remove ski racks or roof-
mounted luggage racks when
not in use
• not warm u your engine at idle
and with the vehicle at standstill
• avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration
• avoid frequent braking
• avoid unnecessarily high s eeds
• have all the maintenance jobs
s ecified by us carried out at
regular intervals by a
MERCEDES-BENZ service
station.
Driving in low tem erature weather,
in sto -and-go city traffic and on
short ho s, and in hilly country
also increases fuel consum tion.

Owner’s
Manual 450 SL
450 SLC
Ty e 107
1980
Mercedes-Benz

You have chosen to drive a MERCEDES-BENZ, a car in whose
construction and roduction we have taken great ains because we
believe that quality is not a matter of chance.
Perha s you have already had ex erience with a MERCEDES, maybe
this is your first car from the DAIMLER-BENZ com any. In both cases -
for your own benefit - lease read this ow ner’s manual before utting
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 w ill hel you to make the most of your new car.
We wish you safe and leasant motoring.
DAIMLER-BENZ Aktiengesellschaft
3

Contents
This Owner's Manual also
describes optional extras as far as
an introduction on their handling
is required. As these extras need
to be ordered separately, the
equip ent of your vehicle ay
deviate fro the descriptions and
illustrations to so e extent.
The last age
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 Su lementary Key .... 12
Obtaining Re lacement Keys . 12
O ening, Locking and
Unlocking of Doors ................... 12
Master Lock System ................. 13
Seats ................................................ 14
Adjustment of Driver’s Seat
and Front Passenger Seat ... 14
Safety Belts ............................... 15
Safety Headrest ......................... 16
C ontrols ........................................... 17
Steering Lock ............................. 17
Lighting S w itch ......................... 17
Combination Switch .............. 18
Cruise Control ........................... 19
Automatic Climate C on trol 20
Various Equi ment ....................... 23
Interior Lam s ........................... 23
Rear View Mirrors ..................... 23
Sun V iso r ..................................... 23
Lighter ......................................... 24
Heated Rear Window ............... 24
Shelf below Rear Window .... 24
Electric Window Lifters 25
Roadster To ................................. 26
Hardto ........................................... 27
Sliding Roof ................................. 28
Radio ............................................. 29
Driving
Hood ............................................. 34
Parking B rake ............................... 34
Regular Ins ections .................. 35
Catalytic Converter Cautions .. 36
Starting and Turning
off the Engine ............................... 37
Starting and Shifting Gears .... 38
Safe Driving ................................. 40
Brake Pad Wear Indicator
Lam ......................................... 41
Brake Fluid ............................... 41
Charge Indicator Lam 41
Oil Pressure Gauge ................ 42
Coolant Tem erature Gauge . 42
Emission Control .................. 42
Engine Oil Consum tion .... 42
The First 1500 km/1000 Miles .. 42
S ecial O erating Conditions .. 42
Winter Driving ......................... 42
Hints for Driving ...................... 4‘
Tire Chains ............................... 4‘
Traveling Abroad .................... 4‘
4

Contents
Vehicle Care
MERCEDES-BENZ Maintenance
System ............................................. 46
Severe O erating Conditions . 46
Engine Oil Change and Filter
Change ....................................... 47
Automatic Transmission-
Fluid and Filter Change ........... 47
S are Parts Service ..................... 47
Cleaning and Care of the Vehicle 48
Jobs related to Care ................. 49
Practical Hints
Ash tra y s ......................................... 52
Rear Seat Cushion ....................... 52
First Aid Kit ................................... 53
Luggage or Ski Racks ................. 53
S are Wheel, Jack,
Vehicle Tool Kit ............................. 53
Wheels, Tires,
Changing Wheels ......................... 54
Wheels and Tires ..................... 54
Changing Wheels ..................... 55
Tire Inflation Pressure ............. 56
Checking Fuels, Coolants,
Lubricants, etc ................................. 57
Engine Oil Level Check ........... 57
Re lenishing Coolant ............... 57
Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level ................................. 58
Electrical System ........................... 59
Fuses ............................................ 59
Battery .......................................... 59
S ark Plugs ............................... 59
Re lacing B ulb s ......................... 60
Sliding Roof-Emergency
O eration ....................................... 64
Unlocking of the Filler Fla .... 64
Emergency-starting and Towing
the Vehicle ..................................... 65
Jum Starting ............................... 66
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
Identification Plates ..................... 68
Vehicle Data Cards ....................... 69
Technical Data ............................... 70
Fuels, Coolants, Lubricants, etc. 72
Ca acities ................................... 72
Engine Oils ................................. 74
Brake Fluid ................................. 74
Coolants ..................................... 75
Service Literature ......................... 76
Vehicle Operation
Driving
Vehicle Care
Practical Hints
Technical Data - Fuels,
Coolants, Lubricants, etc.
5

Vehicle O eration

nstruments and Controls
For ore detailed descriptions see quoted pages.
1 Swivelling side ventilation outlets ( age 20)
2 Control lever for side ventilation ( age 20)
3 Parking brake release button ( age 34)
4 Hood release lever ( age 34)
5 Parking brake edal ( age 34)
6 Combination switch ( age 18)
7 Lighting switch ( age 17)
8 Instruction tag (exce t tourist vehicle).
Use only unleaded gasoline
9 Cruise control ( age 19)
10 Instrument cluster ( age 10)
11 Horn control
12 Steering lock with ignition/starter
switch ( age 17)
13 Swivelling outlets for cooled air ( age 20)
8
14 450 SL: Switch for front dome lam s
450 SLC: Switch for rear dome lam
15 Switch for automatic antenna ( age 31)
16 Switch for heated rear window ( age 24)
17 450 SLC: Switch for electric sliding roof
( age 28)
18 Radio ( age 29)
19 Automatic climate control ( age 20)
20 Ash tray with lighter ( age 24, 52)
21 450 SLC: Louds eaker - fader
control ( age 30)
22 Switch grou for window lifters ( age 25)
23 Hazard warning flasher switch
Push switch = hazard warning flasher system
switched on
Push switch once more = hazard warning
flasher system switched off
24 Glove com artment (to o en, shift handle
sideways). Only illuminated if steering lock is
in osition “1” or “2”.
25 Louds eaker cover, right and left

nstruments and Controls
9

nstrument Cluster
1 Coolant tem erature gauge (° C)
U to red marking: Maximum ermissible
tem erature for an antifreeze-blended fill
rotecting down to -30° C/-22° F
2 Fuel gauge with reserve warning lam (yellow)
Fuel reserve for a roximately
35-40 km/22-25 miles
For ca acity, refer to age 73 and last age
3 Oil ressure gauge (bar)
4 Main odometer
5 Tri odometer
6 Knob for clock adjustment
( ress in for adjustments)
7 Electric clock
8 Tachometer
9 Red marking on tachometer:
Excessive engine revolutions
10 Turn signal indicator lam , right (green)
11 02-Sensor re lacement indicator lam (red):
When the indicator lam comes on, the
02-Sensor must be re laced
12 Seat belt warning lam (red)
13 Brake ad wear indicator lam (red):
Lam comes on while braking and driving if the
front wheel brake ads are worn down, refer to
age 41
14 Dimmer knob for instrument lam s,
continuous adjustment
15 Resetting knob for tri odometer
( ush button)
16 Brake warning lam (red) comes on if
• the arking brake is engaged
• too little brake fluid is in the reservoir
17 High beam indicator lam (blue)
18 Charge indicator lam (red):
Comes on when the steering lock key is
moved to driving osition “2” and must go
out when the engine is idling
19 Turn signal indicator lam , left (green)
Note
A sto is rovided on the s eedometer at the
138 km/h/85 m h reading. S eeds in excess of
138 km/h/85 m h will no longer be recorded.

nstrument Cluster
li mm mill
(
9224
11

Keys Doors
>
Flat Key
The flat key fits all vehicle
locks. We recommend that
you carry the flat key with
you and kee it in a safe
lace so that it is always
handy, if needed (e.g. in
your wallet). Never leave
the flat key in the vehicle.
Master Key - square headed - 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 com artment and trunk
with the master key.
Obtaining Replacement Keys
Re lacement keys can be obtained
only via MERCEDES-BENZ service
stations. If the keys are lost,
assistance is rather time con
suming and ex ensive.
Opening the Doors
From outside: ull handle
outwards (1).
From inside: ull handle in door
anel (4).
Locking and Unlocking of Doors
From the outside: turn key.
From the inside: actuate safety
catch.
2 Unlocking
3 Locking
One cannot lock:
• the driver’s door if it is o en.
• any door if the door lock has
not engaged fully. In this case
o en the door and shut it again.
12

Master Lock System
The master lock system enables the
front assenger door, the fuel tank
filler fla and the trunk lid to
be locked or unlocked together
with the driver’s door. When locking
or unlocking, the locking levers
on both doors must move simul
taneously. If one locking lever fails
to do so, the lock of that articular
door is not ro erly engaged.
The door must then be o ened and
closed correctly.
With the master lock system in the
locked osition, the front assenger
door can be locked and unlocked
either with the locking lever or
with the key.
Actuation of the locking lever on
the front assenger door, however,
is not ossible when the master
lock system is in the unlocked
osition.
The trunk lid can also be unlocked
se arately by turning master key
counterclockwise to the sto . Push
the trunk lock button in with it and
lift the lid. Return the key to its
initial osition and withdraw it. To
lock the lid, close it firmly. It will
then be locked again by the master
lock system.
A rovision has been made to
facilitate ermanent locking of the
trunk lid for ositive revention
of access to trunk by unauthorized
ersons.
Before leaving vehicle with an
attendant, lock trunk with master
key (square head) by turning key
clockwise to sto (tumbler slot
vertical), then rovide attendant
with round-headed su lementary
key. Thus, the trunk lock has been
excluded from the o eration of the
master lock system and cannot be
o ened exce t with the square
headed master key.
Keys Doors
To reverse this, turn trunk lock
counterclockwise back to hori
zontal osition 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 de ending
on whether the driver’s door
is locked or unlocked.
The master lock system o erates
on vacuum generated bytheengine.
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
eriod.
If no vacuum is available, doors and
trunk have to be locked individually
in the normal manner. The fuel
tank filler fla , however, remains
unlocked.
Note:
If the filler fla cannot be o ened
when the master lock system is
unlocked, refer to "Unlocking of the
Filler Fla ” ( age 64).
13

Adjustment of Driver’s Seat and
Front Passenger Seat
Forward/backward adjustment:
lift handle (1), ush seat backward
or forward and allow handle to re
engage.
Height adjustment of driver’s seat
(3 ositions): ull out rotary
handles (2) at the rear ends of the
guide rails, turn to desired osition
and allow to reengage.
The height of the front assenger
seat can be adjusted, if necessary,
by relocating the guide rails
(2 ositions). To do so, unscrew both
the rear clam ing screws and screw
in again at the res ective bore.
14
Back rest tilt: turn handwheel (3)
back or forth.
For full reclining of backrest, seat
should be moved to one of the
forwardmost ositions and headrest
removed. For driving, return back
rest to u right osition and ush
seat back. Re lace headrest.
450 SL: After disengaging the
sto by lifting knob (4), the back rest
can be folded forwards.
450 SLC: Backrests are vacuum-
locked when the doors are closed.
One can unlock them from the rear
seat by means of a button (5)
accommodated in the res ective
lateral anelling of the rear
assenger com artment. With
o ened doors the backrests will
fold forward without ressing the
buttons.
Note:
Prior to o erating the vehicle, the
driver should adjust the seat height
for ro er vision as well as fore-aft
lacement and seat back angle to
insure adequate control, reach,
o eration, and comfort. The head
rest should also be adjusted for
ro er height so that when the
cushion is ti ed com letely for
ward, it should form a cradle behind
the seat occu ant’s head. Both the
inside and outside rearview mirrors
should then be adjusted for ade
quate rearward vision. Fasten 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 a roved restraint system
ro erly secured.
All seat, headrest, and rear view
mirror adjustments as well as faste
ning of seat belts should be accom
lished before the vehicle is ut
into motion.

Seats
450 SLC
Unfastening, front and rear:
• De ress red button (3) in
buckle (2).
• Return tongue (1) to initial
osition.
450 SLC: On entering or leaving the
rear assenger com artment, the
safety belt must be disengaged
from guide (4).
i
Safety Belts
Warning System:
The indicator is illuminated for
4-8 seconds after turning the
steering lock key to osition “2” .
If the safety belt of the driver’s seat
is not fastened a warning buzzer
sounds simultaneously.
Fastening of front and rear seat
belts (with inertia reel):
• Pull belt with tongue (1) across
shoulder and la . The belt must
not be twisted and must be tight.
• Press tongue (1) into buckle (2)
and allow to engage audibly.
15

Seats
>
O eration of belts with inertia reel:
The safety belt inertia reel sto s the
belt from unwinding further in case
of vehicle deceleration in any direc
tion or if the belt is ulled out
quickly.
Functional test:
The locking function of the inertia
reel can be tested by braking,
driving around a bend or by ulling
the belt out quickly.
Note:
No safety belt can be used for more
than one erson. Belts are not
intended for children.
After an accident, ins ect the safety
belts and re lace them, if required.
The belt anchors in the vehicle
should also be checked.
Renew damaged belt webbing.
Belt webbing must not be routed
via shar edges.
No modifications which may affect
the efficiency of the belts must be
made.
For cleaning and care of belt
webbing, refer to age 49.
Safety Headrest
Adjust headrest to su ort the back
of the head at the level of the
u er end of the ear.
Height adjustment:
Press headrest slightly forward (1)
and reset u ward or downward.
Detaching headrests:
Pull headrest out to the sto .
Release arrester by de ressing
locking knob to be felt under the
backrest covering material and
ull u headrest, holding it by the
LH headrest ost (viewed in driving
direction). Finally ull out headrest
com letely with both hands.
The headrest locking knob of the
front seat is located below the LH
headrest ost (2).
16

Controls
9232
Steering Lock
0 Steering is locked when the key
is withdrawn and the steering
lock is engaged. The key can be
withdrawn only in zero osition.
Note:
Do not remove key from steering
lock while the vehicle is in mo
tion as this will cause the en
gagement of the steering lock
thus rendering the vehicle in
o erable.
Steering is unlocked.
(If necessary, move steering
wheel slightly to turn the
key clockwise to osition “1 ”.)
2 Driving osition
Starting:
Continue turning key clockwise to
the sto . The starter is engaged
when the key is ressed against
the sto . The starter nonre eat unit
requires the key to be returned to
osition “0” rior to a new starting
attem t.
Notes:
The following items can be
o erated with the key in steering
lock osition “1” .
Wi er, windshield washer, head
lam flasher, lighter, glove com art
ment lam , radio, electric seat
heater for front seats.
The ower su ly to the standing
lam s is disru ted if the key in the
steering lock is in osition “2” .
A warning buzzer sounds when
the key has been left in steering
lock ositions “1” or “0” and the
driver’s door is o ened.
Lighting Switch
0 Off- osition
1 Parking lam s (includes side
marker lam s, tail lam s, license
late lam s, instrument anel
lam s)
4
2 Same as os. 1 lus headlam s
3 Standing lam s, right
4 Standing lam s, left
A Turn to osition 2 and ull out
to first detent = same as
osition 2 lus fog lam s
B Available for an o tion
Note:
With the steering lock key removed
and the driver’s door or the front
assenger's door o en a signal
sounds if the vehicle’s exterior
lam s are not switched off
(standing lam s exce ted).
17

Controls
I
Combination Switch
1 Low beam (lighting switch
turned clockwise to 2nd notch)
2 High beam (lighting switch
turned clockwise to 2nd notch)
3 Headlam flasher (high beam
available inde endent of
lighting switch osition)
4 Turn signals, right
5 Turn signals, left
18
To o erate the turn signals, move
the combination switch ast the
oint of resistance (u or down).
The switch is automatically can
celled when the steering wheel is
turned by a large enough angle.
To signal minor directional changes
of the vehicle, such as changing
lanes on a highway, move combi
nation switch to the oint of resi
stance only and hold it there.
6 Control for windshield washer
system
When the washer system is
switched on, the wi ers also
o erate
7 Windshield wi er control
0 Windshield wi er switched off
1 Intermittent wi ing
II Normal wi er s eed
III High wi er s eed
Hints:
If one of the turn signals fails,
the turn signal indicator system
flashes and sounds at a faster
sequence than under normal
o erating conditions.
Fog lam s will only o erate
together with low beam headlam s.
Fog lam s are turned off auto
matically when lighting switch is
returned to off- osition.