Mercedes-Benz 1985 380SE, Owner'S Manual

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Spare Parts Service
Cleaning and Care of the Vehicle
All MERCEDES-BENZ dealers main­
tain a stock of original spare parts
required for maintenance and repair
work. In addition, strategically
located parts distribution centers
provide quick and reliable parts
service. More than 200 000 different
spare parts, even for older models,
are available.
MERCEDES-BENZ original spare
parts are subjected to most severe
quality inspections. Each part has
been specifically developed, manu­
factured or selected for and adapted
to MERCEDES-BENZ vehicles.
Therefore, MERCEDES-BENZ
original spare parts should be
installed.
In operation, your vehicle is
subjected to a great amount of
varying external influences which, if
gone unchecked, can attack the
paintwork as well as the underbody
and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by
extreme and varying climatic condi­
tions, but also by air pollution, road
salt, tar, gravel and stone chipping.
Grease and oil, fuel, coolant, brake
fluid, bird droppings, tree resins, etc.
should immediately be removed to
avoid paint damage. Frequent
washing, however, reduces and/or
eliminates the aggressiveness and
potency of the above adverse
influences.
More frequent washings are neces­
sary to deal with unfavorable condi­
tions; for example, near the ocean,
in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions), or during winter opera­
tion.
You should check your vehicle from
time to time for stone chipping or
other damage. Any damage should
be repaired as soon as possible to
prevent the start of corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the
underside of the car. A prerequisite
for a thorough check is a washing of
the underbody followed by a
thorough inspection. Damaged
areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the
factory with a wax-base rustproofing
in the body cavities which will last
for the lifetime of the vehicle. Post­
production treatment is neither
necessary nor recommended by
MERCEDES-BENZ because of the
possibility of incompatibility
between materials used in the
production process and others
applied later.
After every engine cleaning you
should have the engine compart­
ment re-rustproofed. Before rust-
proofing, all control linkage
bushings have to be lubricated with
hydraulic oil (check with your local
MERCEDES-BENZ dealership for
recommended brands).
We have selected car-care products
and compiled recommendations
which are specially matched to our
vehicles and which always reflect
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