Mercedes-Benz 380 SL 1985, 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 lo­
cated 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 adapt­
ed to MERCEDES-BENZ vehicles.
Therefore, MERCEDES-BENZ origi­
nal spare parts should be installed.
In operation, your vehicle is sub­
jected to a great amount of varying
external influences which, if gone
unchecked, can attack the paint­
work as well as the underbody and
cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only
by extreme and varying climatic
conditions, but also by air pollution,
road salt, tar, gravel and stone
chipping. Grease and oil, fuel, cool­
ant, brake fluid, bird droppings, tree
resins, etc. should be immediately
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 over your vehicle
from time to time for stone chipping
or other damage. Any damage
should be repaired as soon as pos­
sible to prevent the start of corro­
sion.
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 rust-
proofing in the body cavities which
will last for the lifetime of the
vehicle. Post-production treatment
is neither necessary nor recom­
mended by MERCEDES-BENZ
because of the possibility of incom­
patibility 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 pro­
ducts and compiled recommenda­
tions which are specially matched
to our vehicles and which always
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