Mercedes-Benz C 220 1996, Owner'S Manual

Page: 114 / 153

Cleaning and Care of the
Vehicle
In operation, your vehicle is
subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone un­
checked, 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 pol­
lution, road salt, tar, gravel and
stone chipping. Grease and oil,
fuel, coolant, brake fluid, bird
droppings, tree resins etc. should
be removed immediately to avoid
paint damage. Frequent washing,
however, reduces and/or elim i­
nates the aggressiveness and
potency of the above adverse
influences.
More frequent washings are
necessary to deal with unfavor­
able conditions; for example, near
the ocean, in industrial areas
(smoke, exhaust emissions), or
during winter operation.
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 prere­
quisite for a thorough check is a
washing of the underbody fol­
lowed 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.
We have selected car-care
products and compiled recom­
mendations which are specially
matched to our vehicles and which
always reflect the latest techno­
logy. You can obtain MB car-care
products at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Scratches, corrosive deposits,
corrosion or damage due to ne­
gligent or incorrect care cannot
always be removed or repaired
with the car-care products re­
commended here. In such cases it
is best to seek aid at your au­
thorized Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The following topics deal with the
cleaning and care of your vehicle
and give important “ how-to”
information as well as references
to recommended MB car-care
products.
Additional information can be
found in the booklet titled “ Car
Care".
Warning!
Many cleaning products can
be hazardous. Some are
poisonous, others are flam­
mable. Always follow the
instructions on the particular
container. Always open your
car’s doors or windows when
cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents
that are not designed for
cleaning your car.
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