Mercedes-Benz S 320 1999, Owner'S Manual

Page: 130 / 169

Cleaning and Care of the Vehicle
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.
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 pollution,
road salt, tar, gravel and stone
chipping. Grease and oil, fuel, cool­
ant, brake fluid, bird droppings,
insects, tree resins etc. should be
removed immediately to avoid
paint damage. Frequent washing
reduces and/or eliminates the
aggressiveness and potency of the
above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are
necessary to deal with unfavorable
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 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 ve­
hicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommend­
ed 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 prod­
ucts and compiled recommenda­
tions which are specially matched
to our vehicles and which always
reflect the latest technology. You
can obtain Mercedes-Benz
approved car care products at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Scratches, corrosive deposits,
corrosion or damage due to negli­
gent or incorrect care cannot
always be removed or repaired
with the car care products recom­
mended here. In such cases it is
best to seek aid at your authorized
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 Mercedes-Benz approved car
care products.
Additional information can be found
in the booklet titled “Car Care".
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