I've just bought a '99 E200 and need help

[Gerald]

Hi everybody

I have just bought my first Mercedes, well swapped our last car for it any way and am very pleased with it.

Unfortunatly there was no handbook with the car, for a change, I have worked out most things but there are a couple that I'm not sure about, hopefully somebody will be able to help.

The car is a 1999 UK model E200 Avantguard 47k miles.

1. I cannot find a dipstick in the engine bay to check the auto transmission fluid, any ideas where it is, if there is one at all. If not what do I do?

2. What does the EC button do on the dash, it is near the heater controls but nothing seems to happen when it is turned on, or off.

3. Is there a normal driving mode for the gearbox, other auto's I have driven have 3 settings, winter, sports and normal but the switch in the Merc only seems to have 2, winter or sports.

4. Is there anything I should watch out for or do, common faults with the car, it seems to be using a lot of fuel, have put this down to the size of the car getting around 150 miles for £20 of petrol, used to 200 miles in our 2 litre Mondeo.

And finaly
5. Can you recomend a good workshop manual for the car, I like to think of myself as a pretty good amatuer mechanic but it is always handy to have a handbook next to you even if it is just confirming what you already thought.

Thanks in advance to everybody who replies, I know it's a lot but there is so much to know. Hopefully I will be able to help you out in the future.

 

[GaryC]

Hello,

Congradulation! you got a Mercedes!!!!

1) SOrry I don't know about the dipstick of teh gearbox, as I also can't find one, and I have been told that is maintance free... IF u anyone know about this, please let us know...

2)EC button is switch on and off the economy mode basically the air-con on/off switch, if it press it with the light on, then ie the economy mode, in which the air-con will OFF.

3) Basically for the gear box, is winter and summer, which basically in winter mode, it restrict the start off power, byusing the 2nd gear to start the car, but summer mode it will use the 1st gear. and in winter mode, the gear box will shift earlier, so it will have higher fuel economy.

In the old model Merc, like the W124, it called Sport mode and Economy..... which basically the same thing...

4)Sorry I can't sugget about the fuel economy, but is a big car!! 150mile for £20 is not that big I think.... but definately the Mondeo is lighter then your E200!! so it should use less fuel!

5) I am sorry to tell u that, there are no workshop manual avaliable for it.... I keep searching for it, but seem Mercedes don't want anyone to touch the car, so they haven't release everything... what u could do, is search for teh ebay.... if u could possibly find anything, please let us know!!

hope this can help!!


Gary!

 

[dieselman]

Definately no auto box dipstick. there is one available but it is only for checking the level and can't be left in for driving.

Fuel consumption is a bit high on all petrol models, especially as the auto box uses about 5 mpg extra.

No manuals at all. Your dealer is duty bound to provide any information you need.