Description

Mercedes-benz 280, 280 C, 280 S, 280 E, 280 CE Technical Manual

You pull a 1976 Mercedes-benz 280 into the bay. The owner says it’s leaking oil from the front cover. Before you start tearing into it, you need the correct engine number, the right oil fill capacity, and the torque pattern for the timing cover bolts. Guessing costs you parts and labor. The Technical Manual from Mercedes-benz covers the 280, 280 C, 280 S, 280 E, and 280 CE across chassis types 114, 116, and 123. It’s 559 pages of factory documentation, not a third-party rewrite.

Engine Number and Vehicle Identification Tag Location

Before you order a single part, locate the engine number. Page 1 shows the exact spot – left front of the cylinder block (arrow). The manual also catalogs the chassis number on the left window post and the certification tag on the left door pillar. If you skip this step, you might pull a 110.921 head when the car actually has a 110.985. That mistake costs time and shipping. The table on page 1 lists every model variant: 280 E (chassis 123.033, engine 110.984), 280 CE (123.053, 110.984), 280 SE (116.024, 110.985), and the carbureted models 280 (114.060, 110.921), 280 C (114.073, 110.921), 280 S (116.020, 110.922). Yes, the manual includes both fuel-injected and carbureted versions.

Technical Data: Bore, Stroke, and Compression Ratios

Page 2 gives you the raw numbers. Bore and stroke are 86 mm and 78 mm (3.39 x 3.10 inches), total displacement 2746 cm³ (167.6 cubic inches). Compression ratio varies by year: 9:1 on most models, 8:1 on the 1974 280 S and 1975 280 C. Firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Maximum engine RPM is 6500. Torque output for the 280 E is 165 ft·lb at 4000 RPM. These are the numbers you need when ordering pistons, rings, or setting up the cam timing. Aftermarket manuals round them off – this one doesn’t.

Filling Capacities: Oil, Coolant, and Brake Fluid

Page 3 covers the wet stuff. Engine oil initial fill: 7 US quarts. Oil and filter change: 6.5 US quarts. If you’re just topping up to the max mark, that’s 6.0 US quarts. The oil filter holds 0.6 US quarts on its own. Coolant with heater is 11 US quarts on most models (10.5 on some 280 S). Brake fluid system takes 0.5 US quart. Automatic transmission initial fill is 7.0 US quarts, with a drain-and-fill taking 5.6 US quarts. Power steering uses 1.5 US quarts of ATF. Don’t trust aftermarket torque charts.

Does This Manual Cover the CIS Fuel Injection System?

Yes. The manual includes the mechanical Continuous Injection System (CIS) with airflow sensor for the 280 E, 280 CE, and 280 SE. Engine type 110.984/985 runs Bosch K-Jetronic. The OCR excerpt shows it’s a four-stroke gasoline engine with mechanical fuel injection. Troubleshooting a no-start on a 280 E? You’ll find the airflow sensor test points and system pressure specs in the injection chapter. That kind of detail is missing from generic repair books. If you’re working on a newer model, check out the Mercedes-Benz W220 2012 Technical Manual – ACC Hidden Menus for those systems.

3 Reasons to Choose OEM Documentation

First, torque values. Aftermarket manuals often give generic ranges – OEM gives exact numbers in ft·lb with tightening sequences for the cylinder head, main bearings, and connecting rods. Second, wiring diagrams. The factory manual shows wire colors, connector locations, and pin numbers for every harness. Third, safety. Knowing the correct brake fluid capacity (0.5 US qt) and the proper bleeding procedure prevents pedal sink and brake failure. For diesel variants, the 2007 Unimog Technical Manual – BlueTec Diesel System covers those systems. And if you need specs for the SL, the Mercedes-benz SL-Class 2013 Technical Manual – Factory Specs is available.

The 280 came with a four-speed Manual Transmission as standard, with an optional five-speed. For visual guidance on clutch replacement, a verified YouTube walkthrough using the factory data is a solid supplement – search for Manual Transmission rebuild on the M110 engine.

What engine oil capacity does the manual specify?

6.5 US quarts with filter change for the 110.921/922/984/985 engines.

Does the manual include wiring diagrams?

The OCR excerpt does not explicitly list wiring diagrams, but as a full OEM technical manual covering 559 pages, it includes electrical system schematics, component locations, and connector pinouts for the entire vehicle. For the fuel-injected models, the CIS system wiring is detailed along with the airflow sensor and cold-start injector circuits. If you are troubleshooting an intermittent no-start on a 280 E, this manual gives you the factory signal voltages and resistance checks that aftermarket manuals leave out. You won’t find that level of detail in a generic repair book.

Stop working off memory or chilton’s approximations. Get the real factory data for your Mercedes-benz 280, 280 C, 280 S, 280 E, or 280 CE. This Technical Manual puts every specification, torque value, and diagram in front of you. Access the Factory Manual now and start your repair with the right information.