Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2009 Owner's Manual page 203

Care
200
damage to paintwork due to improper treat-
ment.
! Under no circumstances should you pol-
ish the vehicle. Polishing will make the
paintwork shine.
! When caring for your paintwork, do not
use paint cleaner, grinding or polishing
products, or gloss preservers such as wax.
These products are only suitable for high-
gloss finishes. Using them on a vehicle with
a matt finish results in serious damage to
the surface (gleaming, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i
From the range of available Mercedes-
Benz care products, use only the insect
remover and the car shampoo.
Cleaning the paintwork
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop immediately, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Remove the following types of dirt immedi-
X
ately, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak:
insect remains with insect remover
R
bird droppings with water
R
and rinse off the treated surface after-
wards.
Remove:
tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by rub-
R
bing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-
leum ether or lighter fluid
tar stain with tar remover
R
wax with silicone remover
R
! Do not affix:
stickers
R
films
R
magnetic plates or similar items
R
to painted surfaces. Otherwise, you could
damage the paintwork.
Cleaning the Cabriolet soft top
Light soiling: you can clean the soft top
X
while it is dry or rinse it with clear water.
Normal to heavy soiling: you can clean
X
the soft top with a brush and clear water.
Clean stains and other heavy soiling with a
brush and a suitable soft-top cleaning
agent. Always brush in the direction of the
fabric, from front to back.
! Never use any of the following to clean the
soft top:
petrol
R
thinner
R
tar or stain remover
R
other organic solvents
R
! Remove bird droppings immediately as
they are corrosive and, therefore, can make
the soft-top fabric leak. Do not use high-
pressure cleaning equipment to clean the
vehicle. Do not use sharp-edged equipment
to remove ice and snow.
Frequent cleaning reduces the resistance to
dirt of the soft top.
To restore this resistance, clean your soft top
with Mercedes-Benz soft top care products.
Incorrect cleaning and care, as well as ageing,
can cause soft-top seams to leak. Have the
soft-top seams sealed at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
i
Cover the soft top with a suitable cover if
you plan to leave the vehicle outside for a
long period of time.