Mercedes-Benz 108 series, W108 (EU)

Coolant capacity & service interval

Mercedes-Benz 108 series, W108 (EU) coolant capacity ranges from 10,8 to 13,2 liters. Service intervals require checks every 10000 km or 6 months. The data covers 5 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
280SE, SEL 3.5, 108.057/058 (1970-1972)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 13,2 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months
280S, 108.016 (1968-1972)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months
280SE, SEL, 108.018/019 (1968-1972)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 10,8 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months
250S, 108.012 (1965-1969)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 11,4 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months
250SE, 108.014 (1965-1968)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 11,4 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months

Additional Notes

  • The Mercedes-Benz W108 coolant system check interval is 10,000 km or every 6 months across all listed variants, applied under normal use conditions.
  • The 250S (108.012) and 250SE (108.014) share an identical cooling system capacity of 11.4 liters, placing them above the 10.8-liter figure seen in the inline-six 280 variants.
  • The 280S (108.016) and 280SE/SEL (108.018/019) both carry a cooling system capacity of 10.8 liters, the lowest figure among all W108 variants listed here.
  • The 280SE/SEL 3.5 (108.057/058), covering 1970-1972, holds a cooling system capacity of 13.2 liters, the largest among all listed W108 configurations, reflecting the greater thermal demands of the M116 V8 engine compared to the inline-six units in other variants.
  • The capacity difference between the 280SE/SEL 3.5 at 13.2 liters and the inline-six 280SE/SEL at 10.8 liters amounts to 2.4 liters, a meaningful distinction when filling or bleeding the cooling system.
  • The 250S production span of 1965-1969 and the 250SE span of 1965-1968 overlap substantially, yet both share the same 11.4-liter capacity and identical service check intervals throughout.
  • A 10,000 km or 6-month check interval, whichever comes first, is a time-distance combined schedule, meaning calendar time alone can trigger a service requirement even when mileage accumulation is low.

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