Four-door long-wheelbase rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan · 3.8-liter M116 fuel-injected V8 (155 hp U.S.)
1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL Automatic
The long-wheelbase 380 SEL was the gasoline half of the two-model 1981 U.S. W126 launch range.
Photo: “1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE (W 126) sedan (25041740475)” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Factory configuration
What this model is
- Trim
- 380 SEL
- Body style
- Four-door long-wheelbase rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan
- Engine
- 3.8-liter M116 fuel-injected V8 (155 hp U.S.)
- Transmission
- 4-speed automatic
Compare related 1981 configurations
Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.
Browse all documented 1981 configurations →
Compare 2 related configurations — current car marked
| Configuration | Engine | Transmission | Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Automatic | 3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp) | 4-speed automatic | Four-door rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan |
| Current carMercedes-Benz 380 SEL Automatic | 3.8-liter M116 fuel-injected V8 (155 hp U.S.) | 4-speed automatic | Four-door long-wheelbase rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan |
Configuration-specific ownership
Maintenance for this exact configuration
These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.
Service desk
What this car needs & when
Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL Automatic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.
- Service topics
- 2
- Scheduled topics
- 0
- Applicability stated
- 2
- Exact references
- 1
Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.
Engine air filterView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine air filter
Exact reference available
The part reference below is catalog fitment only; retain the separately sourced factory service interval where one is shown.
380 SEL — 3.8-liter M116 fuel-injected V8 (155 hp U.S.)
K&N E-2872
Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W126 S-Class table — 380 SEL, 1981 — E-2872 · checked
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N E-2872
Qty. 1 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
K&N lists one element for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W126 S-Class table — 380 SEL, 1981 — E-2872 · checked
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Engine oil filterView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine oil filter
Fitment must be confirmed
Use the exact engine, VIN, and build date to confirm the catalogued service part before ordering.
Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.
Sources
Other 1981 configurations