1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

Sedan 10 trims listed 1991 →

Fuel tank capacity

18.5–23.8gal · 70–90 L

The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class has a fuel tank capacity of 18.5 to 23.8 gallons (70–90 liters), depending on the trim. The most common size is 18.5 gallons, used on 4 trims.

A full tank is good for roughly 342–422 highway miles or 278–357 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

23.8 gal · Bigger than 86% of 1990 models we list.

Highway range
342–422 mi
City range
278–357 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
Tank sizes
4
Trims
10

1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Drive
Engine

All 10 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
300D Turbodiesel 4dr Sedan 2.5L 5cyl diesel 4A · RWD Diesel MPG 23 / 30 2.5L 5cyl diesel 4A Diesel RWD Not published 23 / 30 Not rated
300CE 2dr Coupe 3.0L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 15 / 20Range 278 / 370 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A RWD 18.5 gal70 L 15 / 20 278 / 370 mi
300E 2.6 4dr Sedan 2.6L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 17 / 21Range 315 / 389 mi 2.6L 6cyl 4A RWD 18.5 gal70 L 17 / 21 315 / 389 mi
300E 4MATIC 4dr Sedan AWD 3.0L 6cyl 4A · AWD MPG 15 / 20Range 278 / 370 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A AWD 18.5 gal70 L 15 / 20 278 / 370 mi
300E 4dr Sedan 3.0L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 16 / 20Range 296 / 370 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A RWD 18.5 gal70 L 16 / 20 296 / 370 mi
300TE 4MATIC 4dr Wagon AWD 3.0L 6cyl 4A · AWD MPG 15 / 18Range 285 / 342 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A AWD 19.0 gal72 L 15 / 18 285 / 342 mi
300TE 4dr Wagon 3.0L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 15 / 19Range 285 / 361 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A RWD 19.0 gal72 L 15 / 19 285 / 361 mi
300SL 2dr Convertible 3.0L 6cyl 5M · RWD MPG 14 / 20Range 295 / 422 mi 3.0L 6cyl 5M RWD 21.1 gal80 L 14 / 20 295 / 422 mi
300SE 4dr Sedan 3.0L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 15 / 17Range 357 / 405 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A RWD 23.8 gal90 L 15 / 17 357 / 405 mi
300SEL 4dr Sedan 3.0L 6cyl 4A · RWD MPG 15 / 17Range 357 / 405 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A RWD 23.8 gal90 L 15 / 17 357 / 405 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG. "Not published" means no source we trust gives that trim's tank size.

How far a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 16 MPG, a full 23.8-gallon tank covers about 381 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full23.8405357
3/417.9303268
1/211.9202179
1/46.010189
1/83.05145

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 938 gallons, roughly 39 full tanks.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

What it costs to fill up a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class

$78.99 to fill the 18.5-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
18.5 galRegular$4.27$78.99$59.25
19.0 galRegular$4.27$81.13$60.85
21.1 galRegular$4.27$90.10$67.57
23.8 galRegular$4.27$101.63$76.22

By region, 18.5-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$74.37
Midwest$4.27$78.99
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$68.45
Rocky Mountain$4.46$82.51
West Coast$5.42$100.27
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$108.96

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 18.5-gallon tank$78.99
  • 19.0-gallon tank$81.13
  • 21.1-gallon tank$90.10
  • 23.8-gallon tank$101.63
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$4,003

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

300-Class tank size in other years

1990 is the first 300-Class model year we list.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
1993 300-Class 18.5–26.4 gal 581 mi
1992 300-Class 18.5–26.4 gal 581 mi
1991 300-Class 18.5–23.8 gal 555 mi
1990 300-Class 18.5–23.8 gal 422 mi
Mercedes-Benz 300-Class fuel tank by model yearSmallest tank Larger tank options

1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class vs similar 1990 sedans

At 23.8 gallons, the 300-Class's largest tank ranks second of the seven 1990 sedans compared here. The Jaguar XJ-Series carries the most (24.0 gal) and the Saab 9000 the least (17.4 gal).

1990 modelTankLongest highway range
Jaguar XJ-Series 21.6–24.0 gal 464 mi
Mercedes-Benz 300-Class 18.5–23.8 gal 422 mi
BMW 5 Series 21.1 gal 485 mi
Audi 200 20.6–21.1 gal 474 mi
Volvo 760 15.8–21.0 gal 420 mi
Cadillac Seville 18.8 gal 432 mi
Saab 9000 17.4 gal 452 mi

Other 1990 sedans of a similar size, one model per brand.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class?

The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class holds between 18.5 and 23.8 gallons, depending on the trim. 18.5 gallons is the usual size; the 23.8-gallon tank comes on the 300SE 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 4A).

How many gallons and liters does the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class gas tank hold?

The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class tank holds 70–90 liters, or 18.5–23.8 gallons in US gallons.

Which 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class has the biggest gas tank?

The 23.8-gallon tank is on the 300SE 4dr Sedan, 300SEL 4dr Sedan. The smallest tank, 18.5 gallons, is on the 300CE 2dr Coupe.

Does AWD change the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class gas tank?

Yes. RWD: 18.5–23.8 gal; AWD: 18.5–19.0 gal.

How far can a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class go on a full tank?

About 342–422 miles on the highway and 278–357 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class go on a quarter tank?

About 101 highway miles or 89 in town from the 23.8-gallon tank, which has roughly 6.0 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

What gas does the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 18.5-gallon tank from empty costs $78.99. It ranges from $68.45 in the Gulf Coast to $108.96 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class?

About 148 pounds for the 23.8-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class have a bigger gas tank than the BMW 5 Series?

Yes. The 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class holds up to 23.8 gallons; the 1990 BMW 5 Series holds up to 21.1.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings. Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 1990 Mercedes-Benz models