
Safe driving11
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
–Fasten your seat belt correctly  ⇒page 19.
– Keep both feet in the footwell so that you have the vehicle under  control at all times.Adjustment of the driver's seat  ⇒page 125.
WARNING
•
An incorrect sitting position of the driver can lead to severe injuries.
•
Adjust the driver's seat so that ther e is at least 25 cm distance between 
the centre of the chest and the hub of the steering wheel  ⇒page 10, fig. 1 . 
If you are sitting nearer than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect you 
properly.
•
If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the 
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact a qualified workshop. The workshop 
will help you decide if special specific modifications are necessary.
•
When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the 
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and  3 o'clock positions. This reduces the 
risk of injury when the driver airbag is triggered.
•
Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position, or in any other 
manner (e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, you may 
sustain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
•
To reduce the risk of injury to the driver during sudden braking manoeu-
vres or an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted far back! The airbag 
system and seat belts can only provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver is wearing his or her seat belt 
properly. The further the backrests are ti lted to the rear, the greater the risk 
of injury due to incorrect positioning of  the belt web or the incorrect sitting 
position!
•
Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve optimal protection.
Proper sitting position for front passenger
The front passenger must sit at least 25 cm away from the 
dash panel so that the airbag can provide the greatest 
possible protection in the event that it is triggered.For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an 
accident, we recommend the following adjustments for the front 
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible ⇒ .
– Move the backrest to an upright position so that your back rests  completely against it.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same  level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same 
level as the top of your head  ⇒page 13.
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the front passenger seat.
– Fasten your seat belt correctly  ⇒page 19.It is possible to deactivate the passenger airbag in  exceptional circum-
stances  ⇒ page 25.
For detailed information on how to adjust the front passenger's seat, see 
⇒ page 128.
WARNING
•
An incorrect sitting position of the front passenger can lead to severe 
injuries.
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Airbag system
44Deactivating airbags*Disabling front passenger airbag
If you fit a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat, 
the front passenger front and side airbags must be disabled.
When the passenger airbag is  deactivated, this means that only the 
frontal airbag is deactivated. All the other airbags in the vehicle 
remain functional.
Disabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key operated switch in the glove  box to the position  OFF ⇒ fig. 26 .
– Check that the warning lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” in the  dash panel  ⇒fig. 27  remains lit ⇒ when the ignition is 
switched on.
Enabling front passenger airbag
– Switch off ignition.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key-operated switch in the glove  box to the position  ON ⇒fig. 26 .
Fig. 26  In the glove box 
there is key switch for 
disabling and enabling 
the airbags on the front 
passenger side
Fig. 27  Warning lamp for 
deactivated passenger 
airbag in centre console
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Airbag system45
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
– Check that the warning lamp “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF” in the 
dash panel does  ⇒page 44, fig. 27 not light up when the igni-
tion is switched on  ⇒.
WARNING
•
The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated 
switch. 
•
You should deactivate the front passenger airbag only if you have to use 
a rear-facing child seat in exceptional cases. ⇒ page 46, “Child safety”.
•
Never install a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat unless 
the front passenger airbag has been disabled. Risk of potentially fatal inju-
ries to the child! However, if it is necessary in exceptional circumstances to 
transport a child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, you 
must always disable the front passenger airbag.
•
As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger 
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.
•
Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, this will create a danger that 
in case of an accident, the airbag do es not deploy properly or does not 
deploy at all.
•
If, while the passenger airbag is tu rned off, the indicator PASSENGER 
AIRBAG OFF on the instrument panel does  not remain lit, this could indicate 
a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a qualified work-
shop.
− Do not use a child seat in the front passenger seat! The front 
passenger airbag could be triggered in an accident despite the fact that 
there is a fault in the system. A child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries.
− It is not certain whether the front passenger airbag will deploy 
during an accident! Inform your passengers of this.
•
When using the ignition key to activate / deactivate the passenger 
frontal airbag, only the passenger frontal airbag will be activated / deacti-
vated. The side airbag and  head airbag on the passenger side will remain 
active.WARNING (continued)
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Cockpit55
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Operating instructionsCockpitOverviewOverview of the instrument panel
This overview will help you to  familiarise yourself with the 
controls and displays quickly.
Door release lever 
Light switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . 
Air vent
Lighting control for instrument and  control lighting   . . . . . . . . 
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Turn signal and main beam lever and cruise control system* . 
Instrument panel:
− Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Indication lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Horn (works only when the igni tion is on)/ and driver front 
airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen wiper and windscreen wash lever and operation of 
the multi-function display *  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Thumb wheel for left seat heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Controls for
− Heating* and ventilation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
− Air conditioning*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  −
Air conditioner*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio
Thumb wheel for right seat heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Indication lamp for deactivated  front passenger airbag  . . . . . 
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Glove compartment lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Gear shift lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cup holder compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Handbrake
Pedals
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Handle for releasing the bonnet  . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Button for opening and closing the front windows  . . . . . . . . . 
Safety switch* for the rear windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Control* for opening and closing the rear windows . . . . . . . . . 
Note
Some of the items of equipment listed here are fitted only on certain models 
or are optional extras.
A1A2
109
A3A4
111
A5
111
A6 
113
A7
56
59
71
A8
30
A9
118, 61
A10
129
A11
145
147 150
A12A13
129
A14
44
A15
30
A16
131
A17
162
A18
135
A19A20A21
157
A22
201
A23
104
A24
104
A25
104
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Index
278Engine oil pressure
Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  199
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80, 175
Example of menu use Open the configuration menu  . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Program a speed limit warning  . . . . . . . . . .  67
To activate and deactivate the speed limit warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Examples of menu use Open the main menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
Open the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .  67
To close the winter tyres menu . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Exterior mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  188
External aerial  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  195FFastening rings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
Fire extinguisher  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  142
First-aid kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  142
Floor mats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109
Folding the seat backrests down . . . . . . . . . . .  130
Foot brake Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
Front airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34 Description  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37 Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . .  44
Front reading lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  116
Front seat adjustment
Lumbar support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  128
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  200
Petrol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  199
Fuel level Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Fuel reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74 warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Fuel Tank Opening the fuel tank flap  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  198
Fuel tank See Fuel reserve  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
Fuses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  233
GG 12  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  209
Gear shift pattern  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  161
General overview of the engine compartment   260
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  131
Glow plug system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  160 Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80HHandbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  166Warning lamp  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76, 166
Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  112 head restraints
Adjusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126, 127
adjustment of the head  restraint angle . . .  127
Removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  127
head restraints, correct adjustment  . . . . . . . . .  13 In-use and non-use positions  . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Headlight flasher  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  114
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  111
Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109 Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  179
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  109
Washer system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  122
Heated front seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  129
Heated window 2C-Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  151
Heating  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  145
High pressure cleaners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  187
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
IIdentification number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  256
Ignition key  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  157
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  157
Indicator lights indication lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Information texts in the display . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
Instrument and switch lighting  . . . . . . . . . . . .  111
Instrument lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
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