2008 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK Owners Manual

14
Winter tyres........................................
181
Limiting the speed (on-board com-
puter). ............................................. 120Index
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Protection of the environment
15Protection of the environment
H
Environmental note
Daimler's declared policy is one of integra-
ted environmental protection.
The objectives are for the natural resources
which form the basis of our existence on
this planet to be used sparingly and in a
manner which takes the requirements of
both nature and humanity into account.
You too can help to protect the environ-
ment by operating your vehicle in an envi-
ronmentally-responsible manner.
Fuel consumption and the rate of engine,
transmission, brake and tyre wear depend
on the following factors:
R Operating conditions of your vehicle
R Your personal driving style
You can influence both factors.
You should bear the following in mind:
Operating conditions
R Avoid short trips as these increase fuel
consumption.
R Make sure that the tyre pressures are
always correct. R
Do not carry any unnecessary weight.
R Keep an eye on the vehicle's fuel con-
sumption.
R Remove roof racks once you no longer
need them.
R A regularly serviced vehicle will contrib-
ute to environmental protection. You
should therefore adhere to the service
intervals.
R Always have maintenance work carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Personal driving style
R Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
R Do not warm up the engine with the vehi-
cle stationary.
R Drive carefully and maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
R Avoid frequent, sudden acceleration.
R Change gear in good time and use each
gear only up to 2
/ 3of its maximum engine
speed.
R Switch off the engine in stationary traffic. Returning used vehicles
Mercedes-Benz will take back your
Mercedes-Benz to dispose of it in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner, in accordance
with the European Union (EU) End of Life
Vehicles Directive.
The End of Life Vehicles Directive applies to
vehicles of up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, in
accordance with national regulations. For
several years, Mercedes-Benz has been
meeting all the legal requirements for a
design which allows for recycling and re-use.
There is a network of return points and dis-
assembly plants which can recycle your vehi-
cle in an environmentally-responsible man-
ner. The options for recycling vehicles and
parts are constantly being developed and
improved. This means that your Mercedes-
Benz will also continue to meet even the
increased recycling quotas in the future in
good time. You can obtain further information
from your national Mercedes-Benz homepage
or your national hotline number. Introduction
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Operating safety
16 Operating safety
Safety notes
G
Risk of accident and injury
Always have work on the vehicle carried out
by a qualified specialist workshop. In par-
ticular, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems as well as maintenance
work must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. The workshop must have
the necessary specialist knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. G
Risk of accident and injury
Some safety systems only function while
the engine is running. Therefore, do not
switch the engine off when driving. Other-
wise, the safety systems in your vehicle
may no longer function correctly and
thereby not provide you or others with the
intended degree of protection. There is also
a risk that you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident. G
Risk of accident and injury
Work carried out incorrectly or impermissi-
ble modifications to the vehicle, for exam-
ple cables laid under trim, can impair the
function of the safety systems. The safety
systems may no longer be able to protect
you or others as they are designed to do.
There is also a risk that you could lose con-
trol of the vehicle and cause an accident.
Have all work on and modifications to the
vehicle, such as installations or conver-
sions, carried out at a qualified workshop. G
Risk of accident
A heavy impact to the underbody, tyres or
wheels, for example when bottoming out on
rough terrain or driving over an obstacle at
high speed, could damage your vehicle. As
a result, you could cause an accident. This
also applies to vehicles which are equipped
with underbody protection.
For this reason, drive slowly over obstacles,
avoid bottoming out the vehicle in rough
terrain and, if necessary, have your vehicle
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. G
Risk of accident
If work on electronic equipment and its
software is carried out incorrectly, the equipment could stop functioning. The
electronic systems are networked via inter-
faces. Tampering with these electronic sys-
tems could cause malfunctions in systems
which have not been modified. Such mal-
functions can seriously compromise the
vehicle’s operating safety and your own
safety as well.
Have all work on and modifications to elec-
tronic components carried out at a qualified
workshop. Vehicle registration
Mercedes-Benz may ask its Service Centres
to carry out technical inspections on certain
vehicles to improve their quality or safety.
If you did not purchase your vehicle from an
authorised specialist dealer and your vehicle
has never been inspected at a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre, it is possible that your
vehicle is not registered in your name with
Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz can only
inform you about vehicle checks if it has your
registration data.
It is advisable to register your vehicle with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Introduction
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Operating safety
17
Inform Mercedes-Benz as soon as possible
about any change in address or vehicle own-
ership. Correct use
Observe the following information when using
your vehicle:
R The safety notes in this manual
R The "Technical data" section in this manual
R National road traffic regulations
R National road traffic licensing regulations G
Risk of injury
Various warning stickers are affixed to your
vehicle. Their purpose is to draw your atten-
tion, and the attention of others, to various
dangers. Therefore, do not remove any
warning stickers unless the sticker clearly
states that you may do so.
If you remove the warning stickers, you or
others could be injured by failing to recog-
nise certain dangers. Introduction
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19
Exterior view
....................................... 20
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ..............................26
Multi-function steering wheel ............30
Centre console .................................... 31
Overhead control panel ......................33
Door control panel .............................. 34 At a glance
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Exterior view
20 Exterior viewAt a glance
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Exterior view
21Function Page
1
Luggage compartment
Spare wheel 201
Vehicle tool kit 200
2
Rear window heating 140
3
Opening and closing the
tailgate 61
4
Fuel filler flap 168
Fuel requirements 168
5
Opening and closing the
doors 60
6
Exterior mirrors
71 Function Page
7
Demisting the windscreen 139
Cleaning the windows 194
8
Panorama roof* 142
Panorama louvred sliding
sunroof*
142
9
Windscreen wiper opera-
tion
83
Cleaning the wiper blades 194
Replacing the wiper blades
251 Function Page
a
Opening the bonnet 171
Engine oil 172
Coolant 175
b
Front lights 245
c
Fitting the front towing eye 268
d
Tyres and wheels 176
Checking the tyre pressure 178
Flat tyre, fitting the spare
wheel
253
e
Fitting the rear towing eye 268
f
Rear lights 245At a glance
* optional
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