2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK manual transmission

when exiting a parking space. Otherwise,
Active Parking Assist will be cancelled.
X Stop when PARKTRONIC sounds the con-
tinuous warning tone, if not before.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to first or reverse gear as required
while the vehicle is stationary.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift to position Dor Ras required while the
vehicle is stationary.
Active Parking Assist immediately steers in
the other direction. The Park Assist
Park Assist
active Accelerate and brake active Accelerate and brake
Observe Observe surroundings
surroundings message appears
in the multifunction display.
i You will achieve the best results by wait-
ing for the steering procedure to complete before pulling away.
If you reverse after activation, the steering
wheel is moved to the straight-ahead posi- tion.
X Drive forwards or reverse the vehicle, being
ready to brake at all times.
X Stop as soon as PARKTRONIC sounds the
continuous warning tone, if not before.
X Drive forwards and reverse as prompted by
the PARKTRONIC warning displays, several
times if necessary.
Once you have exited the parking space com- pletely, the steering wheel is moved to the
straight-ahead position. You hear a tone and
the Park Assist switched off
Park Assist switched off message
appears in the multifunction display. You will
then have to steer and merge into traffic on
your own. PARKTRONIC is still available. Cancelling Active Parking Assist You can cancel Active Parking Assist at any
time.
X Stop the movement of the multifunction
steering wheel or steer yourself.
Active Parking Assist will be cancelled at
once. The Park Assist cancelled Park Assist cancelled mes-
sage appears in the multifunction display.
or
X Press the PARKTRONIC button on the
centre console (Y page 185).
PARKTRONIC is switched off and Active
Parking Assist is immediately cancelled.
The Park Assist cancelled Park Assist cancelled message
appears in the multifunction display.
Active Parking Assist is cancelled automati-
cally if:
R you engage the electric parking brake.
R parking using Active Parking Assist is no
longer possible.
R you are driving faster than 10 km/h.
R a wheel spins and ESP ®
intervenes or fails.
The ÷ warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
A warning tone sounds. The parking space
symbol disappears and the multifunction dis- play shows the Park Assist cancelled Park Assist cancelled
message.
When Active Parking Assist is cancelled, you
must steer again yourself.
If a system malfunction occurs, the vehicle is braked to a standstill. To drive on, depress the
accelerator again.
Towing a trailer For vehicles with a trailer tow hitch, the min-
imum required length for parking spaces is
slightly increased.
If you have attached a trailer to your vehicle,
you should not use Active Parking Assist.
Once the electrical connection is established
between your vehicle and the trailer, Active
Parking Assist is no longer available. PARK-
TRONIC is deactivated for the rear area. 190
Driving systemsDriving and parking

prescribed maximum speed in the relevant
country.
For certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the max-
imum permissible rear axle load is increased
when towing a trailer. Refer to the "Technical
data" section to find out whether this applies to your vehicle. If you utilise any of the added
maximum rear axle load when towing a trailer, the vehicle/trailer combination may not
exceed a maximum speed of 100 km/ hfor
reasons concerning the operating permit.
This also applies in countries in which the
permissible maximum speed for vehicle/
trailer combinations is above 100 km/h.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
Change into a lower gear in good time on long
and steep downhill gradients. For vehicles
with automatic transmission, you need to
have selected manual drive program
M(Y page 156).
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, SPEEDTRONIC or DIS-
TRONIC PLUS.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly. If you
need additional braking, depress the brake
pedal repeatedly rather than continuously.
i Briefly depressing the accelerator pedal
on downhill gradients while the manual
drive program Mis temporarily activated
(vehicles with automatic transmission): the automatic transmission may switch back to
the last active automatic drive program Eor
S. The automatic transmission may shift to a higher gear. This can reduce the engine'sbraking effect. Driving tips If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not countersteer.
X Brake if necessary.
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude. Folding out the ball coupling
G
WARNING
If you release the ball coupling or it does not
engage correctly when folding in, it will swing out. Within pivoting range of the ball coupling,
there is an increased risk of an accident and
injury.
Only release the ball coupling if the pivoting
range is unobstructed. Always make sure that the ball coupling engages when folding in.
Before you can tow a trailer with your vehicle, you must fold out the ball coupling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot. Towing a trailer
203Driving and parking Z

?
Menu bar
A Drive program (Y page 152)
B Transmission position (Y page 152)
X To show the menu bar ?:press the =
or ; button on the steering wheel.
Menu bar ?disappears after a few seconds.
Text field =shows the selected menu or
submenu as well as display messages.
i You can set the time using the audio sys-
tem or COMAND Online; see the separate
operating instructions.
The following messages may appear in the
multifunction display:
Z Gearshift recommendation, for
manual transmission
(Ypage 151) or automatic trans-
mission (Y page 156)
XjY Active Parking Assist
(Ypage 186)
¯ Cruise control (Y page 168)
È SPEEDTRONIC (Y page 171)
_ Adaptive Highbeam Assist
(Ypage 109)
¤ ECO start/stop function
(Ypage 146)
ë HOLD function (Y page 179)
120 km/h!
120 km/h! Maximum permissible speed
exceeded (only for certain coun-
tries) Menus and submenus
Menu overview
Operating the on-board computer
(Y page 209).
Depending on the equipment fitted in the
vehicle, you can call up the following menus:
R Trip Trip menu (Y page 211)
R Navi
Navi menu (navigation instructions)
(Y page 213)
R Audio
Audio menu (Y page 214) R
Tel
Tel (telephone) menu (Y page 215)
R Assist
Assist (Assistance) menu (Y page 217)
R Serv.
Serv. menu (Y page 219)
R Settings
Settings menu (Ypage 220)
R AMG
AMG menu in AMG vehicles (Y page 226)
The Audio
Audio, Navi
NaviandTel
Tel menus differ slightly
in vehicles with Audio 5, Audio 20 and in vehi-
cles with COMAND Online. The examples
given in this Owner's Manual apply to vehicles equipped with COMAND Online. Trip menu
Standard display X
Press and hold the %button on the
steering wheel until the Trip Tripmenu with
trip meter :and total distance
recorder ;is shown.
Trip computer "From start" or "From
reset" Example: "From start" trip computer
:
Distance
; Time
= Average speed
? Average fuel consumption
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Trip Tripmenu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
From start
From start orFrom reset
From reset. Menus and submenus
211On-board computer and displays Z

Settings menu
Introduction In the
Settings
Settings menu, you have the following
options:
R changing the instrument cluster settings
R changing the light settings
R changing the vehicle settings
R changing the auxiliary heating settings
(Y page 224)
R changing the convenience settings
R restoring the factory settings
Instrument cluster Selecting the unit of measurement for dis-
tance
You can determine whether the multifunction display shows some messages in miles or kil-
ometres.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings
Settings menu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press ato confirm.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Display unit Speed-/odometer:
Display unit Speed-/odometer: func-
tion.
You will see the selected setting km kmor
miles
miles.
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
The selected unit of measurement for dis-
tance applies to:
R the digital speedometer in the Trip
Trip menu
R the total distance recorder and the trip
meter
R the trip computer R
the current consumption and the range
R the navigation instructions in the Navi
Navi
menu
R cruise control
R SPEEDTRONIC
R DISTRONIC PLUS
R ASSYST PLUS service interval display
Switching the additional speedometer
on/off
Only vehicles with manual transmission have this function.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster
Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press ato confirm.
X Press :or9 to select the Dig.
Dig.
speedo [mph]:
speedo [mph]: function.
You will see the selected setting: Activa‐
Activa‐
ted
ted orDeactivated
Deactivated.
X Press the abutton to save the setting.
i The speed is displayed in mph.
i Vehicles for the United Kingdom: this
function is unavailable.
The Dig.
Dig. speedo
speedo [mph]
[mph]function allows you
to choose whether the status area in the mul- tifunction display always shows the speed in
mph
mph instead of the outside temperature.
Selecting the permanent display function
i Vehicles for the United Kingdom: this
function is unavailable.
You can determine whether the multifunction display permanently shows your speed or the
outside temperature.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Settings
Settingsmenu.
X Press the :or9 button to select the
Inst. cluster
Inst. cluster submenu.
X Press ato confirm. 220
Menus and submenusOn-board computer and displays

AMG menu in AMG vehicles
AMG displays :
Digital speedometer
; Gear indicator
= Upshift indicator
? Engine oil temperature
A Coolant temperature
B Transmission fluid temperature
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the AMG
AMGmenu.
Upshift indicator UP
UP=indicates that the
engine has reached the overrevving range
when in the manual gearshift program.
Upshift indicator UP
UP= fades out other mes-
sages until you have shifted up.
If the engine oil temperature is below 80 †,
oil temperature ?is shown in blue. Avoid
using the full output of the engine during this time.
If the transmission fluid temperature is below
50 †, oil temperature Bis shown in blue.
Avoid using the full output of the engine dur-
ing this time.
SETUP :
Drive program (C C/S S/M
M)
; ESP ®
mode (ON ON/OFF OFF) or SPORT handling
mode (SPORT SPORT) SETUP shows the drive program, the ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program) mode and the
SPORT handling mode.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the AMG
AMGmenu.
X Press the 9button repeatedly until
SETUP is displayed.
RACETIMER Displaying and starting the RACETIMER
The RACETIMER is only intended for use on a
closed race circuit. Do not use the function on
public roads. :
Lap
; RACETIMER
You can start the RACETIMER when the
engine is running or if the key is in position 2
in the ignition lock.
X Press the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the AMG AMGmenu.
X Press the 9button repeatedly until the
RACETIMER is shown.
X To start: press the abutton to start the
RACETIMER.
Displaying the intermediate time 226
Menus and sub
menusOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !
Release parking Release parking
brake brake The red
!indicator lamp flashes and a warning tone sounds. A
condition for automatic release of the electric parking brake is not
fulfilled (Y page 163).
You are driving with the electric parking brake applied.
X Release the electric parking brake manually. The red
!indicator lamp flashes and a warning tone sounds.
You are making an emergency stop using the electric parking
brake (Y page 163). !
Parking brake See Parking brake See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The yellow
!warning lamp lights up.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To apply:
X Switch the ignition off.
X Press the electric parking brake handle for at least ten seconds.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage first gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift the transmission
to P.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The yellow
!warning lamp and the red !indicator lamp are
lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
X Switch off the ignition and turn it back on.
X Release the electric parking brake manually.
or X Vehicles with manual transmission (automatic emergency
release): insert the seat belt in the belt buckle and accelerate
slightly more when pulling away.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: release the electric
parking brake automatically (Y page 163).
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released: X Do not drive on.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
233On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The red
!indicator lamp flashes and the yellow !warning
lamp is lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
X Switch off the ignition and turn it back on.
X Release the electric parking brake manually.
To apply:
X Switch off the ignition and turn it back on.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
If the red !indicator lamp continues to flash:
X Do not drive on.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 325).
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage first gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift the transmission
to P.
X Turn the front wheels towards the kerb.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The yellow
!warning lamp lights up. The red !indicator
lamp flashes for about ten seconds after the electric parking brake
has been applied or released. It then goes out or remains lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
X Switch off the ignition and turn it back on.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
If it is not possible to apply the electric parking brake:
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage first gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift the transmission
to P.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If it is not possible to release the electric parking brake:
X Vehicles with manual transmission (automatic emergency
release): insert the seat belt in the belt buckle and accelerate
slightly more when pulling away.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: release the electric
parking brake automatically (Y page 163).
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 234
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The yellow
!warning lamp lights up. If you manually apply or
release the electric parking brake, the red !indicator lamp
flashes.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning. It is not possible to
apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage first gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift the transmission
to P.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
Parking Parking
brake
brakeinop‐
inop‐
erative
erative The yellow
!warning lamp lights up. The red !indicator
lamp flashes for about ten seconds after the electric parking brake
has been applied or released. It then goes out or remains lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning, e.g. because of over- voltage or undervoltage.
X Rectify the cause of the overvoltage or undervoltage, e.g. by
charging the battery or restarting the engine.
X Apply or release the electric parking brake.
If it remains impossible to apply or release the electric parking
brake: X Switch off the ignition and turn it back on.
X Apply or release the electric parking brake.
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released: X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The display message is only shown while the vehicle is in motion.
The red !indicator lamp flashes and the yellow !warning
lamp is lit.
It is not possible to apply the electric parking brake manually.
X Vehicles with manual transmission: engage first gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission: shift the transmission
to P.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
Turn on the igni‐ Turn on the igni‐
tion to release tion to release
the parking brake the parking brake The red
!indicator lamp lights up.
You attempted to release the electric parking brake while the igni-
tion was switched off.
X Turn the key to position 1in the ignition lock. Display
messages
235On-board computer and displays Z