2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS ESP

R
Run in new tyres at moderate speeds for
the first 100 km
. They only reach their full
performance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth. This otherwise significantly
reduces the traction on wet roads (aqua-
planing).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear.
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 332). MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
With MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tyres.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with an active tyre pressure loss
warning system and only on wheels specifi-
cally tested by Mercedes-Benz.
Notes

on driving with MOExtended tyres with
a flat tyre ( Y page 300).
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
It is therefore recommended that you addi-
tionally equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit
if you fit tyres that do not feature run-flat
characteristics, e.g. winter tyres. A TIREFIT
kit can be obtained from a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Winter operation
General notes
Have
your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y page 324). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres
lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking

power. Change the tyres on your vehi-
cle to M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. M+S tyres
G
WARNING
M+S
tyres with a tyre tread depth of less than
4 mm are not suitable for use in winter as they
do not provide sufficient traction. There is a
risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced.
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-season tyres. Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the i snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter. These tyres have
been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision. This can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it 320
Winter operation
Wheels and tyres

does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres(Y page 172).
When you have fitted the M+S tyres:
X
Check the tyre pressures ( Y page 321).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 323).
For more information on driving with the
emergency spare wheel, see (Y page 332). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are fitted to the rear wheels,
they may scrape against the vehicle body or
chassis components. This could cause dam-
age

to the vehicle or the tyres. There is a risk
of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never fit snow chains on the rear wheels
R always fit snow chains in pairs to the front
wheels.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you fit
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps
from the relevant wheels before fitting the
snow chains.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-
tyre combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre
combinations (Y page 329).
R only use snow chains when the road sur-
face is completely snow-covered. Remove
the snow chains as soon as possible when
you come to a road that is not snow-cov-
ered. R
local regulations may restrict the use of
snow

chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to fit snow chains.
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
R when snow chains are fitted, never use
Active Parking Assist (Y page 186).
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 65) when pulling away with
snow chains fitted. This way you can allow
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner,
achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action).
Information about driving with an emergency
spare wheel ( Y page 332). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Tyres with too low or too high tyre pressure
contain the following hazards:
R they

can burst, in particular if the vehicle is
heavily laden or when driven at high
speeds.
R the tyres can wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which can severely impair tyre
traction.
R the driving, steering and braking character-
istics may be severely impaired.
There is a risk of accident.
Follow recommended tyre inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. Tyre pressure
321
Wheels and tyres Z

i
The tyre pressure values given for low
loads are minimum values which offer you
good ride comfort characteristics.
However,
you can also use the values given
for higher loads. These are permissible and
will not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle. Tyre pressure loss warning system
Important safety notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the

wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of
a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multifunction dis-
play.
The tyre pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tyre
pressure ( Y page 321).
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not replace the need to regularly check your
vehicle's tyre pressures, since an even loss of
pressure on several tyres at the same time
cannot be detected by the tyre pressure loss
warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering manoeuvres.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration). R
you
are towing a very heavy or large trailer.
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R
changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, make sure that the tyre
pressures

are set properly on all four tyres
for the respective operating conditions.
The recommended tyre pressures can be
found in the table on the fuel filler flap.
The tyre pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect
tyre pressure is set, these incorrect values
will be monitored.
X Observe the notes on tyre pressure
(Y page 321).
X Make sure that the key is in posi-
tion 2(Y page 143) in the ignition lock.
X Press the =
or ; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Service menu.
X Press the 9 or : button to select
Tyre pressure.
X Press the a button.
The Run Flat Indicator active
Restart

with OK message appears in the
multifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the a button.
The Tyre press. now OK? message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press the 9 or : button to select
Yes.
X Press the a button.
The Run Flat Indicator restarted
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play. Tyre pressure
323
Wheels and tyres Z

X
Position jack ? at jacking point =.X
Make sure that the base of the jack is posi-
tioned vertically under the jacking point.
X Turn ratchet ring spanner A until jack ?
sits completely on jacking point = and the
base of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
X Turn ratchet ring spanner A until the tyre
is raised a maximum of
3 cm from the
ground.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
The threads of the wheel bolts and wheel
hubs could otherwise be damaged when
the bolts are tightened.
X Unscrew the wheel bolts.
X Remove the wheel. Fitting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel
bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel
bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event
of damage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notices in "Changing a wheel"
(Y page 324).
Only

use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel. X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Place the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.328
Changing a wheel
Wheels and tyres

X
Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts
and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. X
Place the ratchet ring spanner onto the
hexagon nut of the jack so that the letters
AB are visible.
X Turn the ratchet ring spanner until the vehi-
cle is once again standing firmly on the
ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated
(: to A). The tightening torque must be
130 Nm.
X Turn the jack back to its initial position.
X Stow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the vehicle again.
X Vehicles with AMG equipment: insert the
cover into the outer sill.
X Check the air pressure of the newly fitted
wheel and adjust accordingly.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure
(Y page 321). Wheel and tyre combinations
General notes
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tyres and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle.
These are specially adapted to the control
systems, such as ABS or ESP ®
and are
marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE

= Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tyres featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only cer-
tain AMG tyres)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tyres
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tyres, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tyre dimen-
sion variations could cause the tyres to
come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam-
age to the tyres or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tyres,
wheels or accessories other than those tes-
ted and approved.
Further information about wheels, tyres
and approved combinations can be
obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
! Retreaded tyres are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be detec-
ted on retreaded tyres. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tyres are fitted. Do not
fit used tyres if you have no information
about their previous usage. Wheel and tyre combinations
329
Wheels and tyres Z

Winter tyres Light-alloy wheels V
1 V
2 V
3 V
4 V
5 V
6 V
7 BA 215/45 R18 93 V XL
M+S
i 7.5 J x 18 H2 ET 42 — — — — — — #
BA 235/40 R18 95 V XL
M+S
i 16 8.0 J x 18 H2 ET 48 — — — — — — #
Emergency spare wheel
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The wheel/tyre dimensions and the tyre type
of the spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
and the wheel to be replaced may differ. Fit-
ting a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
may severely impair the driving characteris-
tics. There is a risk of accident.
To prevent hazardous situations:
R Adapt your driving style accordingly and
drive carefully.
R Never
fit more than one spare wheel/emer-
gency spare wheel if the dimesions are dif-
ferent to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Only use a spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel briefly if the dimesions are different
to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Do not switch off ESP ®
.
R Have the spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel in question replaced at the nearest
qualified specialist workshop. Make sure
that the wheel/tyre dimensions and tyre
type are correct.
When using an emergency spare wheel or
spare wheel of a different size, you must not
exceed the maximum speed of 80 km/h.
Snow chains must not be fitted to emergency
spare wheels. General notes
You should regularly check the pressure of
the

emergency spare wheel, particularly prior
to long trips, and correct the pressure as nec-
essary ( Y page 321). The value on the wheel
or as given in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 329) is valid.
i When you are driving with the emergency
spare wheel fitted, the tyre pressure loss
warning system cannot function reliably.
Only restart the tyre pressure loss warning
system when the defective wheel has been
replaced with a new wheel.
An emergency spare wheel may also be fitted
against the direction of rotation. Observe the
time restriction on use as well as the speed
limitation specified on the emergency spare
wheel.
Replace the tyres after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
emergency spare wheel. Removing the emergency spare wheel
16
Use of snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.332
Emergency spare wheel
Wheels and tyres

Approved aerial positions
:
Front roof area
; Rear roof area
= Rear wing
i On vehicles with panorama sliding sun-
roof, fitting an aerial to the front roof area
is not permitted.
On the rear wing, it is recommended that
you position the aerial on the side of the
vehicle closest to the centre of the road.
Use Technical Specification ISO/TS 21609
(Road Vehicles – "EMC guidelines for fitting
aftermarket radio frequency transmitting
equipment") when retrofitting RF (radio fre-
quency) transmitters. Comply with the legal
requirements for add-on parts.
If your vehicle has fittings for two-way radio
equipment, use the power supply or aerial
connections intended for use with the basic
wiring.
Be sure to observe the manufacturer's
additional instructions when installing.
Deviations with respect to wavebands, maxi-
mum transmission outputs or aerial positions
must be approved by Mercedes-Benz. The maximum transmission output (PEAK) at
the base of the aerial must not exceed the
following values: Waveband Maximum
transmission output Short wave
3 - 54 MHz 100 W
4 m waveband
68 - 87.5 MHz 30 W
2 m waveband
144 - 174 MHz 50 W
Trunked radio/Tetra
380 - 460 MHz 35 W
70 cm waveband
400 - 460 MHz 35 W
GSM/DCS/PCS
850/900/1800/1900 10 W
UMTS/LTE 10 W
The following can be used in the vehicle with-
out restrictions:
R
RF

transmitters with a maximum transmis-
sion output of up to 100 mW
R mobile phones (GSM/DCS/PCS/UMTS/
LTE)
There are no restrictions when positioning the
aerial on the outside of the vehicle for the fol-
lowing wavebands:
R Trunked radio/Tetra
R 70 cm waveband
R GSM/DCS/PCS
R UMTS/LTE Vehicle electronics
337
Technical data Z

Identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with vehi-
cle identification number (VIN)
X
Open the front right-hand door.
You
will see vehicle identification plate :.Example: vehicle identification plate
:
Vehicle identification plate
; Vehicle manufacturer (Daimler AG)
= EU type approval number (only for certain
countries)
? VIN
A Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight (kg)
B Maximum permissible mass of vehicle/
trailer combination (kg)
C Maximum permissible front axle load (kg)
D Maximum permissible rear axle load (kg)
E Paint code
i The data shown on the vehicle identifica-
tion plate is example data. This data is dif-
ferent for every vehicle and can deviate
from

the data shown here. You can find the data applicable to your vehicle on the vehi-
cle's identification plate.
VIN
X
Slide the right-hand front seat to its rear-
most position.
X Fold up floor covering : in front of the
right-hand front seat.
You will see VIN ;.
The VIN can also be found on the vehicle
identification plate ( Y page 338). Engine number
The engine number is stamped onto the
crankcase.

More information can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Service product can be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Observe the instructions on the respective
original

container when using, storing and dis-
posing off service products. Always store
service products in the sealed original con-
tainer. Always keep service products out of
the reach of children. 338
Service products and capacities
Technical data