2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS Owners Manual

the instrument cluster goes out. The
_
indicator lamp in the multifunction display
remains lit.
X To deactivate: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The _ indicator lamp in the multifunc-
tion display goes out. Headlamps misted up on the inside
The headlamps may mist up on the inside if
there is high atmospheric humidity.
X Switch on the lights and drive off.
The level of moisture diminishes, depend-
ing on the length of the journey and the
weather conditions (humidity and temper-
ature).
If the level of moisture does not diminish:
X Have the headlamps checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. Interior lighting
Overview of interior lighting
Front overhead control panel
:
p To switch the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
; c To switch the front interior lighting
on
= v To switch the rear interior lighting
on/off
? |
To switch the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off A
p
To switch the right-hand front read-
ing lamp on/off
B To switch the automatic interior lighting
control on Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:
p
To switch the left-hand reading lamp
on/off
; p To switch the right-hand reading
lamp on/off Interior lighting control
Important notes In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging,

the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
except for when the key is in position 2 in the
ignition lock.
The brightness of the ambient lighting may be
set using the on-board computer
(Y page 222).
Automatic interior lighting control X
To switch on: set the switch to centre
position B.
X To switch off: set the switch to the |
position.
The interior lighting automatically switches
on if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the key from the ignition lock Interior lighting
111
Lights and windscreen wipers Z

The interior lighting is activated for a short
time when the key is removed from the igni-
tion lock. You can activate this delayed
switch-off using the on-board computer
(Y page 223).
Manual interior lighting control
X
To switch the front interior lighting on:
set the switch to the c position.
X To switch off the interior lighting: set the
switch to the | position or (if the door
is closed) to the centre position.
X To switch the rear interior lighting on/
off: press the u button.
X To switch the reading lamps on/off:
press the p button. Crash-responsive emergency lighting
The
interior lighting is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
X To switch off the crash-responsive
emergency lighting: press the hazard
warning lamp button.
or
X Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
key. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs are under high voltage. You can
get
an electric shock if you remove the cover
of the xenon bulb and touch the electrical
contacts. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Never touch the parts or the electrical con-
tacts of the xenon bulb. Always have work on
the xenon bulbs carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. If your vehicle is equipped with xenon bulbs,
you can recognise this by the following: the
cone of light from the xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle

safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs G
WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and plug connectors can
become very hot during use. When replacing
a

bulb, you could burn yourself on these com-
ponents. There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components to cool down before
replacing the bulb.
There are bulbs other than the xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Replace only the
bulbs listed (Y page 113). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not touch the glass tube of new bulbs with
your bare hands. Even minor contamination
can burn into the glass surface and reduce
the service life of the bulbs. Always use a lint-
free cloth or only touch the base of the bulb
when fitting.
Only use bulbs of the correct type.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly. 112
Replacing bulbs
Lights and windscreen wipers

Overview of bulb replacement – bulbs
You can replace the following bulbs. The
details for the bulb type can be found in the
legend. Halogen headlamps
:
Turn signal lamp: PY 21 W
; Main-beam headlamp/side lamp/park-
ing lamp: H15 55 W/15 W
= Dipped-beam headlamp: H7 55 W Vehicles with Intelligent Light System
:
Cornering lamp: H7 55 W Tail lamp (halogen headlamps)
:
Reversing lamp: W 16 W
; Turn signal lamp: PY 21 W
= Tail lamp/brake lamp: W 16 W
? Rear foglamp: W 16 W
A Tail lamp: W 16 W Replacing the front bulbs
Fitting/removing the cover on the front
wheel arch You must remove the cover from the front
wheel housing before you can change the
front bulbs.
X
To remove: switch off the lights.
X Turn the front wheels inwards.
X Turn rotary knob : through 90°.
Cover ; is released.
X Push cover ; down.
X To fit: push cover ; up.
X Turn rotary knob : through 90°.
Cover ; is locked. Replacing bulbs
113
Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Dipped-beam headlamps (halogen
headlamps)
G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurised.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If nec-
essary,
have bulbs changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. X
Remove the cover in the front wheel arch
(Y page 113).
X Turn housing cover : anti-clockwise and
pull it out.
X Turn bulb holder ;
anti-clockwise and pull
it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;
into the lamp and turn
it clockwise.
X Align housing cover : and turn it clock-
wise until it engages.
X Replace the cover in the front wheel arch
(Y page 113). Main-beam headlamps and side lamps/
parking lamps (vehicles with halogen
headlamps) G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurised.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If nec-
essary,

have bulbs changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the bonnet.
X Turn housing cover : anti-clockwise and
pull it out.
X Turn bulb ;
anti-clockwise and pull it out.
X Insert the new bulb and engage it to the
stop.
X Align housing cover : and turn it clock-
wise until it engages.114
Replacing bulbs
Lights and windscreen wipers

Turn signal lamp (halogen headlamps)
X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the bonnet.
X Turn bulb holder : anti-clockwise and pull
it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder :.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder :.
X Insert bulb holder : and turn it clockwise
until it engages.
Cornering lamps (Intelligent Light Sys-
tem) G
WARNING
These bulbs are pressurised.
They can explode when being changed if:
R they are still hot
R they hit an object when being removed
R they are dropped
There is a risk of injury.
You should wear eye protection and clean
gloves when you are changing a bulb. If nec-
essary,

have bulbs changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the bonnet.
X Turn housing cover : anti-clockwise and
pull it out.
X Turn bulb holder ;
anti-clockwise and pull
it out.
X Take the bulb out of bulb holder ;.
X Insert the new bulb into bulb holder ;.
X Insert bulb holder ;
into the lamp and turn
it clockwise.
X Align housing cover : and turn it clock-
wise until it engages. Replacing the rear bulbs
Opening and closing the side trim pan-
els You must open the side trim panel in the lug-
gage compartment before you can replace
the bulbs in the tail lamps.
Left-hand side trim panel Replacing bulbs
115
Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Right-hand side trim panel
X
To open: turn release knob : 90° in the
direction
of the arrow and remove side trim
panel ;.
X To close:
insert side trim panel ; and turn
release knob : 90° in the opposite direc-
tion to the arrow.
Tail lamps X
Switch off the lights.
X Open the luggage compartment.
X Open the side trim panel ( Y page 115).X
Release and remove connector ;.
X Unscrew wing nut :
and remove the lamp
cluster. Lamp cluster
X
Remove plastic nut ? using a suitable
item, e.g. a coin.
X Release attachments =.
X Remove the bulb holder from the lamp clus-
ter. Bulb holder
A
Tail lamp/brake lamp
B Reversing lamp
C Rear foglamp
D Tail lamp
E Turn signals
X Tail lamp/brake lamp/rear foglamp/
reversing lamp: remove the correspond-
ing bulb from the bulb holder.
X Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder.
X Turn signal lamp: lightly press the bulb
into the bulb holder, turn it anti-clockwise
and remove it from the bulb holder. 116
Replacing bulbs
Lights and windscreen wipers

X
Insert the new bulb into the bulb holder and
turn it clockwise.
X Secure the bulb holder to attachments =
on the lamp cluster and tighten plastic
nuts ?. X
Insert the lamp cluster into the vehicle and
make sure that it sits correctly in guides
F.
X Tighten wing nut ; and re-establish con-
tact with connector :.
X Close the side trim panel ( Y page 115).Windscreen wipers
Switching the windscreen wipers on/
off
! Do not operate the windscreen wipers
when the windscreen is dry, as this could
damage the wiper blades. Moreover, dust
that has collected on the windscreen can
scratch
the glass if wiping takes place when
the windscreen is dry.
If it is necessary to switch on the wind-
screen wipers in dry weather conditions,
always operate them using washer fluid.
! If the windscreen wipers leave smears on
the windscreen after the vehicle has been
washed in an automatic car wash, this may
be due to wax or other residue. Clean the
windscreen with washer fluid after an auto-
matic car wash. Combination switch
1
$ Windscreen wipers off
2 Ä Intermittent wipe, low (rain sensor
set to low sensitivity)
3 Å
Intermittent wipe, high (rain sensor
set to high sensitivity)
4 ° Continuous wipe, slow
5 ¯ Continuous wipe, fast
B í
Single wipe/ î to wipe the wind-
screen using washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1
or 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Turn the combination switch to the corre-
sponding position.
! Vehicles with a rain sensor: if the wind-
screen becomes dirty in dry weather con-
ditions,

the windscreen wipers may be acti-
vated inadvertently. This could damage the
windscreen wiper blades or scratch the
windscreen.
For this reason, you should always switch
off the windscreen wipers in dry weather.
Vehicles with a rain sensor: in the Ä or
Å position, the appropriate wiping fre-
quency is automatically set according to the
intensity of the rain. In the Å position, the
rain sensor is more sensitive than in
the Ä position, causing the windscreen
wipers to wipe more frequently.
If the wiper blades are worn, the windscreen
will no longer be wiped properly. This could
prevent you from observing the traffic condi-
tions. Replace the wiper blades twice a year,
ideally in spring and autumn. Windscreen wipers
117Lights and windscreen wipers Z

Switching the rear window wiper on/
off
Combination switch
:
è Switch
2 ô To wipe with washer fluid
3 I To switch on intermittent wiping
4 0 To switch off intermittent wiping
5 ô To wipe with washer fluid
X Turn the key to position 1 or 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Turn switch : on the combination switch
to the corresponding position.
When

the rear window wiper is switched on,
the icon appears in the instrument cluster. Replacing the wiper blades
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the windscreen wipers begin to move while
you
are changing the wiper blades, you can be
trapped by the wiper arm. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windscreen wipers and
ignition before changing the wiper blades.
! To avoid damaging the windscreen wiper
blades, make sure that you touch only the
wiper arm of the windscreen wiper.
! Never open the bonnet/tailgate if a wiper
arm is folded away from the windscreen/
rear window. Never fold a windscreen wiper arm without
a wiper blade back onto the windscreen/
rear window.
Hold

the windscreen wiper arm firmly when
you change the wiper blade. If you release
the wiper arm without a wiper blade and it
falls onto the windscreen/rear window, the
windscreen/rear window may be damaged
by the force of the impact.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the wiper blades changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades Removing the wiper blades
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Fold the wiper arm away from the wind-
screen. X
Press both release clips ;.
X Fold wiper blade : in the direction of
arrow = away from wiper arm ?.
X Remove wiper blade : in the direction of
arrow A.118
Windscreen wipers
Lights and windscreen wipers