2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS light

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els,
series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Correct driver's seat position
Observe the safety guidelines on seat adjust-
ment (
Y page 93).
X Make sure that seat = is correctly adjus-
ted.
Manual seat adjustment ( Y page 94)
Electrical seat adjustment ( Y page 94)
When adjusting the seat, make sure that:
R you

are as far away from the driver's air-
bag as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion.
R you can fasten the seat belt properly. R
you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position.
R you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported.
R you can depress the pedals properly.
X Check whether the head restraint is adjus-
ted properly

(Y page 94).
When doing so, make sure that you have
adjusted the head restraint so that the back
of your head is supported at eye level by
the centre of the head restraint.
Observe the safety guidelines on steering
wheel adjustment ( Y page 98).
X Make sure that steering wheel :
is adjus-
ted correctly.
Adjusting the steering wheel
(Y page 98)
When adjusting the steering wheel, make
sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly.
Observe the safety guidelines for seat belts
(Y page 46).
X Check whether you have fastened seat
belt ; properly

(Y page 47).
The seat belt should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R be routed in your pelvic area across the
hip joints
X Before starting off, adjust the rear-view mir-
ror and the exterior mirrors ( Y page 99)
so that you have a good view of road and
traffic conditions.
X Vehicles with a memory function: save
the seat and exterior mirror settings
(Y page 101). 92
Correct driver's seat position
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

the seat back. There is a risk that the seats
and/or the objects could be damaged.
i The head restraints in the front and rear
seats can be removed. 7
For more information, contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
i Further related subjects:
R Luggage compartment enlargement
(folding down the rear seats)
(Y page 272) Adjusting the seats manually
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
X
Lift handle : and slide the seat forwards
or rearwards.
X Release lever : again.
Make sure that you hear the seat engage in
position.
Backrest angle X
Relieve the pressure on the backrest.
X Turn handwheel ?
forwards or backwards.
Seat height X
Pull handle = upwards or push it down
repeatedly until the seat has reached the
desired height. Seat cushion angle Adjust the angle so that your thighs are lightly
supported.
X
Turn handwheel ;
forwards or backwards. Adjusting the seats electrically
:
Head restraint height 8
; Seat cushion angle
= Seat height
? Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
A Backrest angle
i You can store the seat settings using the
memory function ( Y page 101). Adjusting the head restraints
G
WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle while
driving if you:
R adjust the driver's seat, steering wheel or
mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust

the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirrors and fasten your seat
belt before starting the engine.
7 Not on vehicles with sports seats.
8 Not available on vehicles with sports seats.94
Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Rear seat head restraints
Adjusting the rear seat head restraint
height
X
To raise: pull the head restraint up to the
desired position.
X To lower: press release catch : and push
the head restraint down until it is in the
desired position.
Removing and fitting the rear seat head
restraints G
WARNING
The head restraints cannot provide the inten-
ded protection unless they are fitted and
adjusted

correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or sudden braking, for example.
Always drive with the head restraints fitted.
Ensure that the centre of the head restraints
support the back of each vehicle occupant's
head at eye level before driving off.
The rear head restraints on the outer seats
can be removed and refitted. X
Fold the seat backrest slightly forwards in
order to remove the head restraint
(Y page 272).
X To remove: pull the head restraint up to
the stop.
X Press release catch : and pull the head
restraint out of the guides.
X To refit: insert the head restraint so that
the
notches on the bar are on the left when
viewed in the direction of travel.
X Push the head restraint down until you hear
it engage in position. Adjusting the 4-way lumbar support
You can adjust the contour of the front seat
backrests individually to provide optimum
support for your back. :
To raise the backrest contour
; To soften the backrest contour
= To lower the backrest contour
? To harden the backrest contour Switching the seat heating on/off
Switching on/off G
WARNING
If you repeatedly switch on seat heating, the
seat cushion and backrest padding may
become very hot. The health of vehicle occu-
pants with limited temperature sensitivity or
a limited ability to react to excessively high
temperatures may be affected or they may 96
Seats
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

even suffer burn-like injuries. There is a risk
of injury.
Therefore, do not switch on the seat heating
repeatedly.
The three red indicator lamps in the button
indicate the heating level you have selected.
The system automatically switches down
from level 3 to level 2 after approximately
eight minutes.
The system automatically switches down
from
level 2 to level 1 after approximately ten
minutes.
The system automatically switches off
approximately 20 minutes after it is set to
level 1.
X Make sure that the key is in position 1 or
2 in the ignition lock.
X To switch on: press button : repeatedly
until the desired heating level is set.
X To switch off: press button : repeatedly
until all the indicator lamps go out.
i If the battery voltage is too low, the seat
heating may switch off. Problems with the seat heating The seat heating has switched off prema-
turely

or cannot be switched on. The vehicle's
electrical system voltage is too low because
too many electrical consumers are switched
on.
X Switch off electrical consumers that you do
not

need, such as the rear window heating
or interior lighting. AMG Performance Seat
To adjust the contour of the seat and for
improved

lateral support, you can individually
adjust the front seats. Adjusting the seat cushion length
X
To extend the seat cushion: press but-
ton :.
X To retract the seat cushion: press but-
ton ;.
Adjusting the side bolsters of the seat
cushion X
To set the side bolsters of the seat
cushion narrower: press button =.
X To set the side bolsters of the seat
cushion wider: press button ?. Seats
97
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors G
WARNING
The exterior mirrors reduce the size of the
image. Objects visible in the mirrors are
closer than they appear. You could misjudge
the distance from road users driving behind
you
when changing lanes, for instance. There
is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore always look over your
shoulder to determine the actual distance
from road users driving behind you. X
Make sure that the key is in position 1 or
2 in the ignition lock.
X Press button : for the left-hand exterior
mirror

or button ; for the right-hand exte-
rior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button = as long
as the indicator lamp is lit.
X Press adjustment button = up, down, or
to the left or right until you have adjusted
the exterior mirror to the correct position.
You should have a good overview of traffic
conditions.
The convex exterior mirrors provide a larger
field of vision.
After the engine has been started, the exte-
rior mirrors are automatically heated if the
rear window heating is switched on and the outside temperature is low. Heating takes a
maximum of 10 minutes.
i
The exterior mirrors can also be heated
manually by switching on the rear window
heating.
Folding

the exterior mirrors in/out elec-
trically X
Make sure that the key is in position 1 or
2 in the ignition lock.
X Briefly press button :.
Both exterior mirrors fold in or out.
i Make sure that the exterior mirrors are
always folded out fully while driving. They
could otherwise vibrate.
i If you are driving faster than 47 km/h
(30

mph) you can no longer fold in the exte-
rior mirrors.
Setting the exterior mirrors If the battery has been disconnected or com-
pletely discharged, the exterior mirrors must
be reset. The exterior mirrors will otherwise
not fold in when you select the "Fold in mir-
rors when locking" function in the on-board
computer (Y page 225).
X
Make sure that the key is in position 1 in
the ignition lock.
X Briefly press button :. Mirrors
99
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

Folding the exterior mirrors in/out
automatically
If the "Fold in mirrors when locking" function
is activated in the on-board computer
(Y page 225):
R
the
exterior mirrors fold in automatically as
soon as you lock the vehicle from the out-
side.
R the exterior mirrors fold out again automat-
ically as soon as you unlock the vehicle and
then open the driver's or front-passenger
door.
i If the exterior mirrors have been folded in
manually, they do not fold out.
Exterior mirror pushed out of position If an exterior mirror has been pushed out of
position, proceed as follows.
X
Vehicles without electrically folding
exterior

mirrors: move the exterior mirror
into the correct position manually.
X Vehicles with electrically folding exte-
rior mirrors: press and hold the mirror-
folding button

(Y page 99) until you hear a
click and then the mirror engage in posi-
tion.
The mirror housing is engaged again and
you can adjust the exterior mirrors as usual
(Y page 99). Automatic anti-dazzle mirrors
The "Automatic anti-dazzle mirrors" function
is

only available if the vehicle is equipped with
the "Mirror package".
The rear-view mirror and the exterior mirror
on the driver's side automatically go into anti-
dazzle mode if:
R the ignition is switched on and
R incident light from headlamps strikes the
sensor in the rear-view mirror
The mirrors do not go into anti-dazzle mode if
reverse gear is engaged or if the interior light-
ing is switched on. Parking position of the exterior mirror
on the front-passenger side
General notes The "Parking position for the exterior mirror
on the front-passenger side" function is only
available if the vehicle is equipped with the
"Memory package".
Setting

and storing the parking position Using reverse gear
You

can set the front-passenger side exterior
mirror so that you can see the rear wheel on
that side as soon as you engage reverse gear.
You can store this position. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the key is in position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Press button ; for the exterior mirror on
the front-passenger side.
X Engage reverse gear.
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side moves to the preset parking position.
X Use adjustment button = to adjust the
exterior mirror. You should see the rear
wheel and the kerb in the exterior mirror.
The parking position is stored.
i If you shift the transmission to another
position, the exterior mirror on the front-
passenger side returns to the driving posi-
tion. 100
Mirrors
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

Useful information ............................
104
Exterior lighting ................................ 104
Interior lighting ................................. 111
Replacing bulbs ................................. 112
Windscreen wipers ...........................117 103Lights and windscreen wipers

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els,
series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Exterior lighting
General notes
For
reasons of safety, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, operation of the headlamps varies due
to legal requirements and self-imposed obli-
gations. Driving abroad
General notes If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles

are driven on the opposite side of the
road to the country in which the vehicle is
registered, your headlamps must be switched
to symmetrical dipped beam as soon as pos-
sible after crossing the border. This prevents
oncoming traffic from being dazzled. Sym-
metrical lights do not illuminate as large an
area of the edge of the carriageway.
Vehicles with halogen headlamps X
Affix special masking sheets on the head-
lamps.
i You can obtain these special stickers
from a qualified specialist workshop.
! Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use genuine Mercedes-Benz masking tape. Your headlamps could otherwise be
damaged.
Remove the masking tape when you are
once again driving on the same side of the
road

as in the country in which your vehicle
is registered.
Vehicles with bi-xenon headlamps X
Turn protective cap : anti-clockwise and
remove it.
X Push switchover lever ; down.
X Insert protective cap : and turn it clock-
wise.
Convert the headlamps back to asymmetrical
dipped
beam as soon as possible after return-
ing across the border.
Vehicles with Intelligent Light System X
Before crossing the border, set the head-
lamps to symmetrical dipped beam and
after returning back to asymmetrical
dipped beam via the "Dipped-beam head-
lamps

for driving on the right/left" function
in the on-board computer (Y page 221).
If the headlamps are converted to symmetri-
cal dipped beam, the "motorway mode" and
"extended

range foglamps" functions are not
available. 104
Exterior lighting
Lights and windscreen wipers