2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS ECU

Symbols
In this Owner's Manual, you will find the fol-
lowing symbols:
G
WARNING
Warning notices draw your attention to haz-
ards that may endanger your health or life, or
the health or life of others. H
Environmental note
Environmental notes provide you with infor-
mation on environmentally aware actions or
disposal.
! Notes on material damage alert you to
dangers

that could lead to damage to your
vehicle.
i This symbol indicates useful instructions
or further information that could be helpful
to you.
X This symbol designates an instruc-
tion you must follow.
X Several consecutive symbols indi-
cate an instruction with several
steps.
(Y page) This symbol tells you where you
can find further information on a
topic.
YY This symbol indicates a warning or
an

instruction that is continued on
the next page.
Display This text indicates a message on
the multifunction/COMAND dis-
play.
Parts of the software in the vehicle are pro-
tected by copyright ©
2005
The FreeType Project
http://www.freetype.org. All rights
reserved.

Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 314
Warning lamp (engine diagnostics)
264
Engine electronics
Notes ............................................. 336
Problem (fault) ............................... 149
Engine oil
Additives ........................................ 344
Checking the oil level ..................... 286
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 287
Display message ............................ 245
Filling capacity ............................... 343
Notes about oil grades ................... 343
Notes on oil level/consumption .... 286
Temperature (on-board computer) . 226
Topping up ..................................... 287
Viscosity ........................................ 344
Environmental protection
Returning an end-of-life vehicle ....... 21
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) AMG menu (on-board computer) ... 226
Deactivating/activating (AMG
vehicles) .......................................... 66
Deactivating/activating (except
AMG vehicles) ................................ 218
Deactivating/activating (notes;
except AMG vehicles) ...................... 68
Display message ............................ 230
ETS/4ETS ........................................ 65
Function/notes ......................... 65, 66
Important safety guidelines .............65
Trailer stabilisation ..........................68
Warning lamp ................................. 260
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) ...................................................... 65
Exhaust pipe (cleaning instructions) 294
Exterior lighting Settings options ............................. 105
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ......................................... 99
Anti-dazzle mode (automatic) ........ 100
Folding in/out (automatically) ....... 100
Folding in/out (electrically) ............. 99
Folding in when locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 225
Out of position (troubleshooting) ...100 Parking position .............................
100
Resetting ......................................... 99
Storing settings (memory function)
101 F
Fault message see Display messages


Filler cap
see Fuel filler flap
Fire extinguisher ............................... 299
First-aid kit ......................................... 298
Fitting a wheel Removing a wheel ..........................328
Fitting wheels
Fitting a wheel ............................... 328
Lowering the vehicle ......................329
Preparing the vehicle .....................325
Raising the vehicle ......................... 326
Securing the vehicle against roll-
ing away ........................................ 325
Flat tyre
MOExtended tyres .........................300
Preparing the vehicle .....................300
TIREFIT kit ...................................... 301
see Emergency spare wheel
Floormat ............................................. 281
Foglamps Extended range .............................. 109
Switching on/off ........................... 106
Frequencies
Mobile phone ................................. 336
Two-way radio ................................ 336
Front foglamps
Display message ............................ 241
Fuel
Additives ........................................ 341
Consumption information .............. 342
Consumption statistics ..................211
Displaying the current consump-
tion ................................................ 212
Displaying the range ...................... 212
Fuel gauge ....................................... 30
Grade (petrol) ................................ 340
Important safety notes .................. 339
Notes for AMG vehicles ................. 340
Problem (malfunction) ...................161
Quality (diesel) ............................... 34110
Index

Reading lamp
................................. 111
Setting the ambient lighting
brightness (on-board computer) .... 222
Interior motion sensor ........................70
ISOFIX child seat securing system ....53 J
Jack Storage location ............................ 299
Using ............................................. 326
Jump starting (engine) ...................... 308K
Key Changing the battery ....................... 76
Checking the battery ....................... 76
Convenience closing feature ............ 85
Convenience opening feature .......... 85
Display message
............................ 256
Door central locking/unlocking ....... 75
Emergency key element ................... 75
Important safety notes .................... 74
Loss ................................................. 78
Modifying the programming .............75
Positions (ignition lock) ................. 143
Problem (malfunction) .....................78
Starting the engine ........................ 144
Key positions (ignition lock) ............143
Kickdown Driving tips .................................... 154
Manual drive program ....................158
Kneebag ............................................... 44L
Lamps see Warning and indicator lamps


Lane Keeping Assist
Activating/deactivating ................. 219
Display message ............................ 247
Function/information .................... 199
Lane package ..................................... 197
Lap time (RACETIMER) ......................226
Lashing eyelets ................................. 273
Licence plate lamp (display mes-
sage) ................................................... 241Lighting
see Lights

Lights
Activating/deactivating the Intel-
ligent Light System ........................ 221
Activating/deactivating the inte-
rior lighting delayed switch-off ....... 223
Active light function .......................109
Automatic headlamp mode ............ 105
Cornering light function .................109
Dipped-beam headlamps ............... 105
Display message ............................ 239
Driving abroad ............................... 104
Foglamps ....................................... 106
Foglamps (extended range) ...........109
Hazard warning lamps ................... 108
Headlamp flasher ........................... 108
Headlamp range ............................ 107
Light switch ................................... 105
Main-beam headlamps ................... 107
Motorway mode ............................. 109
Parking lamps ................................ 106
Rear foglamp ................................. 106
Setting the ambient lighting
brightness (on-board computer) .... 222
Side lamps ..................................... 106
Switching Adaptive Highbeam
Assist on/off ................................. 222
Switching the daytime driving
lights on/off (on-board computer) . 221
Switching the daytime driving
lights on/off (switch) ..................... 105
Switching the exterior lighting
delayed switch-off on/off (on-
board computer) ............................ 222
Switching the surround lighting
on/off (on-board computer) ..........222
Turn signals ................................... 107
see Interior lighting
see Replacing bulbs
Light sensor (display message) .......242
LIM indicator lamp Cruise control ................................ 169
DISTRONIC PLUS ........................... 174
Variable SPEEDTRONIC .................171
Limiting the speed
see SPEEDTRONIC
Loading guidelines ............................26812
Index

Tyre size (data)
.............................. 329
Tyre tread ...................................... 319
see Flat tyre
U
Unladen weight ................................. 346
Unlocking Emergency unlocking .......................81
From inside the vehicle (central
unlocking button) ............................. 80V
Vanity mirror (in sun visor) .............. 277
Variable SPEEDTRONIC see SPEEDTRONIC


Vehicle
Correct use ...................................... 24
Data acquisition ............................... 25
Electronics ..................................... 336
Equipment ....................................... 22
Implied warranty .............................. 24
Individual settings ..........................220
Leaving parked up ......................... 164
Locking (in an emergency) ............... 81
Locking (key) ................................... 75
Lowering ........................................ 329
Pulling away ................................... 144
Raising ........................................... 326
Registration ..................................... 24
Securing from rolling away ............325
Towing away .................................. 310
Tow-starting ................................... 310
Transporting .................................. 313
Unlocking (in an emergency) ........... 81
Unlocking (key) ................................ 75
Vehicle data ................................... 346
Vehicle data ....................................... 346
Vehicle dimensions ...........................346
Vehicle emergency locking ................81
Vehicle identification number see VIN
Vehicle identification plate ..............338
Vehicle maintenance see ASSYST PLUS
Vehicle tool kit .................................. 299
Vehicle weights ................................. 346Video (DVD)
........................................
215
Video DVD (on-board computer) ......215
VIN ...................................................... 338 W
Warning and indicator lamps ABS

................................................ 258
Brakes ........................................... 258
Distance warning signal ................. 266
ESP ®
.............................................. 260
ESP ®
OFF ....................................... 261
Fuel tank ........................................ 264
LIM (cruise control) ........................ 169
LIM (DISTRONIC PLUS) .................. 174
LIM (variable SPEEDTRONIC) ......... 171
Overview .......................................... 32
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF ................ 52
Reserve fuel ................................... 264
Seat belt ........................................ 257
SRS ................................................ 263
Warning triangle ................................ 298
Washer fluid
Display message ............................ 256
Wheel bolt tightening torque ...........329
Wheel chock ...................................... 325
Wheels Changing/replacing .......................324
Changing a wheel .......................... 324
Checking ........................................ 319
Cleaning ......................................... 292
Cleaning (warning) .........................324
Emergency spare wheel ................. 332
Fitting a new wheel ........................328
Fitting a wheel ............................... 325
Important safety notes .................. 318
Removing a wheel ..........................328
Storing ........................................... 324
Tightening torque ........................... 329
Wheel size/tyre size ......................329
Windowbag
Display message ............................ 239
Operation ......................................... 45
Windows
Cleaning ......................................... 293
see Side windows
Windscreen
Demisting ...................................... 130 Index
19

G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the
pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardised. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Fit the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient
clearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats.
! If the engine is switched off and equip-
ment on the diagnostics connection is
used, the starter battery may discharge.
Connecting equipment to the diagnostics
connection can lead to emissions monitoring
information being reset, for example. This
may lead to the vehicle failing to meet the
requirements of the next emissions test dur-
ing the main inspection. Qualified specialist workshop
A qualified specialist workshop has the nec-
essary special skills, tools and qualifications
to correctly carry out any necessary work on
your

vehicle. This particularly applies to work
relevant to safety.
Observe the notes in the Service Booklet.
Always have the following work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop:
R work relevant to safety
R service and maintenance work
R repair work
R modifications, installations and conver-
sions
R work on electronic components
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Vehicle registration
Mercedes-Benz may ask its Service Centres
to carry out technical inspections on certain
vehicles. The quality or safety of the vehicle
is improved as a result of the inspection.
Mercedes-Benz can only inform you about
vehicle

checks if it has your registration data.
It is possible that your vehicle has not yet
been registered in your name in the following
cases:
R if your vehicle was not purchased at an
authorised specialist dealer.
R if your vehicle has not yet been examined
at a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
It is advisable to register your vehicle with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Inform Mercedes-Benz as soon as possible
about any change in address or vehicle own-
ership. Correct use
If you remove any warning stickers, you or
others

could fail to recognise certain dangers.
Leave warning stickers in position.
Observe the following information when driv-
ing your vehicle:
R the safety notes in this manual
R the technical data in this manual
R traffic rules and regulations
R laws and safety standards pertaining to
motor vehicles Implied warranty
! Follow the instructions in this manual
about the proper operation of your vehicle
as well as about possible vehicle damage.
Damage to your vehicle that arises from
culpable contraventions against these
instructions are not covered either by
Mercedes-Benz implied warranty or by the
New or Used-Vehicle Warranty. 24
Introduction

nor do they provide an indication of airbag
deployment.
The vehicle may be deformed significantly,
e.g.
the bonnet or the wing, without an airbag
being deployed. This is the case if only parts
which are relatively easily deformed are affec-
ted and the rate of deceleration is not high.
Conversely, airbags may be deployed even
though the vehicle suffers only minor defor-
mation. This is the case if, for example, very
rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body
members are hit, and sufficient deceleration
occurs as a result.
i The front belt tensioners can only be trig-
gered if the seat belt tongues on the front
seats are correctly engaged in the seat belt
buckles.
i Not all airbags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The different airbag systems work
independently of each other.
How the airbag system works is deter-
mined by predicting the severity of the acci-
dent, especially vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, and the type of accident:
R head-on collision
R side impact
R overturn Airbags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat belts.
Observe

the following notes to reduce the risk
of serious or even fatal injury caused by airbag
deployment:
R all vehicle occupants – in particular, preg-
nant women – must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back against
the backrest, which should be positioned
as close to the vertical as possible. The head restraint must support the back of the
head at about eye level.
R always secure children less than
1.50

m tall or under 12 years of age in suit-
able child restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the airbag
as possible. The driver's seat position must
allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The
driver's chest should be as far away from
the centre of the driver's airbag cover as
possible.
R move the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible. This is especially important if
you have secured a child in a child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R vehicle occupants – in particular, children
– must not lean their head into the area of
the window in which the sidebag/window-
bag is deployed.
R rearward-facing child restraint systems
must not be fitted to the front-passenger
seat unless the front-passenger airbag has
been disabled. On the front-passenger
seat, the front-passenger airbag is disabled
if a child restraint system with a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recognition
is fitted to the front-passenger seat in a
vehicle equipped with automatic child seat
recognition. The 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp must be continuously
lit.
If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle
does not have automatic child seat recog-
nition, or your rearward-facing child
restraint system does not have a trans-
ponder for automatic child seat recogni-
tion, children must be secured in a child
restraint system on a suitable seat in the
rear. If you secure a forward-facing child
restraint system to the front-passenger
seat, you must move the front-passenger
seat as far back as possible.
R make sure there are no heavy or sharp-
edged objects in the pockets of clothing.42
Occupant safety
Safety

PRE-SAFE
®
takes pre-emptive measures to
protect occupants in certain hazardous sit-
uations.
PRE-SAFE ®
intervenes:
R when BAS activates, e.g. in emergency
braking situations
R when adaptive Brake Assist intervenes
powerfully on vehicles with DISTRONIC
PLUS
R in
critical driving situations, e.g. when phys-
ical limits are exceeded and the vehicle
understeers or oversteers severely
PRE-SAFE ®
takes the following measures
depending on the hazardous situation detec-
ted:
R the front seat belts are pre-tensioned.
R vehicles with the memory function: the
front-passenger seat is adjusted if it is in an
unfavourable position.
R if the vehicle skids, the panorama sliding
sunroof and the side windows are closed so
that only a small gap remains.
If the hazardous situation passes without
resulting in an accident, PRE-SAFE ®
slackens
the belt pretensioning. All settings made by
PRE-SAFE ®
can then be reversed.
If the seat belts are not released:
X Move the backrest or seat back slightly, but
only when the vehicle is stationary.
The belt pretensioning is reduced and the
locking mechanism is released.
More information about seat belt adjustment,
a convenience function integrated into PRE-
SAFE

(Y page 47). Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
A seat belt which is not worn correctly, or
which has not been engaged in the seat belt
buckle

correctly, cannot provide the intended
level of protection. Under certain circumstan- ces, this could cause severe or even fatal inju-
ries in the event of an accident.
Therefore, make sure that all occupants — in
particular,

pregnant women — wear their seat
belts correctly at all times.
R The seat belt must fit snugly on your body
and must not be twisted.Therefore, avoid
wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a winter coat.
The shoulder section of the belt must be
routed across the centre of your shoulder
— on no account across your neck or under
your arm — and pulled tight against your
upper body. The lap belt must always pass
across your lap as low down as possible, i.e.
over your hip joints — not across your abdo-
men. If necessary, push the seat belt
slightly downwards and adjust it by pulling
it in the direction the seat belt retracts.
R Do not route the seat belt strap over sharp
or fragile objects. Please make sure that
such objects are not on or in your clothing,
e.g. spectacles, pens or keys etc. The seat
belt strap could become damaged and tear
during an accident and you or other vehicle
occupants could be injured.
R Only one person should use each seat belt
at any one time. Children must never travel
sitting on the lap of another occupant. The
child will not be secured in the event of an
accident, heavy braking or sudden change
of direction. This may result in the child or
other occupants being seriously or fatally
injured.
R Persons under 1.50 m tall cannot wear the
seat belts correctly. For this reason secure
persons less than 1.50 m tall in specially
designed, suitable restraint systems.
R Children under 1.50 m tall and younger
than twelve years of age cannot wear the
seat belts correctly. For this reason secure
them in special suitable child restraint sys-
tems installed on a suitable seat. Additional
information can be found in the Operating
Instructions in the chapter "Safety", "Chil-
dren in the Vehicle". Observe the installa-46
Occupant safety
Safety

tion instructions of the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer.
R Do not secure an object with a seat belt if
the seat belt is also being used by one of
the vehicle's occupants. G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection unless the backrest is almost
vertical. Under certain circumstances, this
could
cause severe or even fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.
Before starting a journey, make sure that the
seat is properly adjusted and that the back-
rest is almost vertical. G
WARNING
A dirty or damaged seat belt or one that has
been modified or subjected to a load in an
accident

no longer offers the intended level of
protection. Under certain circumstances, this
could cause severe or even fatal injuries in the
event of an accident.
For this reason, check regularly that the seat
belts are not damaged or dirty.
Always have damaged seat belts or seat belts
that have been subjected to a load in an acci-
dent replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat belts which have
been approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle.
Seat belts are the most effective means of
restraining the movement of vehicle occu-
pants in the event of an accident. This
reduces the risk of vehicle occupants coming
into contact with parts of the vehicle interior. Fastening seat belts
X
Adjust the seat and move the backrest to
an almost vertical position ( Y page 92).
X Pull the seat belt smoothly through belt
sash guide :.
X Without twisting it, guide the shoulder sec-
tion of the seat belt across the middle of
your shoulder and the lap section across
your pelvis.
X Engage belt tongue ; in buckle =.
Seat
belt adjustment: if necessary, the driv-
er's and front-passenger seat belts auto-
matically adjust to the upper body
(Y page 47).
X If necessary, adjust the seat belt to the
appropriate height

(Y page 48).
X If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder
section of the seat belt to tighten the belt
across your body.
Information on releasing the seat belt with
release button ?(Y page 48).
Seat belt adjustment The seat-belt adjustment function adjusts the
driver's and front-passenger seat belt to the
upper body of the occupants. Occupant safety
47
Safety Z