2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS boot

Notes/function
.............................. 198
Trailer towing ................................. 199
Bonnet
Active
bonnet (pedestrian protec-
tion) ............................................... 284
Closing ........................................... 286
Display message ............................ 254
Important safety notes .................. 284
Opening ......................................... 285
Boot
see Tailgate
Boot load (maximum) ........................ 346
Brake Assist System see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message ............................ 236
Notes ............................................. 344
Brake lamps
Adaptive ........................................... 65
Changing bulbs .............................. 116
Display message ............................ 240
Brakes
ABS .................................................. 61
Adaptive Brake Assist ......................64
BAS .................................................. 62
Brake fluid (notes) .........................344
Display message ............................ 230
Driving tips .................................... 166
Important safety notes .................. 166
Parking brake ................................ 163
Warning lamp ................................. 258
Breakdown
see Flat tyre
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Replacing bulbs C
Calling up a fault see Display messages


Car
see Vehicle
Care
Automatic car wash ....................... 291
Carpets .......................................... 296
Display ........................................... 295
Exhaust pipe .................................. 294Exterior lighting
............................. 293
Gear or selector lever ....................295
High-pressure cleaner ....................

291
Interior ........................................... 295
Matt paintwork .............................. 292
Notes ............................................. 290
Paint .............................................. 292
Plastic trim .................................... 295
Reversing camera ..........................294
Roof lining ...................................... 296
Seat belt ........................................ 296
Seat cover ..................................... 296
Sensors ......................................... 294
Steering wheel ............................... 295
Trim pieces .................................... 295
Washing by hand ........................... 291
Wheels ........................................... 292
Windows ........................................ 293
Wiper blades .................................. 293
Wooden trim .................................. 295
Car wash (care) ................................. 291
Central locking Automatic locking (on-board com-
puter) ............................................. 223
Locking/unlocking (key) ..................75
Centre console
Lower section .................................. 35
Upper section .................................. 34
Changing bulbs
Brake lamps ................................... 116
Cornering light function .................115
Dipped-beam headlamps ............... 114
Main-beam headlamps ................... 114
Rear foglamp ................................. 116
Reversing lamps ............................ 116
Tail lamps ...................................... 116
Turn signals (front) ......................... 115
Turn signals (rear) .......................... 116
Child-proof locks
Important safety notes .................... 60
Rear doors ....................................... 60
Children
In the vehicle ................................... 50
Restraint systems ............................ 50
Child seat
Automatic recognition ..................... 52
ISOFIX .............................................. 53
On the front-passenger seat ............516
Index

Reversing camera
Important safety notes The reversing camera is only an aid. It is not
a substitute for your attention to the imme-
diate
surroundings. The responsibility for safe
manoeuvring and parking remains with you.
Make sure that there are no persons, animals
or objects in range while manoeuvring and
parking.
Under the following circumstances, the
reversing camera will not function, or will
function in a limited manner:
R if the tailgate is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In
this event, have the camera position and
setting checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
General notes Reversing camera
:
is in the boot lid handle.
The reversing camera extends, when it is acti-
vated.
The reversing camera is an optical parking
and manoeuvring aid. It uses guide lines to show the area behind your vehicle in the
Audio/COMAND display.
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear-view mirror.
i
The text of messages shown in the
COMAND

display depends on the language
setting. The following are examples of
reversing camera messages in the
COMAND display.
Activating/deactivating the reversing
camera X
To activate: make sure that the key is in
position 2 in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the "Activation by R gear"
setting is active in the audio system/
COMAND Online; see the separate audio
system/COMAND Online operating
instructions.
X Engage reverse gear.
Guide lines are used to show the area
behind the vehicle in the Audio/COMAND
display. Function mode display for vehicles with COMAND
Online and a trailer tow hitch
X
To change the function mode in vehi-
cles with COMAND Online and trailer
tow hitch: using the COMAND controller,
select

symbol : for the "Reverse parking" Driving systems
191
Driving and parking Z

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/h for
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 M is temporarily activated
(vehicles with automatic transmission): the
automatic transmission may switch back to
the last active automatic drive program E
or S. The automatic transmission may shift
to a higher gear. This can reduce the
engine's braking 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
203
Driving and parking Z

the vehicle and the trailer drawbar. This poses
a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle
could be damaged by the rebound-
ing of the overrun brake.
! Remove the installed adapter cable
before folding in the ball coupling. Other-
wise, damage may occur to the rear
bumper and the adapter cable.
X Make sure that the transmission is in posi-
tion P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer. Folding in 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.
X Fold the ball coupling back in if you are not
using the trailer tow hitch.
X Place the protective covering on the ball
coupling.
The release wheel is located behind the left-
hand side trim panel in the boot. X
To open the cover: turn handle : anti-
clockwise and fold down cover ; and
remove it. X
Pull out release wheel =.
X Turn release wheel =
anti-clockwise as far
as it will go.
The ball coupling disengages and folds out
behind the rear bumper. Indicator
lamp ? flashes. Towing a trailer
205
Driving and parking Z

Enlarging the luggage compartment
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the rear bench seat/rear seat and seat
backrest are not engaged they could fold for-
wards, e.g. when braking suddenly or in the
event of an accident.
R The vehicle occupant would thereby be
pushed into the seat belt by the rear bench
seat/rear seat or by the seat backrest. The
seat belt cannot protect as intended and
could result in additional injury.
R Objects or loads in the boot/luggage com-
partment cannot be restrained by the seat
backrest.
This poses an increased risk of injury.
Before every trip, make sure that the seat
backrests and the rear bench seat/rear seat
are engaged before every trip.
! Before folding the backrest in the rear
compartment forwards, make sure that the
rear compartment armrest and the
cupholder are folded in. They may other-
wise be damaged.
Observe the loading guidelines (Y page 268).
Folding the rear seat backrest forwards
and back Folding the rear seat backrest forward
The

left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity. X
Fully insert the backrest head restraints
(Y page 96).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle ; of the seat backrest forwards.
The corresponding seat backrest : is
released.
X Fold backrest : forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. X
Insert the seat belt into seat-belt
extender :.
Folding the rear seat backrest back X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become

trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. 272
Stowage areas
Stowing and features

X
Remove first-aid kit =.
i Check the expiry date on first-aid kit =
at least once a year. Replace the contents
if necessary, and replace any missing
items. Fire extinguisher
The fire extinguisher is located underneath
the front of the driver's seat.
X
Pull tab : upwards.
X Remove the fire extinguisher.
i Have the fire extinguisher refilled after
each use and checked every one or two
years. It may otherwise fail in an emer-
gency.
Observe the legal requirements for each
individual country. Vehicle tool kit
General notes Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the TIREFIT kit is
located in the stowage well under the boot
floor.
Vehicles
with a tyre-change tool kit: the tyre-
change tool kit is in the stowage well under
the luggage compartment floor.
For vehicles with an emergency spare wheel,
see "Removing the emergency spare wheel"
(Y page 332). i
Apart from some country-specific var-
iants, vehicles are not equipped with tyre-
changing tools. Some tools for changing a
wheel

are specific to the vehicle. For more
information on which tools are required and
approved to perform a wheel change on
your vehicle, consult a qualified specialist
workshop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools can include,
for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Wheel wrench
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit :
Tyre inflation compressor
; Towing eye
= Tyre sealant filler bottle
X Open the tailgate.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards

(Y page 274).
i Towing
eye ; is located under tyre infla-
tion compressor :.
Vehicles with a tyre-change tool kit X
Open the tailgate.
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards

(Y page 274).
X Remove the tyre-change tool kit.
The tyre-change tool kit contains:
R Jack
R Wheel wrench Where will I find...?
299
Breakdown assistance

Missing values were not available at the time
of going to print.
All models (except AMG vehicles)
Vehicle length
4292 mm
Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
2022 mm
Vehicle width
excluding exterior
mirrors
1780 mm
Wheelbase
2699 mm
Maximum roof load
100 kg
Maximum boot load
100 kg
A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1433 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1370 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic
transmis-
sion 1395 kg
A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1370 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic

transmis-
sion 1395 kg
A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1438 mm
Unladen weight
1445 kg A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1433 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1395 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic

transmis-
sion 1475 kg
A 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1445 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic

transmis-
sion 1475 kg
A 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight
AMG vehicles
Vehicle length
4395 mm
Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
2022 mm
Vehicle width
excluding exterior
mirrors
1780 mm
Vehicle height
1417 mm
Wheelbase
2699 mm
Roof load
100 kg
Maximum boot load
100 kgVehicle data
347
Technical data Z