2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS flat tire

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

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

R
One pair of gloves
R Foldable wheel chock Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
R MOExtended
tyres (tyres with run-flat char-
acteristics) (Y page 300)
Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with MOExtended tyres.
R a TIREFIT kit (Y page 299)
R an emergency spare wheel (only for certain
countries)
Information on changing/fitting a wheel
(Y page 325).
X Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from

traffic on solid, non-slippery and level
ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 162).
X If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
X Switch off the engine.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make

sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traf-
fic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle a suitable dis-
tance away

(Y page 298). Observe legal
requirements.
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. MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
General notes 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. The affected
tyre must not show any clearly visible dam-
age.
You can recognise MOExtended tyres by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
tyre

wall. You will find this marking next to the
tyre size designation, the load-bearing capa-
city and the speed index.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with an active tyre pressure loss
warning system.
If the pressure loss warning message
appears in the multifunction display:
R Observe the instructions in the display
messages ( Y page 251).
R Check the tyre for damage.
R If driving on, observe the following notes.
The maximum driving distance is approx-
imately 80 km when the vehicle is partially
laden and approximately 30 km when the
vehicle is fully laden.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon:
R speed
R road condition
R outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving condi-
tions/manoeuvres, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving. 300
Flat tyre
Breakdown assistance

The maximum permissible distance which
can
be driven in run-flat mode is counted from
the moment the tyre pressure loss warning
appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of
80 km/h.
i When replacing one or all tyres, make
sure that you use only:
R the tyre size specified for the vehicle and
R tyre(s) marked "MOExtended"
If a tyre has gone flat and cannot be
replaced with an MOExtended tyre, a
standard tyre may be used as a temporary
measure. Make sure that you use the
proper size and type (summer or winter
tyre).
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.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When driving in emergency mode, the driving
characteristics
deteriorate, e.g. when corner-
ing, accelerating quickly and when braking.
There is a risk of accident.
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving manoeu-
vres, and driving over obstacles (kerbs, pot-
holes, off-road). This applies in particular to a
laden vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
R you hear banging noises.
R the vehicle starts to shake.
R you see smoke and smell rubber.
R ESP ®
is intervening constantly.
R there are tears in the sidewalls of the tyre. After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked at a qualified specialist
workshop

with regard to their further use. The
faulty tyre must be replaced. TIREFIT kit
Important safety notes G
WARNING
In the following situations, the tyre sealant is
unable
to provide sufficient breakdown assis-
tance, as it is unable to seal the tyre properly:
R there are cuts or punctures in the tyre
larger than those mentioned above.
R the wheel rim is damaged.
R you have driven at very low tyre pressures
or on a flat tyre.
There is a risk of accident.
Do not drive any further. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
The tyre sealant is harmful and causes irrita-
tion. It must not come into contact with your
skin,

eyes or clothing or be swallowed. Do not
inhale TIREFIT fumes. Keep tyre sealant away
from children. There is a risk of injury.
If you come into contact with the tyre sealant,
observe the following:
R Rinse off the tyre sealant from your skin
immediately with water.
R If the tyre sealant comes into contact with
your eyes, immediately rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water.
R If tyre sealant is swallowed, immediately
rinse your mouth out thoroughly and drink
plenty of water. Do not induce vomiting,
and seek medical attention immediately.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with tyre sealant.
R If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately. Flat tyre
301Breakdown assistance Z

Using the TIREFIT kit
TIREFIT is a tyre sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal punctures of up
to 4 mm, particularly those in the tyre tread.
You
can use TIREFIT at outside temperatures
down to Ò20 †. TIREFIT sticker, 2-part
X
Do not remove any foreign objects which
have penetrated the tyre, e.g. screws or
nails.
X Remove the tyre sealant bottle, the accom-
panying TIREFIT sticker and the tyre infla-
tion compressor from the stowage well
underneath

the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 299).
X Affix part : of the TIREFIT sticker within
the driver's field of vision.
X Affix part ;
of the TIREFIT sticker near the
valve on the wheel with the defective tyre. X
Remove filler hose B
and plug = from the
bottom section of the tyre inflation com-
pressor housing.
X Slide the yellow filler hose connector into
the

mounting on yellow cap A of tyre seal-
ant bottle : until the plug engages.
X With the sealing rings in front, slide yellow
cap A of tyre sealant bottle : into the
mounting of tyre inflation compressor ;
until the cap and both hooks engage. X
Remove the cap from valve C
on the faulty
tyre.
X Screw filler hose D onto valve.
X Insert plug = into the socket of the ciga-
rette lighter (Y page 278) or into a 12 V
power

socket in your vehicle (Y page 278).
X Turn the key to position 1 in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X Press on/off switch ?
on the tyre inflation
compressor to ON.
The tyre inflation compressor is switched
on. The tyre is inflated.
i First,
tyre sealant is pumped into the tyre.
The pressure can briefly rise to approx-
imately 500 kPa (5 bar/73 psi).
Do not switch off the tyre inflation com-
pressor during this phase.
X Let the tyre inflation compressor run for a
maximum of ten minutes. The tyre should
then have attained a pressure of at least
200 kPa (2.0 bar/29 psi).
! Do not operate the tyre inflation com-
pressor for longer than ten minutes at a 302
Flat tyre
Breakdown assistance

time without a break. It may otherwise
overheat.
The
tyre inflation compressor can be oper-
ated again once it has cooled down.
If a pressure of 200 kPa (2.0 bar/29 psi) has
been achieved after ten minutes, see
(Y page 303).
If a pressure of 200 kPa (2.0 bar/29 psi) has
not been achieved after ten minutes, see
(Y page 303).
i If the tyre sealant leaks out, allow it to dry.
It can then be removed like a layer of film.
If you get tyre sealant on your clothing,
have it cleaned as soon as possible with
perchloroethylene.
Tyre pressure not reached If a pressure of 200 kPa

(2.0 bar/29 psi) has
not been achieved after ten minutes:
X Switch off the tyre inflation compressor.
X Unscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tyre.
X Very slowly drive forwards or reverse
approximately

10 m.
X Pump up the tyre again.
After a maximum of ten minutes, the tyre
pressure

must be at least 200 kPa (2.0 bar/
29 psi). G
WARNING
If the required tyre pressure is not reached
after the specified time, the tyre is too badly
damaged. The tyre sealant cannot repair the
tyre

in this instance. Damaged tyres and a tyre
pressure that is too low can significantly
impair the vehicle's braking and driving char-
acteristics. There is a risk of accident.
Do not continue driving. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop. Tyre pressure reached G
WARNING
A tyre temporarily sealed with tyre sealant
impairs the driving characteristics and is not
suitable for higher speeds. There is a risk of
accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
accordingly

and drive carefully. Do not exceed
the specified maximum speed with a tyre that
has been repaired using tyre sealant.
! After use, excess tyre sealant may run out
of the filler hose. This could cause stains.
Therefore, place the filler hose in the plastic
bag that contained the TIREFIT kit. H
Environmental note
Have the used tyre sealant bottle disposed of
professionally, e.g. at a qualified specialist
workshop.
If a tyre pressure of 200 kPa (2.0 bar/
29 psi) has been achieved after ten minutes:
X Switch off the tyre inflation compressor.
X Unscrew the filler hose from the valve of
the faulty tyre.
X Stow the tyre sealant bottle, the tyre infla-
tion compressor and the warning triangle.
X Pull away immediately.
The maximum speed for a tyre sealed with
tyre
sealant is 80 km/h. The upper part of the
TIREFIT sticker must be affixed to the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
X Stop after driving for approximately ten
minutes and check the tyre pressure with
the tyre inflation compressor.
The tyre pressure must now be at least
130 kPa (1.3 bar/19 psi). G
WARNING
If the required tyre pressure is not reached
after
driving for a short period, the tyre is too
badly damaged. The tyre sealant cannot
repair the tyre in this instance. Damaged tyres Flat tyre
303
Breakdown assistance
Z

Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the towing eye
is
located under the tyre inflation compres-
sor.
X Press the mark on cover : inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover : from the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch do not have
a bracket for the screw-in towing eye at the
back.

If you intend to use the vehicle for tow-
ing, fold out the ball coupling ( Y page 203)
and secure the towbar to it.
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover : to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 299).
X Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: replace the tyre
inflation compressor. Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the front axle raised.
! Vehicles

with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa-
ded up and transported.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed. X
Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and shift to
neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Deactivate automatic locking
(Y page 223).
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 108).
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and leave the key in the ignition lock.
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions ( Y page 310). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much

more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
i In order to signal a change of direction
when towing with the hazard warning lamps
switched on, use the combination switch as
usual. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset
the combination switch, the hazard warn-
ing lamps start flashing again. 312
Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

wheels and tyres for damage. Hidden tyre
damage could also be causing the unusual
handling characteristics. If you find no
signs
of damage, have the wheels and tyres
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
R When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tyres do not get deformed by the kerb
or other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive
over kerbs, speed humps or similar eleva-
tions, try to do so slowly and at an obtuse
angle. Otherwise, the tyres, particularly the
sidewalls, may be damaged. Regular checking of wheels and tyres
G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check

the tyres regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tyres immediately.
Regularly check the wheels and tyres of your
vehicle for damage at least once a month, as
well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of
tyre pressure. Pay particular attention to
damage such as:
R cuts in the tyres
R punctures
R tears in the tyres
R bulges on tyres
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tyre tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tyre (Y page 319). If necessary, turn
the front wheels to full lock in order to inspect
the inner side of the tyre surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not fit
anything onto the valve other than the stand-
ard valve cap or other valve caps approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle. Do not fit any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tyre pres-
sure monitoring systems. Regularly check the pressure of all the tyres,
particularly

prior to long trips. Adjust the tyre
pressure as necessary ( Y page 321).
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 332).
The service life of tyres depends on various
factors, including the following:
R driving style
R tyre pressure
R tyre mileage Tyre tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tyre tread will reduce tyre trac-
tion. The tyre is no longer able to dissipate
water.

This means that on wet road surfaces,
the risk of aquaplaning increases, in particular
where speed is not adapted to suit the driving
conditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, tyres
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tyre tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tyres.
Minimum tyre tread depth for:
R summer tyres: 3 mm
R M+S tyres: 4 mm
For safety reasons, replace the tyres before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tyre tread depth is reached.. Selecting, fitting and replacing tyres
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
Exception:

it is permissible to fit a different
type or make in the event of a flat tyre.
Observe the "MOExtended tyres (tyres with
run-flat characteristics)" section
(Y page 300).
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels. Operation
319
Wheels and tyres Z