Page 1 of 354
CLA
Operator's Manual
Order no. 65155217 13 Part no. 1175841700 Edition D 2014
É11758417006ËÍ1175841700
CLA-Class Operator's Manual
Page 2 of 354

Publication details
Internet
Further information about Mercedes-Benz
vehicles and about Daimler AG can be found
on the following websites:
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only)
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca (Canada
only)
Editorial office
You are welcome to forward any queries or
suggestions you may have regarding this
Operator's Manual to the technical
documentation team at the following
address:
Daimler AG, HPC: CAC, Customer Service,
70546 Stuttgart, Germany
©Daimler AG: Not to be reprinted, translated
or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part,
without written permission from Daimler AG.
Symbols
Registered trademarks:
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Bluetooth SIG Inc.
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of DOLBY Laboratories.
RBabySmart™, ESP®and PRE-SAFE®are
registered trademarks of Daimler AG.
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Johnson Controls.
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iBiquity Digital Corporation.
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LLC.
In this Operator's Manual you will find the
following symbols:
GWARNING
Warning notes draw your attention to hazards
that endanger your health or life, or the health
or life of others.
HEnvironmental note
Environmental notes provide you with
information on environmentally aware actions
or disposal.
!Notes on material damage alert you to
dangers that could lead to damage to your
vehicle.
iPractical tips or further information that
could be helpful to you.
XThis symbol indicates an
instruction that must be followed.
XSeveral of these symbols in
succession indicate an instruction
with several steps.
(Ypage)This symbol tells you where you
can find more information about a
topic.
YYThis symbol indicates a warning or
an instruction that is continued on
the next page.
DisplayDisplayThis font indicates a display in the
multifunction display/COMAND
display.
Parts of the software in the vehicle are
protected by copyright©2005
The FreeType Project
http://www.freetype.org. All rights
reserved.
As at 13.12.2012
Page 3 of 354

Welcome to the world of Mercedes-Benz
We urge you to read this Operator's Manual
carefully and familiarize yourself with the
vehicle before driving. For yourown safety
and a longer vehicle life, follow the
instructions and warning notices in this
manual. Ignoring them could result in damage
to the vehicle or personal injury to you or
others.
Vehicle damage caused by failure to follow
instructions is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty.
The equipment or product designationofyour
vehicle may vary depending on:
RModel
ROrder
RCountry specification
RAvailability
Mercedes-Benz therefore reserves the right
to introduce changes in the following areas:
RDesign
REquipment
RTechnical features
The equipment in your vehicle may therefore
differ from that shown in the descriptions and
illustrations.
The following are integral components of the
vehicle:
ROperator's Manual
RMaintenance Booklet
REquipment-dependent supplements
Keep printed copies of the documents in the
vehicle at all times. If you sell the vehicle,
always pass the documents on to the new
owner.
The technical documentation team at
Daimler AG wishes you safe and pleasant
motoring.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
ADaimler Company
1175841700É11758417006ËÍ
Page 4 of 354
Page 5 of 354
Index.......................................................4
Introduction.........................................21
Ataglance...........................................27
Safety...................................................37
Opening and closing...........................71
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors....89
Lights and windshield wipers..........103
Climate control.................................119
Driving and parking..........................135
On-board computer and displays....193
Stowage and features......................253
Maintenance and care......................279
Breakdown assistance.....................293
Wheels and tires...............................311
Technical data...................................343
Contents3
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1, 2, 3 ...
12Vsocket
see Sockets
4ETS
see ETS/4ETS (Electronic
TractionSystem)
4MATIC (permanent all-wheel
drive)
Displaymessage............................238
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive)..................................................174
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Display message............................213
Function/notes ................................ 61
Important safety notes....................61
Warning lamp ................................. 242
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification.................125
Active Parking Assist
Canceling .......................................182
Detecting parking spaces..............179
Display message............................231
Exitingaparking space..................181
Function/notes.............................178
Important safety notes..................178
Parking..........................................180
ADAPTIVE BRAKE................................. 69
Adaptive Brake Assist
Function/notes ................................ 63
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Display message............................226
Function/notes.............................108
Switching on/off...........................109
Switching on/off (on-board
computer)......................................207
Additional speedometer...................206
Additives (engine oil)........................348
Airbags
Deployment.....................................39
Display message............................222
Front air bag (driver, front
passenger).......................................43
Important safety notes....................41
Knee bag .......................................... 43
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF
indicator lamp..................................45
Safety guidelines.............................40
Side impact airbag..........................44
Windowcurtain air bag....................45
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
Airvents
Important safetynotes..................132
Rear...............................................133
Setting...........................................132
Setting the center air vents...........132
Setting the side air vents...............132
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Ambient lighting
Setting the brightness (on-board
computer)......................................207
AMG
Menu (on-board computer)............209
Performance Seat............................96
Anti-lockbraking system
see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-theft alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Ashtray...............................................262
Assistance display (on-board
computer)..........................................203
Assistance menu (on-board
computer)..........................................202
ASSYST PLUS
Displaying a service message........284
Hiding a service message..............284
Notes.............................................284
Resetting the service interval
display...........................................284
Service message ............................ 284
Special service requirements ......... 285
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating...................70
Function ...........................................70
Switching off the alarm....................70
ATTENTIONASSIST
Activating/deactivating.................204
Display message............................229
Function/notes.............................186
Audio menu (on-board computer)....200
4Index
Page 7 of 354

Audio system
see separate operating instructions
Authorized Centers
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
see Qualified specialist workshop
Authorized workshops
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message............................226
see Lights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function)....................................140
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function)..........................139
Automatic headlamp mode..............105
Automatic transmission
Automatic drive program...............147
Changing gear...............................145
DIRECT SELECT lever.....................142
Display message............................236
Drive program display....................143
Driving tips....................................145
Emergency running mode..............151
Engaging drive position .................. 144
Engaging neutral............................144
Engaging parkposition (AMG
vehicles)........................................145
Engaging reversegear...................143
Engaging the parkposition............143
Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients..............................145
Kickdown.......................................146
Manual drive program....................148
Overview........................................142
Problem (malfunction)...................151
Programselectorbutton................146
Pulling away...................................138
Selector lever................................144
Starting the engine........................138
Steering wheel paddle shifters......147
Transmission position display143, 144
Transmissionpositions..................145
Automatic transmission
emergency mode............................... 151
B
Backup lamp
Changing bulbs..............................114
Display message............................225
BAS (Brake Assist System).................62
Battery (SmartKey)
Checking .......................................... 74
Important safety notes....................74
Replacing.........................................74
Battery (vehicle)
Charging........................................302
Display message............................228
Important safety notes..................299
Jump starting.................................303
Belt force limiter
Activation ......................................... 53
Function ...........................................53
Blind SpotAssist
Activating/deactivating.................205
Display message............................231
Notes/function..............................188
Brake Assist
see BAS (Brake Assist System)
Brake fluid
Display message............................219
Notes.............................................348
Brake lamps
Changing bulbs..............................114
Display message............................224
Brakes
ABS..................................................61
Adaptive Brake Assist......................63
BAS..................................................62
Brake fluid (notes).........................348
Display message............................213
Driving tips....................................158
Important safety notes..................158
Maintenance..................................159
Parking brake................................154
Warning lamp ................................. 242
Breakdown
see Flat tire
see Towing away/tow-starting
Bulbs
see Replacing bulbs
Index5
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C
Calling up a malfunction
see Display messages
Car
see Vehicle
Care
Carpets..........................................291
Car wash ........................................ 285
Display...........................................290
Exhaustpipe..................................289
Exterior lights................................288
Gearorselectorlever....................290
Interior...........................................290
Matte finish...................................287
Notes.............................................285
Paint..............................................287
Plastic trim....................................290
Power washer................................286
Rearview camera..........................289
Roof lining ...................................... 291
Seat belt........................................291
Seat cover.....................................291
Sensors.........................................289
Steering wheel...............................290
Trim pieces....................................290
Washing by hand...........................286
Wheels...........................................287
Windows........................................288
Wiper blades..................................288
Wooden trim..................................290
Cargo compartment enlargement...257
Cargo tie down rings.........................258
Car wash (care).................................285
Center console
Lowersection..................................33
Uppersection..................................32
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board
computer)......................................208
Locking/unlocking (SmartKey)........72
Changing bulbs
Brake lamps...................................114
Cornering light function.................113
High-beam headlamps...................113
Low-beam headlamps....................112
Rearfog lamp................................114
Reversing lamps............................114
Turn signals (front) ......................... 113
Turn signals (rear)..........................114
Child-proof locks
Important safety notes....................60
Reardoors.......................................60
Children
In the vehicle...................................54
Restraint systems............................54
Specialseat belt retractor...............57
Child seat
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat
anchors ............................................ 58
On the front-passenger seat............57
Top Tether.......................................59
Cigarette lighter................................262
Climate control
Automatic climate control.............121
Automatic climate control (dual-
zone) .............................................. 123
Controlling automatically...............127
Cooling with airdehumidification..125
Defrosting the windows.................129
Defrosting the windshield..............129
Important safety notes..................120
Indicator lamp ................................ 127
Maximum cooling..........................129
Notes on using automatic climate
control...........................................124
Notes on using dual-zone
automatic climate control..............122
Overview of systems......................120
Problems with cooling with air
dehumidification............................127
Problem with the rear window
defroster........................................131
Refrigerant.....................................350
Refrigerant filling capacity.............351
Setting the airdistribution.............128
Setting the airflow.........................128
Setting the airvents......................132
Setting the temperature................127
Switching air-recirculation mode
on/off............................................131
Switching on/off...........................125
Switching residual heaton/off......131
6Index