The essentials
Selecting reverse gear
● Press the clutch pedal and keep your foot
right down.
● With the gearbox lever in neutral, push it
upwards, move it to the left as far as it will go
and then forwards to select reverse ››› Fig. 37
R .
● Release the clutch.
››› in Changing gears on page 132
››› page 132 Automatic gearbox*
Fig. 38
Parking lock
P Reverse gear
Neutral (idling)
Drive (forward)
Tiptronic mode: pull the lever forwards
(
+
) to go up a gear or backwards ( –
) to
go down a gear.
››› in Selector lever positions on
page 133
››› page 132
››› page 229 R
N
D/S
+/–
25
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
The essentials
Level control Fuel Fig. 42
The flap that covers the tank cap is unlocked
and locked automatically using the central
locking.
Opening the fuel tank cap
●
Open the fuel tank flap by pressing on the
left side.
● Unscrew the cap by turning it to the left.
● Place it in the space on the hinge of the
open flap ››› Fig. 42 .
C lo
sing the fuel tank cap
● Unscrew the cap by turning it to the right as
far as it will go.
● Close the lid.
››› in Filling the tank on page 193
›››
page 193 Oil
Fig. 43
Fig. 44
The level is measured using the dipstick loca-
ted in the engine compartment
››› page 198
.
The oi l
should leave a mark between zones
A and
C . It should never exceed zone
A .
● Zone A : Do not add oil.
● Zone B : You can add oil but keep the level
in that zone.
● Zone C : Add oil up to zone
B .
Topping up engine oil
● Unscrew cap from oil filler opening.
● Add oil slowly.
● At the same time, check the level to ensure
you do not add too much.
● When the oil level reaches at least zone B ,
unscrew the engine oil filler cap carefully.
››› in Changing engine oil on page 202
››› page 200 31
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
The essentials
Fuses Fig. 48
Fig. 49
Underneath the instrument panel
The fuse box is located behind the storage
compartment
››› Fig. 48 .
In the en gine c
ompartment
Press the locking tabs to release the fuse box
cover ››› Fig. 49
.
››› in Introduction on page 231
›››
page 231 Battery
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment
›››
page 198. It does not require
m aint
enance. It is checked as part of the In-
spection Service.
››› in Important safety warnings for
handling a vehicle battery on page 206
››› page 205 Action in the event of a
puncture
With anti-puncture kit Fig. 50
The anti-puncture kit is located under the
floor panel in the luggage compartment.
Sealing the tyre
●
Unscrew the tyre valve cap and insert. Use
the ››› Fig. 50 1 tool to remove the insert.
Place it on a clean surface.
● Shake the tyre sealant bottle vigorously
››› Fig. 50 10 .
● Screw the inflator tube ››› Fig. 50 3 into
the sealant bottle. The bottle's seal will break
automatically. » 33
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
The essentials
Wire hook for pulling off the wheel cov-
ers*/wheel bolt cap clip.
● Take out the spare wheel and the tools that
are located under the floor panel in the lug-
gage compartment.
● Take out the wheel cover or the bolt caps.
● Loosen the bolts with the box spanner (1
turn to the left).
● Mount the jack on the support points de-
signed for this purpose on the strut
››› Fig. 52 .
● Rai
se the vehicle, turning the jack until it is
slightly lifted off the ground.
● Unscrew the bolts completely and remove
the punctured wheel.
● Put the spare wheel in place. Screw on the
bolts and tighten them loosely with the box
spanner.
● Lower the vehicle with the jack. Finish tight-
ening the bolts with the box spanner.
››› in What to do first on page 217
››› page 217 6
Emergency towing of the
vehicle
Towing Fig. 53
Fig. 54
The towline anchorages are located under
the floor panel in the luggage compartment.Switch on the ignition so that the turn sig-
nals, windscreen wipers and windscreen
washer can work. Ensure that the steering
wheel is unlocked and moves freely.
Place the gear lever in neutral on vehicles
with a manual gearbox. With an automatic
gearbox, place the lever in N.
To brake, press the brake pedal firmly. The
brake servo does not work when the engine
is switched off.
The power steering only works when the igni-
tion is switched on and the vehicle is moving,
provided that the battery is sufficiently charg-
ed. Otherwise, it will need more force.
Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times.
Tow rope or tow bar
The tow bar offers increased safety and a
lower risk of damage.
The tow rope is recommended when there is
no tow bar. It must be elastic so that it does
not damage the vehicle.
Towline anchorages
Attach the bar or rope to the towline ancho-
rages.
It is located with the vehicle's tools
››› page 220
.
» 35
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Safe driving
the chest and the centre of the steering
wheel
››› Fig. 55. If you are sitting closer than
25 c m, the airb
ag system cannot protect you
properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both hands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions.
This reduces the risk of injury when the driver
airbag is triggered.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock position, or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the airbag is triggered, you may sus-
tain injuries to the arms, hands and head.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver
during sudden braking manoeuvres or an ac-
cident, never drive with the backrest tilted far
back! The airbag system and seat belts can
only provide optimal protection when the
backrest is in an upright position and the
driver is wearing his or her seat belt correct-
ly.
● Adjust the head restraint properly to ach-
ieve optimal protection. Adjusting the steering wheel position
Read the additional information carefully
››› page 14. WARNING
● Never adjust the position of the steering
wheel when the vehicle is moving, as this
could cause an accident.
● Move the lever up firmly so the steering
wheel position does not accidentally change
during driving. risk of accident!
● Make sure you are capable of reaching and
firmly holding the upper part of the steering
wheel: risk of accident!
● If you adjust the steering wheel so that it
points towards your face, the driver airbag
will not protect you properly in the event of
an accident. Make sure that the steering
wheel points towards your chest. Correct sitting position for front
passenger
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident, we recom-
mend the following adjustments for the front
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far
as possible ››› .–
Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that your back rests completely
against it.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same
level as the top of your head ››› page 41.
– Always keep both feet in the footwell in
front of the front passenger seat.
– Fasten your seat belt securely ››› page 43.
It is possible to deactivate the front passen-
ger airbag in exceptional circumstances
› ›
› page 54.
Adjus
ting the front passenger seat
››› page 106. WARNING
● An incorrect sitting position of the front
passenger can lead to severe injuries.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so that
there is at least 25 cm between your chest
and the dash panel. If you are sitting closer
than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly.
● If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the minimum distance of 25
cm, contact a specialised workshop. The
workshop will help you decide if special spe-
cific modifications are necessary.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell when
the vehicle is moving; never rest them on the » 39
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Seat belts
●
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be
blocked with paper or other objects, as this
can prevent the latch plate from engaging se-
curely.
● Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings or
similar items to alter the position of the belt
webbing.
● Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the
connections, belt retractors or parts of the
buckle could cause severe injuries in the
event of an accident. Therefore, you must
check the condition of all seat belts at regular
intervals.
● Seat belts which have been worn in an acci-
dent and stretched must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Renewal may be nec-
essary even if there is no apparent damage.
The belt anchorage should also be checked.
● Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat
belt yourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way.
● The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the
retractors may not work properly. Head-on collisions and the laws of
physics
Fig. 62
A driver not wearing a seat belt is
thrown forward violently Fig. 63
The unbelted passenger in the rear
seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the
driver who is wearing a seat belt. It is easy to explain how the laws of physics
work in the case of a head-on collision: when
a vehicle starts moving, a type of energycalled “kinetic energy” is created both in the
passengers and inside the vehicle.
The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on
the speed of the vehicle and the weight of
the vehicle and its passengers. The higher
they are, the more energy there is to be “ab-
sorbed” in the event of an accident.
The most significant factor, however, is the
speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles
from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph), for example, the corresponding ki-
netic energy is multiplied by four.
Given that the passengers of the vehicle in
our example do not have their seat belts fas-
tened, in the event of a collision the entire
amount of the passengers' kinetic energy will
be only absorbed by the mentioned impact.
Even at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on bod-
ies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne
(1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are
even higher.
Vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are
not “attached” to the vehicle. In a head-on
collision, they will move forward at the same
speed their vehicle was travelling just before
the impact. This example applies not only to
head-on collisions, but to all accidents and
collisions.
Even at low speeds the forces acting on the
body in a collision are so great that it is not
»
45Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
Safety
possible to brace oneself with one's hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers
are thrown forward and will make violent con-
tact with the steering wheel, dash panel,
windscreen or whatever else is in the way
››› Fig. 62 .
It i
s also important for rear passengers to
wear seat belts properly, as they could other-
wise be thrown forward violently through the
vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in
the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-
danger not only themselves but also the front
occupants ››› Fig. 63. How t
o properly adjust your
seatbelt
Fastening and unfastening the seat
belt Fig. 64
Positioning and removing the seat
belt buckle. Fig. 65
Position of seat belt during pregnan-
cy. Read the additional information carefully
››› page 13
.
F a
sten your seat belt
The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if
the seat belt is not positioned correctly.
● Adjust the seat and head restraint correctly.
● To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch
plate and pull it slowly across your chest and
lap.
● Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the
appropriate seat and push it down until it is
securely locked with an audible click
››› Fig. 64 A.
● Pu
ll the belt to ensure that the latch plate is
securely engaged in the buckle.
46
Seat belts
The seat belts are equipped with an automat-
ic retractor on the shoulder strap. Full free-
dom of movement is permitted when the
shoulder belt is pulled slowly. However, dur-
ing sudden braking, during travel in steep
areas or bends and during acceleration, the
automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is
locked.
The automatic belt retractors on the front
seats are fitted with seat belt tensioners
››› page 47 .
R el
easing the seat belt
● Press the red button on the belt buckle
››› Fig. 64 B
. The latch plate is released and
springs out ››› .
● Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls
up easily and the trim is not damaged.
Adjusting the seat belt
Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-
ly when they are properly positioned
››› Fig. 65 . WARNING
● The seat belts offer best protection only
when the backrests are in an upright position
and the seat belts have been fastened prop-
erly.
● Never put the latch plate in the buckle of
another seat. If you do this, the seat belt will not protect you properly and the risk of injury
is increased.
●
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehi-
cle is in motion. If you do, you increase the
risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.
● An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause se-
vere injuries in the event of an accident.
● For pregnant women, the lap part of the
seat belt must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis, never across the stomach, and always
lie flat so that no pressure is exerted on the
abdomen ››› Fig. 65.
● Alw
ays engage the retractor lock when you
are securing a child seat in group 0, 0+ or 1
››› page 56.
● Re
ad and observe the warnings ››› page 44. Seat belt tensioners
How the seat belt tensioner works During a frontal collision, the seat belts on
the front seats are retracted automatically.
The seat belts for the occupants in the front
seats are equipped with belt tensioners. Sen-
sors will trigger the belt tensioners only dur-
ing severe head-on, lateral and rear-end colli-
sions and only if the seat belt is worn. This
retracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing
the forward motion of the occupants.The seat belt tensioner can be triggered only
once.
The seat belt tensioners will not be triggered
in the event of a light frontal, side or rear col-
lision, if the vehicle overturns or in situations
where no large forces act on the front, side or
rear of the vehicle.
Note
● If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a
fine dust is produced. This is normal and it is
not an indication of fire in the vehicle.
● The relevant safety requirements must be
observed when the vehicle or components of
the system are scrapped. Specialised work-
shops are familiar with these regulations,
which are also available to you. Service and disposal of belt
tensioners
The belt tensioners are components of the
seat belts that are installed in the seats of
your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-
ers or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence may
be that, in the event of an accident, the belt
tensioners function incorrectly or may not
function at all.
So that the effectiveness of the seat belt ten-
sioner is not reduced and that removed parts
»
47
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials