
Seat backrestsFig. 50
Unlocked backrest
The rear seat backrest can be folded forwards to increase the size of the lug-
gage compartment. The seat backrests can also be folded forward individually
on vehicles with divided rear seats.
Fold down split seat backrest
›
Push the securing knob
A
» Fig. 50 and fold the seat backrest forwards.
›
Move the head restraint fully towards the rear, or remove » page 57.
›
Fold the seat backrest completely forwards.
Fold down undivided seat backrest
›
Press the securing knobs
A
» Fig. 50 on both sides of the seat back, and tilt
the seat back forward.
›
Move the head restraint fully downwards or remove » page 57.
›
Fold the seat backrest completely forwards.
Fold back split seat backrest
›
If you removed the head restraint, you need to reinsert it with the backrest
tilted slightly forwards » page 57.
›
Hold your seat belt on the side trim.
›
Then fold the seat backrest back until the securing knob clicks into place -
check by pulling on the seat backrest » .
›
Make sure that the red marker
B
» Fig. 50 is hidden.
Fold back undivided seat backrest
›
If you removed the head restraints, you need to reinsert them with the back-
rest tilted slightly forwards » page 57.
›
Keep the seat belts on both sides of the backrests on the side cover.
›
Then fold the seat backrests back until the securing knobs clicks into place -
check by pulling on the seat backrest » .
›
Make sure that the red marks
B
» Fig. 50 on both sides of the seat back are
no longer visible.
WARNING■ The seat belts and the belt locks must be in their original position after
folding back the seat backrests – they must be ready to use.■
The seat backrests must be securely locked in position so that no objects
in the luggage compartment can slide into the passenger compartment on
sudden braking – risk of injury.
■
In occupied rear seats make sure that the respective seat backrests are
properly engaged.
CAUTION
Ensure that the seat belts are not damaged when operating the seat backr-
ests. Under no circumstances must the rear seat belts be jammed by the fol-
ded back seat backrests.59Seats and head restraints

Transporting and practical equipment
Useful equipment
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Car park ticket holder
60
Storage compartment on the driver's side
60
Storage compartment in the front centre console
61
Cup holders
61
Cigarette lighter
61
Ashtray
62
12-Volt power outlet
62
Multimedia holder
63
Photo holder
63
Storage compartment on the front passenger side - version 1
63
Storage compartment on the passenger side - version 2
64
Foldable hook
64
Clothes hook
64
Net pockets on the front seat rest
65
Stowage compartments in front of the rear seats
65WARNING■ Do not place anything on the dash panel. These objects might slide or fall
down when driving (when accelerating or cornering) and may distract you
from concentrating on the traffic – there is the risk of an accident.■
When driving, ensure that no objects from the centre console or from oth-
er storage compartments can get into the driver's footwell. You would not
be able to brake, operate the clutch pedal or accelerate - danger of causing
an accident!
■
No objects should be placed in the storage compartments nor in the
drinks holders; the vehicle occupants could be endangered if there is sud-
den braking or the vehicle collides with something.
■
Ash, cigarettes, cigars and the like. may only be placed in the ashtray!
Car park ticket holderFig. 51
Parking ticket holder
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The note holder » Fig. 51 is designed e.g. for attaching car park tickets.
WARNINGThe attached note has to always be removed before starting off in order
not to restrict the driver's vision.
Storage compartment on the driver's side
Fig. 52
Storage compartment on the
driver's side
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The open stowage compartment can be found underneath the dash panel on
the driver's side » Fig. 52.
WARNINGNever store hard, heavy or sharp items in an opened stowage compart-
ment.60Using the system

Storage compartment in the front centre consoleFig. 53
Storage compartment
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The open storage compartment is in the front of the centre console » Fig. 53.
Cup holders
Fig. 54
Cup holders: front / rear
Read and observe
on page 60 first.
Placement of the cup holders » Fig. 54
In the front centre console
In the rear centre console
Fixing cups in the front cup holder
Fold the cup holder clip » Fig. 54 -
towards the front.
Place the cup into the cup holder so that the cup holder clip surrounds the cup
securely.
WARNING■ Do not use any cups or beakers which are made of brittle material (e.g.
glass, porcelain). This could lead to injuries in the event of an accident.■
Never put hot beverage containers in the cup holder. If the vehicle moves,
they may spill – risk of scalding!
■
No objects should be placed in the drinks holders, as the vehicle occu-
pants could be endangered if sudden braking occurs or the vehicle collides
with something.
CAUTION
Do not leave open beverage containers in the cup holder during the journey.
There is a risk of spilling e.g. when braking which may cause damage to the
electrical components or seat upholstery.
Cigarette lighter
Fig. 55
Cigarette lighter
Read and observe on page 60 first.
Using the system
›
Press in the button of the cigarette lighter » Fig. 55.
›
Wait until the button pops forward.
›
Remove the cigarette lighter immediately and use.
›
Place the cigarette lighter back into the socket.
WARNINGTake care when using the cigarette lighter! Improper use of the cigarette
lighter can cause burns. 61Transporting and practical equipment

■Switch off the devices connected to the power sockets before you switch
the ignition on or off and before starting the engine, to avoid damage from
voltage fluctuations.■
Observe the operating instructions for the connected devices!
Multimedia holder
Fig. 58
Multimedia holder
Read and observe on page 60 first.
You can use this multimedia holder » Fig. 58 to store e.g. a mobile phone, MP3
player or similar devices.
The holder can be found in the stowage compartment of the front centre con-
sole » Fig. 58 .
WARNINGNever use the multimedia holder as an ashtray - risk of fire!
Photo holder
Fig. 59
Photo holder
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The photo holder can be used for attachment of, for example, photos, sticky
notes and such like.
The holder is located in the middle part of the panel » Fig. 59.
Storage compartment on the front passenger side - version 1
Fig. 60
Storage compartment on the
front passenger side
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The open stowage compartment can be found underneath the dash panel on
the front passenger's side » Fig. 60.
There is a bag hook
A
at the open stowage compartment which is used to
hang smaller items of luggage, e.g. bags, or similar.
CAUTION
The maximum permissible load of the hook is 1.5 kg.63Transporting and practical equipment

CAUTIONThe maximum permissible load of the hooks is 2 kg.
Net pockets on the front seat rest
Fig. 63
Meshed pocket
Read and observe
on page 60 first.
The net pockets are used for storage of small and light objects, such as mobile phones and the like.
The net pockets are located on the inner sides of the front seat backr-
ests » Fig. 63 .
WARNINGDo not exceed the maximum permissible load of the meshed pockets.
Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently – risk of injury!
CAUTION
■ The maximum permissible load of the meshed pockets is 150 g.■Never place large objects, e.g. bottles or objects with sharp edges into the
map pockets - risk of damaging the pockets and seat coverings.Stowage compartments in front of the rear seatsFig. 64
Storage compartment
Read and observe on page 60 first.
The open storage compartments » Fig. 64are located in front of the rear seats.
Luggage compartment
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Lashing eyes
66
Bag hooks
66
Fixing nets
67
Luggage compartment cover
67
Variable loading floor
68
Class N1 vehicles
68
Please observe the following for the purpose of maintaining good handling
characteristics of your vehicle:
›
Distribute loads as evenly as possible.
›
Place heavy objects as far forward as possible.
›
Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or by using the fixing
nets » page 66 .
In the event of an accident, even small and light objects gain so much kinetic
energy that they can cause severe injuries.
The magnitude of the kinetic energy is dependent on the speed at which the
vehicle is travelling and the weight of the object.
65Transporting and practical equipment

Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an object
with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corresponds to 20 times its
own weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg “ ”.WARNING■ Always store transported objects in the boot and attach them to the lash-
ing eyes.■
Loose objects can be thrown forward during a sudden manoeuvre or in
case of an accident and can injure the occupants or other road users.
■
Loose objects could hit a deployed airbag and injure occupants – danger
of death!
■
Please note that transporting heavy objects alters the handling proper-
ties of the vehicle due to the displacement of the centre of gravity – risk of
accident! The speed and style of driving must be adjusted accordingly.
■
If the items of luggage or objects are attached to the lashing eyes with
unsuitable or damaged lashing straps, injuries can occur in the event of
braking manoeuvres or accidents. To prevent items of luggage from moving
around, always use suitable lashing straps which must be firmly attached
to the lashing eyes.
■
The transported items must be stowed in such a way that no objects are
able to slip forward on sudden driving or braking manoeuvres – risk of in-
jury!
■
When transporting objects in the luggage compartment that has been en-
larged by folding the rear seats forward, ensure the safety of the passen-
gers transported on the other rear seats » page 10, Correct seated position
for the passengers in the rear seats .
■
If the rear seat next to the folded forward seat is occupied, ensure maxi-
mum safety, e.g. by placing the goods to be transported in such a way that
the seat is prevented from folding back in case of a rear collision.
■
Do not drive with the luggage compartment lid fully opened or slightly
ajar otherwise exhaust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle – risk
of poisoning!
■
Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of
the vehicle – risk of accident!
■
Do not transport people in the boot!
CAUTION
■ Please ensure that the heating elements for the rear window heater are not
damaged as a result of abrasive objects.■
Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load » page 118.
Lashing eyesFig. 65
Lashing eyes
Read and observe and on page 66 first.
Fixing eyes are located on the sides of the loading area for lashing the goods
to be loaded » Fig. 65.
CAUTION
The maximum permissible static load of the individual lashing eyes is 3.5 kN
(350 kg).
Bag hooks
Fig. 66
Bag hooks
Read and observe and on page 66 first.
The luggage compartment has bag hooks used to secure smaller items of lug- gage, e.g. bags, etc. » Fig. 66.
WARNINGNever use the bag hooks for lashing loaded goods. The bag hooks may tear
off during sudden braking manoeuvres or in the event of an accident. 66Using the system

WARNING■Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be actuated when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual gearbox, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise, the
functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 82, New
brake pads .
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 78 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between service intervals.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times »
.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned by applying the brakes several times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af-
ter accelerating or driving off again.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 34,
Braking
system .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.78Driving

Modes and lever controlFig. 81
Selector lever
Read and observe and on page 80 first.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 81.
N
– Neutral
The power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
R
– Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed.
The brake pedal must be depressed before setting into position R from posi-
tion N.
D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
The brake pedal must be depressed before setting into position D from posi-
tion N.
M
- Manual gearshift (Tiptronic)
Further information » page 81.
With driving mode set, the vehicle will not start up
If the vehicle does not start off, the problem may be that the selector lever is
not completely in the selected position. In such an instance, press the brake
pedal and put the selector lever into the required position.
Faults in the automatic gearbox
In the event of a fault in the automatic gearbox, warning lights may light up in
the instrument panel » page 35,
Automated transmission
.
An error on the automated manual transmission can become noticed, for ex-
ample, by the following.
› Only certain gears are selected.
› The reverse gear
R cannot be used.
Manual gearshift (Tiptronic)
Fig. 82
Selector lever: manual shifting/information display
Read and observe
and on page 80 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever. The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 30.
Switching to manual shifting when the vehicle is stationary
›
Depress the brake pedal.
›
Press the selector lever twice to the left in the spring-tensioned position.
Switching to manual shifting during driving
›
Press the selector lever towards the left in the spring-tensioned position in
the direction of the arrow and set in position M. The selector lever position
you have engaged appears in the instrument cluster display
1
» Fig. 82 .
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 82 .
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 82 .
81Starting-off and Driving