Emergencies
Anchoring the front towline Fig. 98
Right side of the front bumper: tow-
line anc hor
ag
e screwed in. The front towline anchorage is only mounted
if
the
v
ehicle has to be towed.
There is a cover with an opening into which
the towline anchorage is screwed on the right part of the front bumper.
– To remove the bumper cover, just press the
upper left s
ide inwards.
– Take the towline anchorage out of the vehi-
cle t
ool kit ››› page 86.
– Screw the towline anchorage into the screw
connection as
far as it will go ››› Fig. 98 and
tighten with the wheel brace.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage
and fit the cover back on the bumper. Put the
towline anchorage back in the vehicle tool kit. The towline anchorage should always be
kept in the
vehicle.
Rear towline anchorage Fig. 99
Right side of the rear bumper: cover-
c ap
. Fig. 100
Right side of the rear bumper: tow-
line anc hor
ag
e screwed in. The rear towline anchorage should only be
mou
nt
ed if
you wish to tow another vehicle. Vehicles with towline anchorage
On the right of the r
ear bumper there is a cov-
er which covers a threaded hole.
– Take the towline anchorage out of the vehi-
cle t
ool set ››› page 86.
– To remove the bumper cover, just press the
upper side of the c
over inwards (arrow) and
remove the cover by levering on the lower
››› Fig. 99 side.
– Screw the towline anchorage into the screw
connection as
far as it will go ››› Fig. 100
and tighten with the wheel brace.
After use, unscrew the towline anchorage
and put it back in the vehicle tool kit. Replace
the cover on the bumper. The towline anchor-
age should always be kept in the vehicle. WARNING
● If the t o
wline anchorage is not screwed in
as far as the stop, there is a risk of the screw
connection shearing off during towing (acci-
dent risk).
● If your car has a towing bracket, only use
speci
al towing ropes. Risk of accident! CAUTION
In vehicles fitted with a towing bracket, only
use s pec
ial tow bars to prevent damage to
the ball joint. These tow bars have been spe-
cially approved for use with towing brackets. 90
Fuses and bulbs
Towing vehicles with a manual gear-
bo x Towing is relatively straightforward.
Ple
a
se observe the relevant instructions
››› page 89.
The vehicle can be towed using a tow bar or
tow rope in the normal way, with all four
wheels on the road; it can also be towed with
either the front or rear wheels lifted off the
road. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h
(30 mph).
Towing a vehicle equipped with auto-
matic g
earbox Certain restrictions must be observed when
t
o
w
ing your vehicle.
Please observe the relevant instructions
››› page 89.
The vehicle can be towed with a tow bar or
tow rope in the normal way, with all four
wheels on the ground. When doing so,
please note the following points:
● Make sure the selector l
ever is in the N po-
sition.
● The vehicle must not be towed faster than
50 km/h (30 mph).
● The vehicle must not be towed further than
50 km (30 mile
s). Reason: when the engine is not running, the gearbox oil pump does
not work
and the gearbox is not adequately
lubricated for higher speeds or longer distan-
ces.
If the vehicle has to be towed with a break-
down truck, it must only be suspended at the
front wheels. Reason: the drive shafts are lo-
cated on the front wheels. If the car is towed
with the rear wheels lifted off the road (I.e.
travelling backwards), the drive shafts also
turn backwards. The planetary gears in the
automatic gearbox then turn at such high
speeds that the gearbox will be severely
damaged in a short time. Note
● If it i
s not possible to tow the vehicle in the
normal way, or if it has to be towed further
than 50 km (30 miles), it must be transported
on a special car transporter or trailer.
● Should the power supply to the selector
lever be int
errupted in position P, the selector
lever will be locked. Before the vehicle can be
recovered/manoeuvred you must manually
release the selector lever ›››
page 44. Fuses and bulbs
F u
se
s
Introduction In general, a fuse can be assigned to various
electric
al
components. Likewise, an electrical
component can be protected by several
fuses.
Only replace fuses when the cause of the
problem has been solved. If a newly inserted
fuse blows after a short time, you must have
the electrical system checked by a special-
ised workshop as soon as possible. WARNING
The high voltages in the electrical system can
give seriou s
electrical shocks, causing burns
and even death!
● Never touch the electrical wiring of the igni-
tion syst
em.
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrica
l system. WARNING
Using unsuitable fuses, repairing fuses or
bridging a c urr
ent circuit without fuses can
cause a fire and serious injury. » 91
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Emergencies
Note
● In the v ehic
le, there are more fuses than
those indicated in this chapter. These should
only be changed by a specialised workshop.
● Positions not containing a fuse do not ap-
pear in the fo
llowing tables.
● Some of the equipment listed in the tables
below pert
ain only to certain versions of the
model or are optional extras.
● Please note that the above lists, while cor-
rect at
the time of printing, are subject to
change. Bulbs
Ch an
gin
g a bulbRead the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 56.
Changing bulbs requires a certain degree of
practical skill.
If you choose to change the engine compart-
ment lamps yourself, remember that it is a
dangerous area ››› in Work in the engine
c omp
ar
tment on page 246.
Always use identical bulbs with the same
designation. The name can be found on the
base of the bulb holder. Depending on how equipped the vehicle is,
there are diff
erent sets of headlights and tail
lights:
● Halogen headlights
● Full-LED main headlights*
● Rear bulb light
● LED rear light*
Ful
l-LED headlight system*
Full-LED headlights handle all light functions
(daylight, side light, turn signal, dipped
beam and route light) with light emitting di-
odes (LEDs) as a light source.
Full-LED headlights are designed to last the
lifetime of the car and light bulbs cannot be
replaced. In case of headlight failure, go to
an authorised workshop to have it replaced. WARNING
● Tak e p
articular care when working on com-
ponents in the engine compartment if the en-
gine is warm. Risk of burns.
● Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The
glas
s can break when you touch the bulb,
causing injury.
● When changing bulbs, please take care not
to injure
yourself on sharp edges, in particu-
lar on the headlight housing. CAUTION
● Remo v
e the ignition key before working on
the electric system. Otherwise, a short circuit
could occur.
● Switch off the lights and the parking light
before c
hanging a bulb.
● Take good care to avoid damaging any com-
ponents. For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dis-
pose of u
sed bulbs in the proper manner. Note
● Ple a
se check at regular intervals that all
lighting (especially the exterior lighting) on
your vehicle is functioning properly. This is
not only in the interest of your own safety,
but also that of all other road users.
● Before changing a bulb, make sure you
have the c
orrect new bulb.
● Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with
your bar
e hands, use a cloth or paper towel
instead, since the fingerprints left on the
glass will vaporise as a result of the heat gen-
erated by the bulb, they will be deposited on
the reflector and will impair its surface. 94
Operation
Instruments and warning/control lamps
In s
trument
s
View of instrument panel Fig. 124
Instrument panel, on dash panel Details of the instruments
››
›
Fig. 124:
Rev counter (with the engine running, in
hundreds of revolutions per minute).
The beginning of the red zone of the rev
counter indicates the maximum speed in
any gear after running-in and with the en-
gine hot. However, it is advisable to
change up a gear or move the selector
lever to D (or lift your foot off the acceler-
1 ator) before the needle reaches the red
z
one
›
›
› .
En gine c
oo
lant temperature display
››› page 107 or the natural gas level indi-
cator in vehicles with natural gas engine
(CNG) ››› page 108.
Displays on the screen ››› page 105.
Adjuster button and display
››› page 107.
2
3
4 Speedometer.
F
uel
g
auge ››› page 108. WARNING
Any distraction may lead to an accident, with
the risk of
injury.
● Do not operate the instrument panel con-
trol
s when driving. 5
6
104
Instruments and warning/control lamps
CAUTION
● To pr ev
ent damage to the engine, the rev
counter needle should only remain in the red
zone for a short period of time.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy ac
celeration and do not make the
engine work hard. For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear in time reduces fuel con-
sumption and noi se.Rev counter
The rev counter indicates the number of en-
gine r
ev
o
lutions per minute ›››
Fig. 124 1 .
T og
ether w
ith the gear-change indicator, the
rev counter offers you the possibility of using
the engine of your vehicle at a suitable
speed.
The start of the red zone on the dial indicates
the maximum engine speed which may be
used briefly when the engine is warm and af-
ter it has been run in properly. Before reach-
ing this range, you should change to a higher
gear for vehicles with a manual gearbox or for
automatic gearboxes put the selector lever in
“D” or take your foot off the accelerator ped-
al. We recommend that you avoid high revs and
that
you follow the recommendations on the
gear-change indicator. Consult the additional
information in ›››
page 33, Gear-change
indicator. CAUTION
Never allow the rev counter needle 1 ›››
Fig. 124 to g o int
o the red zone on the
scale for more than a very brief period, other-
wise there is a risk of engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear early will help you to save
fuel and minimi
se emissions and engine
noise. Indications on the display
A variety of information can be viewed on the
in
s
trument
panel display ›››
Fig. 124 3 , de-
pendin g on the
v
ehicle equipment:
● Bonnet, rear lid and doors open
›››
page 34.
● Warning and information messages
›››
page 34.
● Distance travelled ›››
page 107.
● Time ›››
page 106.
● Navigation instructions.
● Outside temperature ›››
page 33. ●
Compa
ss ››› page 106.
● Shift lever position ›››
page 168.
● Recommended gear (manual gearbox)
›››
page 33.
● Multifunction display (MFD) and menus
with differ
ent setting options ›››
page 31.
● Service interval display ›››
page 38.
● Second speed display ›››
page 31.
● Speed warning function ›››
page 38.
● Start-Stop system status display
›››
page 183.
● Active cylinder management display
(ACT ®
)* ››
› page 177
● Signs recognised by the traffic signal de-
tection sys
tem ››› page 208
● Low consumption driving status (ECO)
›››
page 106
● Identifying letters on engine (MKB).
Dist
ance travelled
The odometer registers the total distance
travelled by the car.
The odometer (trip ) shows the distance
travelled since the last odometer reset. The
last digit of the trip recorder indicates distan-
ces of 100 metres or one tenths of a mile.
● Briefly press the button ›››
Fig. 124 4 to re-
set the trip r
ec
order to 0. »
105
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
● Keep the b
utt
on 4 pressed for about 3
sec ond
s
and the previous value will be dis-
played.
Time
● To set the time, keep the button ›››
Fig. 124
4 pressed for more than 3 seconds to select
the hour or minut e di
s
play.
● To continue setting the time, press the up-
per or lower p
art of the button 4 . Hold but-
t on do
wn t
o scroll through the numbers
quickly.
● Press the button 4 again in order to finish
settin g the time.
The time c an al
so be set via the key and
Set up function button in the Easy Connect
sy s
t
em ››› page 110.
Compass
With the ignition on and the navigation sys-
tem on, the cardinal point corresponding to
the direction of travel of the vehicle is dis-
played on the instrument panel.
Selector lever position
The selected gear is displayed on the side of
the selector lever and on the instrument pan-
el display. In positions D and S, and with the
Tiptronic, the corresponding gear is also dis-
played. Recommended gear (manual gearbox)
The recommended g
ear in order to save fuel
is displayed on the instrument panel while
you are driving ›››
page 33.
Second speed display (mph or km/h)
In addition to the speedometer, the speed
can also be displayed in a different unit of
measurement (in miles or in km per hour).
This option cannot be deactivated in models
destined for countries in which the second
speed must always be visible.
The second speed display can be adjusted in
the Easy Connect system via the key and
the Set
up function button
››
›
page 110.
Speed warning
When the speed setting is exceeded, this will
be indicated on the instrument panel display.
This is very useful, for example when using
winter tyres that are not designed for driving
at the maximum speed of the vehicle
››› page 38.
The speed warning settings can be adjusted
in the Easy Connect system via the key
and the Set
up function button
››
›
page 110.
Start-Stop operating display
Updated information relating to the status is
displayed on the instrument panel
››› page 183. Low consumption driving status (ECO)*
Depending on the equipment, when driv
ing,
the “ECO ” display appears on the instrument
panel when the vehicle is in low consump-
tion status due to active cylinder manage-
ment (ACT ®
)* ››› page 177.
Identifying letters on engine (MKB)
Hold the button ››› Fig. 124 4 down for more
th an 15 sec
ond
s to display the identifying
letters of the vehicle engine (MKB). To do
this, the ignition must be switched on and
the engine switched off. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 109. WARNING
Even though outside temperatures are above
freez in
g, some roads and bridges may be icy.
● At outside temperatures above +4°C
(+39°F), even when the “ice c
rystal symbol”
is not visible, there may still be patches of ice
on the road.
● Do not rely on the outside temperature in-
dicator! Note
● Differ ent
versions of the instrument panel
are available and therefore the versions and 106
Instruments and warning/control lamps
instructions on the display may vary. In the
ca
se of
displays without warning or informa-
tion texts, faults are indicated exclusively by
the warning lamps.
● Depending on the equipment, some set-
tings
and instructions can also be carried out
in the Easy Connect system.
● When several warnings are active at the
same time, the symbol
s are shown succes-
sively for a few seconds and will stay on until
the fault is rectified. Odometer
Fig. 125
Instrument panel: odometer and re-
set b
utt
on. The distance covered is displayed in “kilome-
tr
e
s” or mi
les “m”. It is possible to change
the measurement units (kilometres
“km”/miles “m”) in the radio/Easy Connect*.
Please refer to the Easy Connect* Instructions
Manual for more details. Odometer/trip recorder
The odometer show
s the total distance cov-
ered by the vehicle.
The trip recorder shows the distance that has
been travelled since it was last reset. It is
used to measure short trips. The last digit of
the trip recorder indicates distances of 100
metres or tenths of a mile.
The trip recorder can be set to zero by press-
ing 0.0/SET
› ››
Fig. 125
.
F
ault display
If there is a fault in the instrument panel, the
letters DEF will appear in the trip recorder
display. Have the fault repaired immediately,
as far as is possible.
Coolant temperature gauge For vehicles with no coolant temperature
g
aug
e, a c
ontrol lamp appears for high
coolant temperatures ›››
page 250. Please
note ››› .
The c oo
l
ant temperature gauge 2 ›››
Fig. 124 only w
orks when the ignition is
switched on. In order to avoid engine dam-
age, please read the following notes for the
different temperature ranges. Engine cold
If on
ly
the diodes in the lower part of the
scale light up, this indicates that the engine
has not yet reached operating temperature.
Avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and
do not make the engine work hard.
Normal temperature
If in normal operations, the diodes light up
until the central zone, it means that the en-
gine has reached operating temperature. At
high outside temperatures and when making
the engine work hard, the diodes may contin-
ue lighting up and reach the upper zone. This
is no cause for concern, provided the control
lamp does not light up on the instrument
panel digital display.
Heat range
When the diodes light up in the upper area of
the display and the control lamp appears
on the instrument panel display, the coolant
temperature is excessive ››› page 250. CAUTION
● To en s
ure a long useful life for the engine,
avoid high revs, driving at high speed and
making the engine work hard for approxi-
mately the first 15 minutes when the engine
is cold. The phase until the engine is warm al-
so depends on the outside temperature. If
necessary, use the engine oil temperature*
››› page 36 as a guide. » 107
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
●
Addition a
l lights and other accessories in
front of the air inlet reduce the cooling effect
of the coolant. At high outside temperatures
and high engine loads, there is a risk of the
engine overheating.
● The front spoiler also ensures proper distri-
bution of the c
ooling air when the vehicle is
moving. If the spoiler is damaged this can re-
duce the cooling effect, which could cause
the engine to overheat. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Fuel - Gas level
Fig. 126
Fuel gauge. Displays
2 and
6
› ›
› Fig. 124
only work
when the ignition is switched on. When the
display reaches the reserve mark, the lower
diode lights up in red and the control lamp
appears ››› page 104. When the fuel level is
very low, the lower diode flashes in red. The yellow control lamp
lights up when the
re
serve level has been reached.
The green warning lamp lights up when the
vehicle is running in natural gas operating
mode.
The green warning lamp switches off when
the natural gas is exhausted. The engine
changes to operate with petrol.
Problem: If the vehicle is left parked for a
long time immediately after refuelling, the
natural gas level indicator may not accurately
indicate the same level shown after refuelling
when the vehicle is started up again. This is
not due to a leak in the system, but to a drop
in pressure in the gas tank for technical rea-
sons after a cooling phase just after refuel-
ling.
Fuel level - Petrol/Diesel Fig. 127
Fuel gauge. The display
6
› ››
Fig. 124
on ly works when
the ignition is switched on. When the display
reaches the reserve mark, the lower diode
lights up in red and the control lamp ap-
pears ››› page 104. When the fuel level is very
low, the lower diode flashes in red.
The distance to empty fuel level is displayed
on the instrument panel 3
› ››
Fig. 124
.
The c
apacity of the fuel tank of your vehicle is
given in the Technical data section
››› page 51. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An ir-
re gu
lar fuel supply could cause misfiring. In
this way the unburned fuel can reach the ex-
haust system, which could cause the catalytic
converter to overheat resulting in damage. Control lamps
W arnin
g and indic
ation lamps Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 41.
The control and warning lamps are indicators
of warnings, ››› , faults
››
›
or certain func-
tion s.
Some c
ontrol and warning lamps come
on when the ignition is switched on, and
switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving.
108