warning MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS 2012 Owners Manual

Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
X
On light downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the
appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only
position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
Observe the following when raising the
vehicle:
R to raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If the jack is
used incorrectly, it could tip over while the
vehicle is raised.
R the jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle for a short time while a wheel
is being changed. It is not suitable for per-
forming maintenance work under the vehi-
cle.
R avoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
R before raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and positioning wheel chocks. Never
release the parking brake while the vehicle
is raised. R
the jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a
large,

load-bearing underlay must be used.
On a slippery surface, a non-slip underlay
must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
R do not use wooden blocks or similar
objects as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the
jack will not be able to achieve its load-
bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
R make sure that the distance between the
underside of the tyres and the ground does
not exceed 3 cm.
R never place your hands or feet under the
raised vehicle.
R never lie under the raised vehicle.
R never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
R never open or close a door or the tailgate
when the vehicle is raised.
R make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised. Steel wheel with wheel trim
X
Vehicles with steel wheels: carefully
reach into two of the wheel trim openings
and remove the wheel trim.
Vehicles with hub caps:
the hub cap covers
the wheel bolts. Before you can unscrew the
wheel bolts, you must remove the hub cap. 326
Changing a wheel
Wheels and tyres

X
Position jack ? at jacking point =.X
Make sure that the base of the jack is posi-
tioned vertically under the jacking point.
X Turn ratchet ring spanner A until jack ?
sits completely on jacking point = and the
base of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
X Turn ratchet ring spanner A until the tyre
is raised a maximum of
3 cm from the
ground.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
The threads of the wheel bolts and wheel
hubs could otherwise be damaged when
the bolts are tightened.
X Unscrew the wheel bolts.
X Remove the wheel. Fitting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel
bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel
bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event
of damage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notices in "Changing a wheel"
(Y page 324).
Only

use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel. X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Place the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.328
Changing a wheel
Wheels and tyres

X
Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts
and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. X
Place the ratchet ring spanner onto the
hexagon nut of the jack so that the letters
AB are visible.
X Turn the ratchet ring spanner until the vehi-
cle is once again standing firmly on the
ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated
(: to A). The tightening torque must be
130 Nm.
X Turn the jack back to its initial position.
X Stow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the vehicle again.
X Vehicles with AMG equipment: insert the
cover into the outer sill.
X Check the air pressure of the newly fitted
wheel and adjust accordingly.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure
(Y page 321). Wheel and tyre combinations
General notes
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tyres and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle.
These are specially adapted to the control
systems, such as ABS or ESP ®
and are
marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE

= Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tyres featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only cer-
tain AMG tyres)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tyres
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tyres, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tyre dimen-
sion variations could cause the tyres to
come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam-
age to the tyres or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tyres,
wheels or accessories other than those tes-
ted and approved.
Further information about wheels, tyres
and approved combinations can be
obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
! Retreaded tyres are neither tested nor
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be detec-
ted on retreaded tyres. As a result,
Mercedes-Benz cannot guarantee vehicle
safety if retreaded tyres are fitted. Do not
fit used tyres if you have no information
about their previous usage. Wheel and tyre combinations
329
Wheels and tyres Z

Tyres
Summer tyres Light-alloy wheels V
1 V
2 V
3 V
4 V
5 V
6 V
7 BA 195/65 R15 91 T 6.5 J x 15 H2 ET 47 — #
— — — — —
BA
195/65 R15 91 H
13 6.5 J x 15 H2 ET 47 #
— — — — — —
BA 205/55 R16 91 H 6.5 J x 16 H2 ET 49 # #
— #
— — —
BA
205/55 R16 91 V
14 6.5 J x 16 H2 ET 49 # # # #
— — —
BA 205/55 R16 91 V
MOExtended
14, 15 6.5 J x 16 H2 ET 49 # # # #
— — —
BA
225/45 R17 91 V
14, 16 7.5 J x 17 H2 ET 52.5 # # # # #
— —
BA 225/45 R17 91 W
MOExtended
14, 15, 16 7.5 J x 17 H2 ET 52.5 # # # # #
— —
BA 225/40 R18 92 W XL
MOExtended
14, 15, 16, 17 7.5 J x 18 H2 ET 52 # # # # #
— —
BA
235/40 ZR18 95 Y XL
16 8.0 J x 18 H2 ET 48 — — — — — # #
BA
235/35 ZR19 91 Y XL
16 8.0 J x 19 H2 ET 48 — — — — — — #
Winter tyres Light-alloy wheels V
1 V
2 V
3 V
4 V
5 V
6 V
7 BA 195/65 R15 91 T
M+S
i 13 6.5 J x 15 H2 ET 47 # #
— — — — —
BA 205/55 R16 91 H
M+S
i 14 6.5 J x 16 H2 ET 49 # # # #
— — —
BA 205/55 R16 91 H
M+S
iMOExtended 14, 15 6.5 J x 16 H2 ET 49 # # # #
— — —
BA 205/50 R17 93 H XL
M+S
i 6.5 J x 17 H2 ET 49 # # # # # #
—
BA 205/50 R17 93 H XL
M+S
iMOExtended 14, 15 6.5 J x 17 H2 ET 49 # # # # # #
—
13
A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY: only for vehicles with 15" tyres fitted at the factory.
14 A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY: not in conjunction with Sports Edition package (code P84).
15 MOExtended tyres (tyres featuring run-flat characteristics) only in combination with an activated tyre pres-
sure loss warning system.
16 Use of snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.
17 Observe notes on "Large wheels" in the "Wheel/tyre combinations" section. Wheel and tyre combinations
331Wheels and tyres Z

Winter tyres Light-alloy wheels V
1 V
2 V
3 V
4 V
5 V
6 V
7 BA 215/45 R18 93 V XL
M+S
i 7.5 J x 18 H2 ET 42 — — — — — — #
BA 235/40 R18 95 V XL
M+S
i 16 8.0 J x 18 H2 ET 48 — — — — — — #
Emergency spare wheel
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The wheel/tyre dimensions and the tyre type
of the spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
and the wheel to be replaced may differ. Fit-
ting a spare wheel/emergency spare wheel
may severely impair the driving characteris-
tics. There is a risk of accident.
To prevent hazardous situations:
R Adapt your driving style accordingly and
drive carefully.
R Never
fit more than one spare wheel/emer-
gency spare wheel if the dimesions are dif-
ferent to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Only use a spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel briefly if the dimesions are different
to those of the wheel being replaced.
R Do not switch off ESP ®
.
R Have the spare wheel/emergency spare
wheel in question replaced at the nearest
qualified specialist workshop. Make sure
that the wheel/tyre dimensions and tyre
type are correct.
When using an emergency spare wheel or
spare wheel of a different size, you must not
exceed the maximum speed of 80 km/h.
Snow chains must not be fitted to emergency
spare wheels. General notes
You should regularly check the pressure of
the

emergency spare wheel, particularly prior
to long trips, and correct the pressure as nec-
essary ( Y page 321). The value on the wheel
or as given in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 329) is valid.
i When you are driving with the emergency
spare wheel fitted, the tyre pressure loss
warning system cannot function reliably.
Only restart the tyre pressure loss warning
system when the defective wheel has been
replaced with a new wheel.
An emergency spare wheel may also be fitted
against the direction of rotation. Observe the
time restriction on use as well as the speed
limitation specified on the emergency spare
wheel.
Replace the tyres after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
emergency spare wheel. Removing the emergency spare wheel
16
Use of snow chains not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.332
Emergency spare wheel
Wheels and tyres

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els,
series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 24). Information on technical data
You
can find technical data on the Internet at:
http://www.mercedes-benz.com
i The technical data was determined in
accordance with EC Directives. All data
applies to the vehicle's standard equip-
ment. It may therefore differ for vehicles
with optional equipment. You can obtain
further information from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Vehicle electronics
Tampering with the engine electron-
ics
! Only

have work carried out on the engine
electronics and its associated parts, such
as control units, sensors and connector
leads, at a qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicle components may otherwise wear
more quickly and the vehicle's operating
permit may be invalidated. Retrofitting two-way radios and
mobile phones (RF transmitters)
G
WARNING
If RF transmitters are tampered with or not
properly
retrofitted, the electromagnetic radi- ation they emit can interfere with the vehicle
electronics. This may jeopardise the opera-
tional safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of
an accident.
You should have all work on electrical and
electronic

components carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If you use the RF transmitter in the vehicle in
an improper way, its electromagnetic radia-
tion can disrupt vehicle electronics, e.g. if:
R the RF transmitter is not connected to an
exterior aerial
R the exterior aerial is fitted incorrectly or is
not a low-reflection aerial
This

can jeopardise the operating safety of the
vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Have the low-reflection exterior aerial fitted at
a qualified specialist workshop. When oper-
ating in the vehicle, always connect the RF
transmitter to the low-reflection exterior aer-
ial.
! The operating permit may be invalidated
if the instructions for installation and use of
RF transmitters are not observed.
In particular, the following conditions must
be complied with:
R only approved wavebands may be used.
R observe the maximum permissible out-
put in these wavebands.
R only approved aerial positions may be
used.
Observe the notes on operating mobile
phones (Y page 279).
The following aerial positions may be used for
the correct installation of RF transmitters: 336
Vehicle electronics
Technical data

Identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with vehi-
cle identification number (VIN)
X
Open the front right-hand door.
You
will see vehicle identification plate :.Example: vehicle identification plate
:
Vehicle identification plate
; Vehicle manufacturer (Daimler AG)
= EU type approval number (only for certain
countries)
? VIN
A Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight (kg)
B Maximum permissible mass of vehicle/
trailer combination (kg)
C Maximum permissible front axle load (kg)
D Maximum permissible rear axle load (kg)
E Paint code
i The data shown on the vehicle identifica-
tion plate is example data. This data is dif-
ferent for every vehicle and can deviate
from

the data shown here. You can find the data applicable to your vehicle on the vehi-
cle's identification plate.
VIN
X
Slide the right-hand front seat to its rear-
most position.
X Fold up floor covering : in front of the
right-hand front seat.
You will see VIN ;.
The VIN can also be found on the vehicle
identification plate ( Y page 338). Engine number
The engine number is stamped onto the
crankcase.

More information can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Service product can be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Observe the instructions on the respective
original

container when using, storing and dis-
posing off service products. Always store
service products in the sealed original con-
tainer. Always keep service products out of
the reach of children. 338
Service products and capacities
Technical data

H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
R Fuels (e.g. petrol, diesel)
R Lubricants
(e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Windscreen washer fluid
R Climate control system refrigerant
Components and service products must be
matched. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. They are listed in this
Mercedes-Benz Owner's Manual in the appro-
priate section.
You can identify service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tions on the container:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations indi-
cate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet Number (e.g.
MB 229.5). They have not necessarily been
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Further information can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or on the
Internet at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Fuel
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and,

if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a danger of injury.
Do

not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately.
Tank capacity The total capacity of the fuel tank may vary,
depending on the vehicle equipment.
Model Total capa-
city A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY,
manual transmission
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
40 l
or
50.0 l Models with 4MATIC
56.0 l
All other models
50.0 l
Model Of which
reserve
fuel AMG vehicles
Approx.
8.0 l All other models
Approx.
6.0 l Service products and capacities
339
Technical data Z

recommended fuel is not available, you
may also use unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 93 RON/
83 MON.
All other models: as a temporary meas-
ure, if the recommended fuel is not availa-
ble, you may also use unleaded petrol with
an octane rating of 91 RON/82 MON. This
may reduce engine performance and
increase fuel consumption. Avoid driving at
full throttle and sudden acceleration. Never
refuel using fuel with a lower RON/MON.
i In some countries, the available petrol
may not be sufficiently low in sulphur. This
fuel can temporarily produce unpleasant
odours, especially on short journeys. As
soon as sulphur-free fuel (sulphur content
< 10 ppm) is used for refuelling, the odours
are reduced.
Information on refuelling (Y page 159).
Additives
! Operating the engine with fuel additives
can cause wear in the fuel high-pressure
pump and contaminate the entire fuel sys-
tem. The repair costs are high. This does
not include additives for the removal and
prevention of residue build-up. Petrol must
only be mixed with additives recommended
by Mercedes-Benz. More information about
recommended additives can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
One of the major problems with low-grade
fuel is the creation of carbon deposits during
the process of burning fuel. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use fuel brands that
have additives.
If you use fuels without these additives for a
longer period of time, there may be a build-up
of carbon deposits. These will form especially
on the inlet valves and in the combustion
chamber.
This could lead to engine running problems,
e.g.:
R longer engine warm-up phase
R uneven idle R
engine noise
R misfiring
R loss of power
In areas where petrol with the required addi-
tives is not available, carbon deposits can
build
up. In this case, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends the use of additives that have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles; see
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun-
tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up as a result. In such cases, and in
consultation with a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre, the petrol may be mixed with the
additive recommended by Mercedes-Benz
(part no. A000989254512). You must
observe the notes and mixing ratios specified
on the container.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre to
view a list of approved products. Observe the
instructions for use in the product descrip-
tion.
Do not mix other fuel additives with fuel. This
causes unnecessary costs and could damage
the engine.
Diesel (EN 590) Fuel grade
G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with petrol, the flash
point
of this fuel mixture is lower than that of
pure diesel fuel. When the engine is running,
components in the exhaust system may over-
heat unnoticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with petrol. Never add petrol to
diesel fuel.
! When refuelling, only use diesel fuel that
conforms to the European standard EN 590
or is of equivalent quality. Fuel that does
not conform to EN 590 can lead to
increased wear as well as damage to the
engine and exhaust system. Service products and capacities
341
Technical data Z

Model Replacement
amount A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY
A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY
5.8 l
A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY
5.6 l
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
4.5 l
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, automatic
transmission
A 200 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
A 220 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
7.0 l
A 45 AMG 4MATIC
5.5 l
Additives
!
Do not use any additives with the engine
oil. This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of
a fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity
rating, it flows slowly; the lower the viscosity,
the faster it flows.
Engine oil selection is based on the respective
outside temperatures and in accordance with
the SAE classification (viscosity). The table
shows you which SAE classifications are to be
used. The low-temperature properties of engine oils can be significantly impaired dur-
ing operation due to, for example, ageing or
soot and fuel accretion. It is therefore
strongly

recommended to observe regular oil
changes using an approved engine oil with the
appropriate SAE classification. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid continuously absorbs mois-
ture from the air. This results in the boiling
point

of the brake fluid lowering. If the boiling
point of the brake fluid is too low, vapour
pockets may form when the brakes are sub-
jected to a heavy load. This would impair brak-
ing efficiency. There is a risk of an accident.
Have the brake fluid renewed at the prescri-
bed intervals.
When handling brake fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 338).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Service Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
Information about approved brake fluid can
be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop or on the Internet at:
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop. Coolant
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com-
ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you top up
the antifreeze. Make sure that antifreeze is
not spilled next to the filler neck. Thoroughly 344
Service products and capacities
Technical data