MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2012 Owners Manual

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 ser-
vice products in the sealed original container. Always keep service products out of the reach
of children. 338
Service products and capacitiesTechnical 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
339Technical data Z

Petrol (EN 228, E DIN 51626
‑1)Fuel grade (AMG vehicles)
! Only refuel using super unleaded petrol
with at least 98 RON/88 MON that con-
forms to European standard EN 228 or an
equivalent specification.
You can otherwise impair engine output or
damage the engine.
! Premium-grade unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 95 RON/85 MON may be
used as a temporary measure if the recom-
mended fuel is not available. This may
reduce engine performance and increase
fuel consumption. As much as possible,
avoid driving at full throttle.
! Regular unleaded petrol with an octane
rating of 91 RON/82.5 MON may also be
used as a temporary measure if the recom-
mended fuel is not available.
Doing so results in noticeably higher fuel
consumption, and the engine power output is noticeably reduced. Avoid driving at full
throttle.
If only regular unleaded petrol with an
octane rating of 91 RON/82.5 MON or
lower is available, you must have the vehi-
cle adapted to this fuel at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
i E10 fuel contains up to 10% bioethanol.
Your vehicle is suitable for use with E10
fuel. You can refuel your vehicle using E10
fuel.
Fuel grade (except AMG vehicles) ! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
petrol engine. Do not switch on the ignition if you accidentally refuel with the wrong
fuel. Otherwise, fuel can enter the fuel sys- tem. Even small amounts of the wrong fuel
could result in damage to the fuel system
and the engine. Notify a qualified specialist
workshop and have the fuel tank and fuel
lines drained completely. !
Only refuel using premium-grade unlea-
ded petrol with at least 95 ROZ/85 MOZ,
that conforms to European standard
EN 228 or E DIN 51626–1 or an equivalent specification.
Fuel of this specification can contain up to 10 % ethanol.
Fuel that does not conform to EN 228 or
E DIN 51626–1 can lead to increased wear
and damage the engine and exhaust sys-
tem.
! Only use the fuel recommended. Operat-
ing the vehicle with other fuels can lead to
engine failure.
! Do not use the following:
R E85 (petrol with 85% ethanol)
R E100 (100% ethanol)
R M15 (petrol with 15% methanol)
R M30 (petrol with 30% methanol)
R M85 (petrol with 85% methanol)
R M100 (100% methanol)
R Petrol with additives containing metal
R Diesel
Do not mix such fuels with the fuel recom-
mended for your vehicle. Do not use addi-
tives. This can otherwise lead to engine
damage. This does not include cleaning
additives for the removal and prevention of
residue build-up. Petrol must only be mixed
with additives recommended by Mercedes- Benz; see "Additives". You can obtain fur-
ther information from any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Usually you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find the
label on the petrol pump, ask the filling sta-
tion staff.
i E10 fuel contains up to 10% bioethanol.
Your vehicle is suitable for use with E10
fuel. You can refuel your vehicle using E10
fuel.
i A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY, A 250 BlueEF-
FICIENCY: as a temporary measure, if the340
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

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
<1 0 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
341Technical data Z

!
Do not use the following:
R marine diesel
R heating oil
R bio-diesel
R vegetable oil
R petrol
R paraffin
R kerosene
Do not mix such fuels with diesel fuel and
do not use any special additives. This can
otherwise lead to engine damage.
! Vehicles with a diesel particle filter:
in
countries outside the EU, only refuel with
low-sulphur Euro diesel with a sulphur con- tent under 50 ppm; otherwise the emission
control system could be damaged.
! Vehicles without a diesel particle fil-
ter: in countries where only diesel fuel with
a high sulphur content is available, you will
need to carry out your vehicle's oil change
at shorter intervals. More information
about the interval for oil change can be
obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
Usually you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find the label on the petrol pump, ask the filling sta-
tion staff.
Information on refuelling (Y page 159).
Low outside temperatures
In winter months, diesel fuel with an improved cold flow quality is available. In Europe, the
EN 590 standard defines various climate-
dependent temperature categories. Malfunc- tions can be avoided by refuelling with diesel
fuel that corresponds to the climatic specifi-
cations outlined in EN 590. At unusually low
outside temperatures, it is possible that the
flow characteristics of the diesel fuel could be
insufficient. Accordingly, diesel fuel from
warmer areas may not be suitable for opera-
tion in colder climatic conditions. i
Further information on country-specific
fuel properties can be obtained from oil
companies, e.g. at filling stations.
Fuel consumption information H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
R efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences or road conditions
You can minimise your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in urban traffic
R on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer
i Only for certain countries: you can find
the current consumption and emission val-
ues of your vehicle in the COC documents
(EU CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY). These documents are delivered with your vehicle.
The consumption figures were in each casebased on the currently applicable version:
R for vehicles that comply with standards
up to and including the EURO 4 standard,
in accordance with EU Directive
80/1268/EEC
R for vehicles that comply with or exceed
the EURO 5 standard, in accordance with
Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007
Deviations from these values may occur
under normal operating conditions. 342
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

Engine oil
General notes When handling engine oil, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 338).
The quality of the engine oil is decisive for the function and service life of an engine. After
extensive tests, Mercedes-Benz approves
engine oils that correspond to the current
technical standard.
Therefore, only Mercedes-Benz approved
engine oils may be used in Mercedes-Benz
engines.
Further information on tested and approved
engine oils can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you have the oil
change carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Mercedes-Benz approval is indicated on the
oil container by the inscription "MB Approval"
and the corresponding designation, e.g. MB
Approval 229.51.
You can call up an overview of approved
engine oils on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com by enter-
ing the designation, e.g. 229.5.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.
Missing values were not available at the time of going to print. Petrol engines MB Approval
All models
229.5 Diesel engines with a
diesel particle filter MB Approval
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, automatic
transmission
A 200 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
A 220 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
228.51,
229.31, 229.51 Diesel engines without
a diesel particle filter MB Approval
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, automatic
transmission
A 200 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
A 220 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
228.3, 228.5,
228.51, 229.3,
229.31, 229.5, 229.51 i
If the engine oils listed in the table are not
available, you may add the following engine
oils until the next oil change:
R vehicles with a petrol engine: MB
Approval 229.1 or ACEA A3
R vehicles with a diesel engine: MB
Approval 229.1, 229.3, 229.5 or
ACEA C3
This may only be added once and the
amount must not be greater than 1.0 l.
Capacities The following values refer to an oil change,
including the oil filter.Service products and capacities
343Technical 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 capacitiesTechnical data

clean the antifreeze from components before
starting the engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service Products, MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1, e.g. on the Inter-
net at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
Or contact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
! The engine cooling system is filled with
coolant, which must be renewed after
15 years or after 250,000 kilometres at the
latest.
When handling coolant, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 338).
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
R anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
If antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor is present in
the correct concentration, the boiling point of
the coolant during operation will be approx-
imately 130 †.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra- tion in the engine cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -37 †.
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -45 †). Heat will otherwise not be
dissipated as effectively. If the vehicle has lost coolant, top it up with
equal amounts of water and antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in accord-
ance with MB Specifications for Service Prod- ucts 310.1.
The coolant is checked at every maintenance
interval at a qualified specialist workshop.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is fil-
led with a coolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion. Windscreen washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Windscreen washer concentrate is highly
flammable. If it comes into contact with hot
engine components or the exhaust system it
could ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that no windscreen washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or
MB WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid
could damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
! Do not use distilled or de-ionised water in
the washer fluid reservoir. Otherwise, the
level sensor may be damaged.
! Only the washer fluids SummerFit and
WinterFit can be mixed. Otherwise, the
spraying nozzles could become blocked.
When handling washer fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 338). Service products and capacities
345Technical data Z

At temperatures above freezing:
X Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and washer fluid, e.g. MB Sum-
merFit.
Mix 1 part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water.
At temperatures below freezing:
X Fill the washer fluid reservoir with a mixture
of water and washer fluid, e.g. MB Winter-
Fit.
Adapt the mixing ratio to the outside temper-
ature.
R Down to Ò10 †: mix 1 part MB WinterFit to
2 parts water.
R Down to Ò20 †: mix 1 part MB WinterFit to
1 part water.
R Down to Ò29 †: mix 2 parts MB WinterFit to
1 part water.
i Add washer fluid concentrate, e.g. MB
SummerFit or MB WinterFit, to the washer
fluid all year round. Vehicle data
General notes
Please note that for the specified vehicle
data:
R the heights specified may vary as a result
of:
- tyres
- load
- condition of the suspension
- optional equipment
R items of optional equipment increase the
unladen weight and reduce the maximum
payload. The unladen weight is specified in
accordance with EC directives and
includes:
- driver (68 kg)
- luggage (7kg)
- all fluids (fuel tank 90% full) R
vehicle-specific weight information can be
found on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 338).
R only for certain countries: you can find vehi-
cle-specific vehicle data in the COC docu-
ments (CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY)
These documents are delivered with your
vehicle.
Dimensions and weights Model
: :
Maxi- mum
head- room ;
;
Opening height A 180 BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
A 180 CDI Blue-
EFFICIENCY 1856 mm 1975 mm
A 200 BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
A 200 CDI Blue-
EFFICIENCY
A 220 CDI Blue-
EFFICIENCY 1857 mm 1976 mm
A 250 BlueEFFI-
CIENCY
1861 mm 1980 mm
A 45 AMG
4MATIC
1840 mm 1959 mm346
Vehicle dataTechnical data

Missing values were not available at the time
of going to print. All models (except AMG vehicles)
Vehicle length
4292 mm
Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
2022 mm
Vehicle width
excluding exterior
mirrors
1780 mm
Wheelbase
2699 mm
Maximum roof load
100 kg
Maximum boot load
100 kg
A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1433 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1370 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic transmis-
sion 1395 kg
A 200 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1370 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic transmis-
sion 1395 kg
A 250 BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1438 mm
Unladen weight
1445 kg A 180 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1433 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1395 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic transmis-
sion 1475 kg
A 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight,
manual transmis-
sion
1445 kg
Unladen weight,
automatic transmis-
sion 1475 kg
A 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY
Vehicle height
1434 mm
Unladen weight
AMG vehicles
Vehicle length
4395 mm
Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
2022 mm
Vehicle width
excluding exterior
mirrors
1780 mm
Vehicle height
1417 mm
Wheelbase
2699 mm
Roof load
100 kg
Maximum boot load
100 kgVehicle data
347Technical data Z