ESP MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Owners Manual

If the power supply has been interrupted, e.g.
if the battery was discharged, you will have to:
R set the clock via Audio 20 or COMAND
Online (see separate operating instruc-
tions)
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically, by folding the mirrors out once (Y page 114). Charging the battery
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do not
lean over the battery. Keep the batteries out
of the reach of children. Immediately rinse off
battery acid thoroughly with plenty of clean
water and seek medical attention at once. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of
an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only
charge the battery using the jump-
start connection point.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment (Y page 348).X
Open the bonnet.
X Connect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and earth point in the same order
as when connecting the donor battery in
the jump-starting procedure (Y page 348).
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the
discharged battery has frozen. In this case
you may neither jump-start the vehicle nor
charge the battery. The service life of a bat-
tery that has been thawed may be reduced.
The starting characteristics may be impaired,
especially at low temperatures. Have the
thawed battery checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Only charge the installed battery with a bat-
tery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. A battery
charger unit specially adapted for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz is available as an accessory.
This device permits charging of the battery in position. Contact a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for information and availability. Read
the battery charger's operating instructions
before charging the battery. Battery (vehicle)
347Breakdown assistance Z

Jump-starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point, consisting of a positive terminal and an earth point, in the engine compartment. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Do not breathe in any battery gases. Do not lean over the battery. Keep the batteries out of the reach of children. Immediately rinse off battery acid
thoroughly with plenty of clean water and seek medical attention at once. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, naked flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or sparks
are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
R It is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jump leads.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting.
! Vehicles with a petrol engine:
avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise,
the non-combusted fuel may damage the catalytic converter.
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at low temperatures, it is very likely that the
discharged battery has frozen. In this case you may neither jump-start the vehicle nor charge
the battery. Let the battery thaw first. The service life of a battery that has been thawed may
be reduced. The starting characteristics may be impaired, especially at low temperatures.
Have the thawed battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop. 348
Jump-startingBreakdown assistance

Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
rear and at the front, under covers :.
X Remove the towing eye from the stowage
space.
The towing eye is located with the vehicle
tool kit under the luggage compartment
floor (Y page 339).
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: the towing eye
is located under the tyre inflation compres-
sor.
X Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
X Remove cover :from the opening.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch only have a
bracket at the front for the screw-in towing
eye. If you intend to use the vehicle for tow-
ing, fold out the ball coupling (Y page 232)
and secure the towbar to it. Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Position cover :on top of the opening in
the bumper and press it in at the bottom
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor
(Y page 339).
X Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit: replace the tyre
inflation compressor. Towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised
When towing your vehicle with the front axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 350).
Only vehicles without 4MATIC can be
towed with the front axle raised.
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may either be towed
away with both axles on the ground or be loa-
ded up and transported.
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the front axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system.
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO or the
KEYLESS-GO start function: you must
use the key instead of the Start/Stop but-
ton (Y page 159).
X Make sure that the vehicle is stationary.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed. 352
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

transport vehicle is not permitted. The drive
train may otherwise be damaged.
All vehicles !
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
neutral.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 157).
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 157).
X Shift the transmission to position N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded: X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the electric parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
X Secure the vehicle.
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans- porter if you wish to transport it. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise, the transmission may be damaged.
Vehicles with 4MATIC may only be either
towed away with both axles on the ground or be loaded up and transported.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer. In the event of damage to the electrical
system:
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P. To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N, you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 348).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
! Do not tow-start vehicles with automatic
transmission. You could otherwise damage the automatic transmission.
i You can find information on "Jump-start-
ing" under (Y page 348).
Before tow-starting, the following conditions
must be fulfilled: R the battery is connected
R the engine has cooled down
R the exhaust system has cooled down
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety notes (Y page 350)and the
legal requirements in each respective coun-
try.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 123).
X Fit the towing eye (Y page 352).
X Secure the rigid towing bar or the towing
rope.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 157).
X Depress the clutch pedal fully, engage sec-
ond gear and continue to keep the clutch
pedal fully depressed.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Tow-start the vehicle. 354
Towing away and tow-startingBreakdo
wn assis tance

requirements can stipulate a specific tyre
type for your vehicle. Furthermore, the use of certain tyre types in certain regions and areas
of operation can be highly beneficial. You can find further information regarding tyres at
specialist tyre retailers, at qualified specialist
workshops or at any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
Exception: it is permissible to fit a different type or make in the event of a flat tyre.
Observe here the "MOExtended tyres (tyres
with run-flat characteristics)" section
(Y page 340).
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R Run in new tyres at moderate speeds for
the first 100 km. They only reach their full
performance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth. This otherwise significantly
reduces the traction on wet roads (aqua-
planing).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear.
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 389). MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics)
With MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat
characteristics), you can continue to drive
your vehicle even if there is a total loss of
pressure in one or more tyres.
MOExtended tyres may only be used in con-
junction with an activated tyre pressure loss
warning system or with an activated tyre pres- sure monitor and on wheels specifically tes-
ted by Mercedes-Benz.
Notes on driving with MOExtended tyres with
a flat tyre (Y page 340).
Vehicles with MOExtended tyres are not
equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory. It is therefore recommended that you additionally
equip your vehicle with a TIREFIT kit if you fit
tyres that do not feature run-flat characteris- tics, e.g. winter tyres. A TIREFIT kit can be
obtained from a qualified specialist work-
shop. Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 367). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres
lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tyres on your vehi- cle to M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form, thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tyres regularly for signs of damageand replace any damaged tyres immediately. M+S tyres
G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tyre tread depth of less than 4 mm are not suitable for use in winter as they
do not provide sufficient traction. There is a
risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced. 360
Winter operationWheels and tyres

At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres
or all-season tyres. Both types of tyre are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide the best possible grip in wintry road con-
ditions. Only these tyres will allow driving
safety systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to
function optimally in winter. These tyres have
been developed specifically for driving in
snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling charac-
teristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted.
If you fit M+S tyres that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehi-
cle, affix an appropriate warning sign in the
driver's field of vision. This can be obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres (Y page 196).
When you have fitted the M+S tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 362).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 364).
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 366).
Information about driving with an emergency spare wheel (Y page 389). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are fitted to the rear wheels,
they may scrape against the vehicle body or
chassis components. This could cause dam-
age to the vehicle or the tyres. There is a risk of an accident. To avoid hazardous situations:
R never fit snow chains on the rear wheels
R always fit snow chains in pairs to the front
wheels.
! Vehicles with steel wheels:
if you fit
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps
from the relevant wheels before fitting the
snow chains.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specifically approved for your vehi-
cle by Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corre-
sponding standard of quality. For more infor- mation, please contact a qualified specialist
workshop.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-
tyre combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre
combinations (Y page 372).
R only use snow chains if the road surface is
completely snow-covered. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered.
R local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to fit snow chains.
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
R when snow chains are fitted, never use
Active Parking Assist (Y page 212).
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 73)
when pulling away with snow chains fitted.
This way you can allow the wheels to spin in a controlled manner, achieving increased driv-
ing force (cutting action).
Information about driving with an emergencyspare wheel (Y page 389). Winter operation
361Wheels and tyres Z

Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tyres pose the
following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tyre
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure and check the tyre pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R when the load changes
R before embarking on a longer journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident.
R Check the tyre for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking. If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
The recommended tyre pressures for various
operating conditions can be found in the tyre pressure table on the fuel filler flap
(Y page 181).
Operation with an emergency spare
wheel: information on operation with an
emergency spare wheel can be found in the
general notes in the "Emergency spare wheel"
section (Y page 390).
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear axle is the maximum tyre
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
Additionally, the tyre pressure table may also state tyre pressures for different load condi-
tions. These are defined in the table as dif-
ferent numbers of passengers and amounts
of luggage. The actual number of seats may
vary; for more information, please refer to the
vehicle's registration documents.
If tyre sizes are not specified, the tyre pres-
sures stated on the tyre pressure table apply for all tyres approved for this vehicle. If a tyre size precedes a tyre pressure, the
following tyre pressure information is only
valid for that tyre size.
Use a suitable pressure gauge to check the
tyre pressure. The outer appearance of a tyre362
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres

does not permit any reliable conclusion about
the tyre pressure. On vehicles fitted with the
electronic tyre pressure monitor, the tyre
pressure can be checked using the on-board
computer.
If possible, only correct tyre pressures when
the tyres are cold.
The tyres are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked with the tyres
out of direct sunlight for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1.6 km
Depending on the ambient temperature, the
vehicle speed and the load on the tyres, the
tyre temperature and thus the tyre pressure
changes by approximately 10 kPa (0.1 bar/
1.5 psi) per 10 †. Take this into account
when checking the pressure of warm tyres.
Only correct the tyre pressure if it is too low
for the current operating conditions.
Driving with tyre pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tyres
R cause increased tyre damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus driving safety (e.g. aqua- planing)
The tyre pressure values given for low loads
are minimum values which offer you good ride
comfort characteristics.
However, you can also use the values given
for higher loads. These are permissible and
will not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle. Tyre pressure loss warning system
General notes While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of a
loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multifunction dis-
play.
You can recognise the tyre pressure loss
warning by the Run Flat Indicator
Run Flat Indicator
active Restart with OK active Restart with OK message which
appears in the multifunction display in the
Serv.
Serv.menu. Information on the message dis-
play can be found in the "Restarting the tyre
pressure loss warning system" section
(Y page 364).
Important safety notes The tyre pressure warning system does not
warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pressure.
Observe the notes on the recommended tyre
pressure (Y page 362).
The tyre pressure loss warning does not
replace the need to regularly check the tyre
pressures. An even loss of pressure on sev-
eral tyres at the same time cannot be detec-
ted by the tyre pressure loss warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
abrupt steering manoeuvres.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration).
R you are towing a very heavy or large trailer.
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof). Tyre pressure
363Wheels and tyres Z

Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, make sure that the tyre
pressures are set properly on all four tyres
for the respective operating conditions.
The recommended tyre pressures can be
found in the tyre pressure table on the fuel
filler flap.
The tyre pressure loss warning system can only give reliable warnings if you have set
the correct tyre pressure. If an incorrect
tyre pressure is set, these incorrect values
will be monitored.
X Observe the notes in the section on tyre
pressures (Y page 362).
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 157).
X Press =or; on the steering wheel
to select the Serv.
Serv.menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure .
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator active Run Flat Indicator active
Restart
Restart with
withOK
OKmessage appears in the
multifunction display.
If you wish to confirm the restart: X Press the abutton.
The Tyre press. now OK?
Tyre press. now OK? message
appears in the multifunction display.
X Press the 9or: button to select
Yes
Yes.
X Press the abutton.
The Run Flat Indicator restarted
Run Flat Indicator restarted
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tyre pressures of all four tyres. If you wish to cancel the restart:
X Press the %button.
or X If the Tyre press. now OK?
Tyre press. now OK? message
appears, press the 9or: button to
select Cancel Cancel.
X Press the abutton.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Tyre pressure monitor
General notes If a tyre pressure monitor system is fitted, the
vehicle's wheels have sensors fitted that
monitor the tyre pressures in all four tyres.
The tyre pressure monitor warns you if the
pressure drops in one or more of the tyres.
The tyre pressure monitor only functions if
the corresponding sensors are fitted to all
wheels.
Information on tyre pressures is shown in the multifunction display. After a few minutes of
driving, the current tyre pressure of each tyre
is shown in the Serv. Serv.menu of the multifunc-
tion display, see illustration (example). For further information on displaying this
message, refer to the "Checking the tyre pres-
sure electronically" section (Y page 365).
Important safety notes It is the driver's responsibility to set the tyre
pressure to the recommended cold tyre pres-
sure suitable for the operating situation
(Y page 362). Note that the correct tyre pres-
sure for the current operating situation must
first be taught-in to the tyre pressure monitor. 364
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres

Interchanging the front and rear wheels of
differing dimensions can render the general
operating permit invalid.
Observe the instructions and safety notes in
the "Changing a wheel" section (Y page 367).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tyres differ depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels before a clear wear
pattern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres
typically wear more on the shoulders and the
rear tyres in the centre.
On vehicles that have the same size front and rear wheels, you can interchange the wheels
every 5,000 to 10,000 km depending on the
degree of tyre wear. Ensure the direction of
rotation is maintained.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and, if necessary, restart the tyre pressure loss
warning system or the tyre pressure monitor. Direction of rotation
Tyres with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of aquaplaning. These advantages can only be gained if the tyres are fitted corresponding to the direction of rotation.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tyre indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels in a cool, dry and preferably
dark place if they are not being used. Protect
the tyres against oil, grease, petrol and diesel. Fitting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually. X
Move the front wheels to the straight-
ahead position.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal fully and engage
first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the key from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-func-
tion or KEYLESS-GO: open the driver's
door.
The on-board electronics now have status
0. This is the same as the key having been removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO start-func-
tion or KEYLESS-GO: remove the Start/
Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 157).
X If included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tyre-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 184).
i Apart from some country-specific var-
iants, vehicles are not equipped with tyre-
changing tools. Some tools for changing a
wheel are specific to the vehicle. For more information on which tools are required to
perform a wheel change on your vehicle,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Necessary tyre-changing tools may
include, for example:
R Jack
R Wheel chock
R Wheel wrench 368
Changing a wheelWheels and tyres