airbag off MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK 2015 Owners Manual

1, 2, 3 ...
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) see ETS/4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System)
4MATIC
Display message ............................ 288
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel
drive) .................................................. 208
12 V socket
see Sockets A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) Display message ............................ 258
Function/notes ................................ 69
Important safety notes .................... 69
Warning lamp .................................2 95
Accident
Automatic measures after an acci-
dent ................................................. 57
Activating/deactivating air-recir-
culation mode ................................... .146
Activating/deactivating cooling
with air dehumidification ................. 141
Active Parking Assist
Detecting parking spaces .............. 213
Display message ............................ 279
Exiting a parking space .................. 216
Function/notes ............................ .212
Important safety notes .................. 212
Parking .......................................... 214
Towing a trailer .............................. 212
ADAPTIVE BRAKE ................................. 77
Adaptive Brake Assist
Function/notes ................................ 72
Adaptive brake lights .......................... 73
Adaptive Damping System
Function/notes ............................ .207
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
Display message ............................ 274
Function/notes ............................ .123
Switching on/off ........................... 124
Additional speedometer ................... 250
Additives (engine oil) ........................ 401
Adjusting the headlamp range ......... 122Air conditioning
General notes ................................ 136
Air filter (white display message) .... 277
Air pressure
see Tyre pressure
Air vents
Important safety notes .................. 153
Rear ............................................... 154
Setting the centre air vents ........... 154
Setting the side air vents .............. .154
Air-conditioning system
see Climate control
Airbag
Automatic front-passenger front
airbag deactivatio n .......................... 49
Introduction ..................................... 46
PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator
lamps ............................................... 41
Airbags
Display message ............................ 270
Front airbag (driver, front
passenger) ....................................... 47
Important safety guidelines ............. 46
Kneebag .......................................... .48
Sidebag ............................................ 48
Triggering ......................................... 55
Windowbag ...................................... 49
Alarm
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system) ......... 78
Switching off (ATA) .......................... 78
Switching the function on/off
(ATA) ................................................ 78
Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
AMG
Performance Seat .......................... 111
RIDE CONTROL sports suspen-
sion ................................................ 207
AMG menu (on-board computer) ..... 254
AMG Performance exhaust sys-
tem ..................................................... 164
Anti-glare film .................................... 319
Anti-lock braking system
see ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Anti-Theft Alarm system
see ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Aquaplaning ....................................... 1904
Index

Ashtray
.............................................. .315
Assistance display (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .248
Assistance menu (on-board com-
puter) ................................................. .247
ASSYST PLUS
Displaying a service message ....... .328
Driving abroad ............................... 329
Hiding a service message .............. 328
Information about Service ............. 328
Resetting the service interval dis-
play ................................................ 328
Service message ............................ 327
Special service requirements ......... 328
ATA (Anti-Theft Alarm system)
Activating/deactivating ................... 78
Function .......................................... .78
Switching off the alarm .................... 78
ATTENTION ASSIST
Activating/deactivating ................. 249
Display message ............................ 278
Function/note s............................. 222
Audio menu (on-board computer) .... 245
Authorised workshop
see Qualified specialist workshop
AUTO lights
Display message ............................ 274
see Lights
Automatic engine start (ECO start/
stop function) .................................... 163
Automatic engine switch-off (ECO
start/stop function) .......................... 162
Automatic front-passenger front
airbag deactivation
Display message ............................ 270
Automatic front-passenger front
airbag deactivation system
Operation ......................................... 50
Problems ......................................... 54
System self-test ............................... 52
Automatic headlamp mode .............. 120
Automatic transmission
Accelerator pedal position ............. 174
Changing gear ............................... 174
DIRECT SELECT lever ..................... 169
Drive program display .................... 170
Drive programs .............................. 175 Driving tips .................................... 174
DYNAMIC SELECT button (all vehi-
cles except Mercedes-AMG vehi-
cles) ............................................... 166
DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. 167
Emergency running mod e.............. 180
Engaging drive position .................. 172
Engaging neutral ............................ 171
Engaging park position
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) .............. 173
Engaging park position automati-
cally ............................................... 171
Engaging reverse gear ................... 171
Engaging the park position ............ 170
Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients .............................. 174
Kickdown ....................................... 174
Manual shifting .............................. 177
Oil temperature (on-board com-
puter, Mercedes-AMG vehicles) ..... 254
Overview ........................................ 169
Problem (fault) ............................... 180
Pulling away ................................... 160
Selector lever ................................ 172
Starting the engine ........................ 160
Steering wheel gearshift paddle s... 177
Trailer towing ................................. 175
Transmission position display ........ 172
Transmission position display
(DIRECT SELECT lever) ................... 170
Transmission positions .................. 173
Automatic transmission emer-
gency running mode ......................... 180
Auxiliary heating
Activating/deactivating ................. 149
Activating/deactivating (on the
centre console ).............................. 149
Remote control .............................. 149
Setting ........................................... 252
Auxiliary heating/ventilation
Display message ............................ 289
Important safety notes .................. 148
Problem (display message) ............ 153
Setting the departure time ............. 151
Auxiliary ventilation
Activating/deactivating ................. 149 Index
5

Protection of the environment
General notes
H
Environmental note
Daimler's declared policy is one of compre-
hensive environmental protection.
Our objectives are to use the natural resour-
ces which form the basis of our existence on
this planet sparingly and in a manner which
takes the requirements of both nature and
humanity into consideration.
You too can help to protect the environment
by operating your vehicle in an environmen-
tally-responsible manner.
Fuel consumption and the rate of engine,
transmission, brake and tyre wear depend on
the following factors:
R operating conditions of your vehicle
R your personal driving style
You can influence both factors. Therefore,
please bear the following in mind:
Operating conditions:
R avoid short trips, as these increase fuel
consumption.
R observe the correct tyre pressure.
R do not carry any unnecessary weight in the
vehicle.
R remove the roof rack once you no longer
need it.
R a regularly serviced vehicle will contribute
to environmental protection. You should
therefore adhere to the service intervals.
R all maintenance work should be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Personal driving style:
R do not depress the accelerator pedal when
starting the engine.
R do not warm up the engine when the vehicle
is stationary.
R drive carefully and maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front.
R avoid frequent, sudden acceleration and
braking. R
change gear in good time and use each gear
only up to Ôof its maximum engine speed.
R switch off the engine in stationary traffic.
R monitor the vehicle's fuel consumption. Returning an end-of-life vehicle
EU countries only:
Mercedes-Benz will take back your old vehicle to dispose of it in an environmentally-respon-sible manner in accordance with the Euro-
pean Union (EU) End of Life Vehicles Direc-
tive.
There is a network of return points and dis-
assembly plants available. You can return
your vehicle to these plants free of charge.
This makes a valuable contribution to the
recycling process and the conservation of
resources.
For further information on recycling old vehi- cles, recovery and the terms of the policy,
visit the Mercedes-Benz homepage. Genuine Mercedes-Benz parts
H
Environmental note
Daimler AG also supplies reconditioned
assemblies and parts which are of the same
quality as new parts. For these, the same war-
ranty applies as for new parts.
! Airbags and seat belt tensioners, as well
as control units and sensors for these
restraint systems, may be installed in the
following areas of your vehicle:
R doors
R door pillars
R door sills
R seats
R dashboard
R instrument cluster
R centre console 22
Introduction

For more information about children travel-
ling with you in the vehicle, see "Children in
the vehicle" (Y page 57). Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the restraint system is modified, it may no
longer work as intended. The restraint system
may then not perform its intended protective function by failing in an accident or triggering
unexpectedly, for example. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Never modify parts of the restraint system. Do not attempt to modify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify an airbag system to
accommodate a person with disabilities, con- tact a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for
details. Restraint system warning lamp
The functions of the restraint system are
checked after the ignition is switched on and
at regular intervals while the engine is run-
ning. Therefore, malfunctions can be detec-
ted in good time.
The 6 restraint system warning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up when the igni- tion is switched on. It goes out no later than afew seconds after the vehicle is started. The
components of the restraint system are in
operational readiness.
A malfunction has occurred if the 6
restraint system warning lamp:
R does not light up after the ignition is
switched on
R does not go out after a few seconds with
the engine running
R lights up again while the engine is running G
WARNING
If the restraint system is malfunctioning,
restraint system components may be trig-
gered unintentionally or might not be trig-
gered at all in the event of an accident with a high rate of vehicle deceleration. This can
effect belt tensioners or airbags, for example. There is an increased risk of serious or even
fatal injuries.
Have the restraint system checked and
repaired immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop. PASSENGER AIRBAG indicator lamp
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp
:
and PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp ;are part of the automatic deactiva-
tion system of the front-passenger front air-
bag.
The indicator lamps display the status of the
front-passenger front airbag.
R PASSENGER AIR BAG ON lights up: the
front-passenger front airbag is enabled. If,
in the event of an accident, all deployment
criteria are met, the front-passenger front
airbag is deployed.
R PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF lights up: the
front-passenger front airbag is disabled. It
will then not be deployed in the event of an
accident. Occupant safety
41Safety Z

Depending on the person in the front-
passenger seat, the front-passenger front air-
bag must either be disabled or enabled; see
the following points. You must make sure of
this both before and during a journey.
R Children in a rearward-facing child
restraint system: the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit. The
front-passenger front airbag is disabled. It
is imperative to observe the notes on the
"Automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system" (Y page 49) and on
"Children in the vehicle" (Y page 57).
R Children in a forward-facing child
restraint system: depending on the instal-
led child restraint system and the age and
size of the child, the front-passenger front
airbag is either disabled or enabled. There-
fore, it is imperative to observe the notes
on the "Automatic front-passenger front
airbag deactivation system" (Y page 49)
and on "Children in the vehicle"
(Y page 57).
R All other persons: the PASSENGER AIR
BAG ON indicator lamp must be lit. The
front-passenger front airbag is enabled.
Depending on the build of the person on the
front-passenger seat, the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp may light up. The
front-passenger front airbag is disabled. It
will then not be deployed in the event of an accident. In this case, the front-passenger
seat should not be used.
It is imperative to observe the notes on the
"Automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system" (Y page 49) as well
as on "Seat belts" (Y page 42) and "Air-
bags" (Y page 46). There you can also find
information on the correct seat position. Seat belts
Introduction A correctly worn seat belt is the most effec-
tive means of restraining the movement of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision or
if the vehicle overturns. This reduces the risk of vehicle occupants coming into contact with
parts of the vehicle interior or being ejected
from it. The seat belt also helps to keep the
vehicle occupants in the best position in rela-
tion to the airbag being deployed.
The seat belt system consists of:
R seat belts
R belt tensioners for the front seat belts and
the outer seat belts in the rear
R belt force limiters for the front seat belts
and the outer seat belts in the rear
If the seat belt is pulled quickly or sharply
from the belt outlet, the inertia reel locks. The belt strap cannot be pulled out any further.
The belt tensioner tightens the seat belt in the
event of a collision so that it fits tightly across
your body. However, it does not pull the vehi- cle occupants back in the direction of the seat
backrest.
The belt tensioner does not, however, correct an incorrect seat position or correct the rout-
ing of a seat belt that is worn incorrectly.
When triggered, seat belt force limiters help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The belt force limiters on the front seats are
synchronised with the front airbags, which
take on a part of the deceleration force. This
can reduce the forces to which the vehicle
occupants are subjected during an accident.
! If the co-driver's seat is not occupied, do
not engage the seat belt tongue in the
buckle on the co-driver's seat. Otherwise,
the belt tensioner could be triggered in the
event of an accident and would have to be
replaced.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The seat belt cannot perform its intended pro- tective function if it is not fastened correctly. Also, an improperly fastened seat belt can 42
Occupant safetySafety

cause additional injuries in the event of an
accident, sudden braking or abrupt changes
of direction. There is an increased risk of
injury, possibly even fatal.
Always make sure that all vehicle occupants
are wearing their seat belt properly and are
seated correctly. G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level of protection if you have not moved the back-
rest to an almost vertical position. When brak-
ing or in the event of an accident, you could
slide underneath the seat belt and sustain
abdomen or neck injuries, for example. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always ensure that the backrest
is in an almost vertical position and that the
shoulder section of your seatbelt is routed
across the centre of your shoulder. G
WARNING
Persons under 1.50 mtall cannot wear the
seat belts correctly without a suitable, addi-
tional restraint system. The seat belt cannot
perform its intended protective function if it is not fastened correctly. Also, an improperly
fastened seat belt can cause additional inju-
ries in the event of an accident, sudden brak-
ing or abrupt changes of direction. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Secure persons less than 1.50 mtall in a suit-
able restraint system.
If a child younger than twelve years old and
under 1.50 m in height is travelling in the
vehicle:
R always secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for this Mercedes-Benz
vehicle. The child restraint system must be appropriate to the age, weight and size of
the child.
R always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the automatic front-passenger front airbag deactivation system
(Y
page 49)
R always observe the instructions and safety
notes on "Children in the vehicle" in this
Owner's Manual (Y page 57) in addition
to the child restraint system manufactur-
er's installation instructions G
WARNING
Seat belts cannot protect as intended, if:
R they are damaged, have been modified, are
extremely dirty, bleached or dyed
R the seat belt buckle is damaged or
extremely dirty
R modifications have been made to the belt
tensioners, belt anchorages or inertia reels
Seat belts may sustain non-visible damage in an accident, e.g. due to glass splinters. Modi-
fied or damaged seat belts can tear or fail, for example in the event of an accident. Modified
seat belt tensioners may be deployed unin-
tentionally or fail to be deployed when
required. There is an increased risk of injury,
possibly even fatal.
Never modify safety belts, seat belt tension-
ers, seat belt anchorages and inertia reels.
Ensure that seat belts are not damaged or
worn and are clean. After an accident, have
the seat belts checked immediately at a quali- fied specialist workshop.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use seat belts which have been approved
specifically for your vehicle by Mercedes-
Benz. Otherwise, your vehicle's general oper- ating permit could be invalidated.
Sports seat or AMG Performance seat: this
seat is designed for the standard three-point
seat belt. If you fit another multipoint seat
belt, e.g. sport or racing seat belts, the
restraint system cannot provide the best level of protection. G
WARNING
If you feed seat belts through the opening in
the seat backrest, the seat backrest may be
damaged or may even break in the event of an Occupant safety
43Safety
Z

light up continuously or flash. A warning tone
may also sound.
The 7 seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tone stops as soon as the driver's
and the co-driver's seat belts have been fas-
tened.
i For more information on the
7seat
belt warning lamp, see "Warning and indi-
cator lamps in the instrument cluster, seat
belt" (Y page 292).
Rear seat belt status indicator The seat belts on the left and centre rear
seats, when viewed in the direction of travel,
are not fastened. (Example)
The rear seat belt status indicator is only
available for certain countries.
For approximately 30 seconds, the rear seat
belt status indicator informs you which rear
seat belt is not fastened.
The rear seat belt status indicator appears if:
R you drive off and reach a speed of approx-
imately 10 km/h
R the rear passengers fasten or unfasten
their seat belts while the vehicle is in
motion
R someone gets in or out of the vehicle and
you pull away again
You can also cancel the rear seat belt status
indicator immediately (Y page 257).Airbags
Introduction The installation location of an airbag is iden-
tified by the AIRBAG symbol. An airbag supplements a correctly worn seat
belt. It is not a replacement for the seat belt.
The airbag offers additional protection in
applicable accident situations.
Not all airbags are deployed in an accident.
The different airbag systems work independ-
ently of each other (Y page 55).
However, no system available today can com- pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
It is also not possible to completely rule out a
risk of injury caused by an airbag due to the
speed at which the airbag must be deployed.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you deviate from the correct seat position,
the airbag cannot perform its intended pro-
tective function and can even cause addi-
tional injuries when deployed. There is an
increased risk of serious or even fatal injuries.
In order to avoid such risks, always ensure
that all vehicle occupants:
R fasten their seatbelts correctly, including
pregnant women
R are seated correctly and maintain the fur-
thest possible distance from the airbags
R observe the following notes
Always ensure that there are no objects loca-
ted between the airbag and the vehicle occu-
pant.
R Adjust the seats properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the
seat is in an almost upright position. The
centre of the head restraint must support
the head at about eye level.
R Move the driver's and front-passenger
seats as far back as possible. The driver's
seat position must allow the vehicle to be
driven safely.
R Only hold the steering wheel on the out-
side. This allows the airbag to be fully
deployed.
R Always lean against the backrest while driv-
ing. Do not lean forwards or lean against 46
Occupant safetySafety

the door or side window. You may other-
wise be in the deployment area of the air-
bags.
R Always keep your feet in the footwell in
front of the seat. Do not put your feet on the
dashboard, for example. Your feet may oth-
erwise be in the deployment area of the
airbag.
R Always secure persons less than 1.50 mtall
in suitable restraint systems. Up to this
height, the seat belt cannot be worn cor-
rectly.
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, also
observe the following notes:
R Always secure children under twelve years
of age and less than 1.50 mtall in suitable
child restraint systems.
R Child restraint systems should be fitted to
the rear seats.
R Only secure a child to the front-passenger
seat when the front-passenger front airbag
is disabled, and only then in a rearward-
facing child restraint system. If the
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
permanently lit, the front-passenger front
airbag is disabled (Y page 41).
R Always observe the instructions and safety
notes on the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system
(Y page 49) and on "Children in the vehi-
cle" (Y page 57) in addition to the child
restraint system manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions.
Objects in the vehicle interior may pre-
vent the airbag from functioning cor-
rectly. Before starting your journey and to
avoid risks resulting from the speed of the
airbag as it deploys, make sure that:
R there are no people, animals or objects
between the vehicle occupants and an air-
bag.
R there are no objects between the seat, door
and B-pillar.
R no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers, are
hanging on the grab handles or coat hooks. R
no accessories, such as cup holders, are
attached to the vehicle within the deploy-
ment area of an airbag, e.g. to doors, side
windows, rear side trim or side walls.
R no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects
are in the pockets of your clothing. Store
such objects in a suitable place. G
WARNING
If you modify an airbag cover or affix objects
such as stickers to it, the airbag can no longer function correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify an airbag cover or affix objects
to it. G
WARNING
Sensors to control the airbags are located in
the doors. Modifications or work not per-
formed correctly to the doors or door panel-
ling, as well as damaged doors, can lead to the function of the sensors being impaired. The
airbags might therefore not function properly any more. Consequently, the airbags cannot
protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. This poses an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door pan-
elling carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Front airbags !
Do not place heavy objects on the front-
passenger seat. This could cause the sys-
tem to identify the seat as being occupied.
In the event of an accident, the restraint
systems on the front-passenger side may
be triggered and have to be replaced. Occupant safety
47Safety Z

Driver's airbag
:deploys in front of the
steering wheel. Front-passenger front air-
bag ;deploys in front of and above the glove
compartment.
When deployed, the front airbags offer addi-
tional head and thorax protection for the
occupants in the front seats.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps
inform you about the status of the front-
passenger front airbag (Y page 41).
The front-passenger front airbag will only
deploy if:
R the automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system has detected that the
front-passenger seat is occupied
(Y page 49). The PASSENGER AIR BAG
ON indicator lamp is lit (Y page 50)
R the restraint system control unit predicts a
high accident severity
Driver's kneebag Driver's kneebag
:deploys under the steer-
ing column. The driver's kneebag is triggered
together with the front airbags.
The driver's kneebag offers additional thigh,
knee and lower leg protection for the occu-
pant in the driver's seat.
i The driver's kneebag is only available in
certain countries.
Sidebags G
WARNING
Unsuitable seat covers can obstruct or pre-
vent the deployment of the airbags integrated into the seats. Consequently, the airbags can-
not protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. In addition, the function of the automatic front-passenger front airbag deac-
tivation system could be restricted. This
poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal
injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the corresponding seats by Mercedes-Benz. Front sidebags
:and rear sidebags ;
deploy next to the outer bolster of the seat
backrest.
When deployed, the sidebag offers additional thorax protection. It also offers additional pel-
vis protection for occupants in the front
seats. However, it does not protect the:
R head
R neck
R arms 48
Occupant safetySafety

In the event of a side impact, the sidebag is
deployed on the side on which the impact
occurs.
Vehicles with the automatic front-passenger
airbag deactivation system: the sidebag on
the front-passenger side deploys under the
following conditions:
R an occupant is detected on the front-
passenger seat or
R the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
buckle of the front-passenger seat
If the belt tongue is engaged in the belt
buckle, the sidebag on the front-passenger
side deploys if an appropriate accident situa- tion occurs. In this case, deployment is inde- pendent of whether the front-passenger seat
is occupied or not.
Windowbags Windowbags
:are integrated into the side
of the roof frame and deploy in the area from
the A-pillar to the C-pillar.
When deployed, the windowbag enhances the level of protection for the head. However, it
does not protect the chest or arms.
In the event of a side impact, the windowbag
is deployed on the side on which the impact
occurs.
If the system determines that they can offer
additional protection to that provided by the
seat belt, a windowbag may be deployed in
other accident situations (Y page 55). Automatic front-passenger front air-
bag deactivation
Introduction In order to recognise a child restraint system
on the front-passenger seat, the automatic
front-passenger front airbag deactivation sys- tem categorises the person in the front-
passenger seat. Depending on that result, the
front-passenger front airbag is either enabled or disabled. If a rearward-facing child
restraint system is fitted to the front-
passenger seat, the PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp must light up after the
system self-test and remain lit. The front-
passenger front airbag is disabled.
The system does not disable:
R the sidebag
R the windowbag
R the seat belt tensioner
Make sure that your vehicle is equipped with
the automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system (Y page 61). If this is
not the case, always install a child restraint
system on a suitable rear seat (Y page 62).
If it is absolutely necessary to install a child
restraint system on the front-passenger seat,
be sure to observe the correct positioning of
the child restraint system. Never place
objects under or behind the child restraint
system, e.g. a cushion. Fully retract the seat
cushion length. The entire base of the child
restraint system must always rest on the seat
cushion of the front-passenger seat. The
backrest of the forward-facing child restraint system must, as far as possible, be resting onthe backrest of the front-passenger seat. The
child restraint system must not touch the roof or be put under strain by the head restraint.
Adjust the angle of the seat backrest and the
head restraint position accordingly. Only then is the correct function of the automatic front- passenger front airbag deactivation system
guaranteed. Always observe the information
on suitable positioning of the child restraint
system (Y page 62) in addition to the child Occupant safety
49Safety Z