tow MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS HATCHBACK 2011 Workshop Manual

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
A The tailgate is open.
G WARNING
Whe nthe engine is running, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle
interior if the tailgate is open.
There is a risk of poisoning.
X Close the tailgate. ? The bonnet is open.
G WARNING
The open bonnet may block your view when the vehicle is in
motion.
There is a risk of accident.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Engage the electric parking brake.
X Close the bonnet. C At least one door is open.
Awarning tone also sounds.
X Close all doors. j
Check trailer
hitch lock The trailer tow hitch is no
tcorrectly engaged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Engage the electric parking brake.
X Allow the trailer tow hitch ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 183).
Otherwise, the trailer may detach itself. D
Power
steering mal‐
function See Own‐
er's Manual The power steering assistance is faulty. You will need to use more
force to steer.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
X Chec kwhether you are able to apply the extra force required.
X If you are able to steer safely: carefully drive on to a qualified
specialist workshop.
X If you are unable to steer safely: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop. 230
Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
ü
The red seat belt warn-
ing lamp lights up after
the engine starts, as
soon as the driver's or
the front-passenger
door is closed. The driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt.
X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 44).
The warning lamp goes out. There are objects on the front-passenger seat.
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out. ü
The red seat belt warn-
ing lamp flashes and an
intermittenta udible
warning sounds. The driver or fron
tpassenger has no tfastened their seat belt .At
the same time, you are driving faste rthan 25 km/h or have briefly
driven faster than 25 km/h.
X Fasten your seat belt (Y page 44).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. There are objects on the front-passenger seat. At the same time,
you are driving faster than 25 km/h or have briefly driven faster
than 25 km/h.
X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow
them in a secure place.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 232
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Useful information
............................244
Loading guidelines ............................244
Stowage areas .................................. 244
Features ............................................. 255 243Stowing and features

Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all models
and all standard and optional equipment
available to your vehicle at the time of pub-
lication of the Owner's Manual. Country-
specific deviations are possible. Please
note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all features described. This also
applies to safety-relevan tsystems and
functions.
i Please read the information on qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 22).Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
Secure and position the load as described in
the loading guidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being throw naround in
the event of sharp braking, a sudden change
in direction or an accident.
You will find further informatio ninthe "Secur-
ing a load" section.
Even if you follow all the loading guidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
WARNING
Keep the tailgate closed when the engine is
running. Otherwise, you could be poisoned by
exhaust fumes entering the vehicle.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R when transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R position heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the load compart-
ment as possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R hook in the safety net when loading.
R the maximum load capacity of the stowage
well under the luggage compartmentf loor
is 25 kg.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistan tlashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Lashing material is available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop.
! Do no tposition the load on one part of the
folding luggage compartment floor only.
The maximum load capacity of the folding
luggage compartment floor is 100 kg.
Spread the weight evenly to avoid damag-
ing the luggage compartment floor. Place a
solid board under the load if necessary.
Please note that the load on the luggage
compartment floor will be increased when
the load is lashed down. Stowage areas
Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The stowage compartments must be closed
when items are stored in them. Luggage nets
are not designed to secure heavy items of
luggage. 244
Stowage areasStowing and features

You or other vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Sharp-edged and fragile objects must not be
placed in the luggage net.
Front stowage compartments Glove compartment
X
To open: pull handle :and open glove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartmen tflap ;
upwards until it engages.
i There is a pen holder at the top of the
glove compartmen tflap.
Spectacles compartment X
To open: press marking :. Stowage compartment in the centre con-
sole
X
To open: press the marking on cover :.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there is an open instead of a closed stow-
age compartment or an ashtray in the
centre console.
Stowage compartment in front of th earm-
res t(vehicles with automatic transmis-
sion) X
To open: press the marking on cover :.
i You can remove the non-slip mat and the
insert for cleaning. Stowage areas
245Stowing and features Z

Stowage compartment/telephone com-
partment under the armrest
X
To open: on vehicles with moveable armr-
ests, make sure that the armrest is in the
rearmost position.
X Press button :and fold the armrest up.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment, a
USB port and an AUX-IN jack or a Media
Interface are installed in the stowage com-
partment. A Media Interface is a universal
interface for portable audio equipment, e.g.
for an iPod ®
or MP3 player (see the sepa-
rate Audio or COMAND Online operating
instructions).
Stowage compartment under the driver's
and front-passenger seat G
WARNING
Only load the stowage compartmen twith the
maximum permissible load of 1. 2kg. Othe r-
wise, the transported load could, for example,
be thrown out of the stowage compartment if
you change directio nsuddenly or brake
sharply, and you or other scould be injured. X
To open: pull handle :up and fold
cover ;forwards.
i On vehicles with a fire extinguisher
instead of a stowage compartment, the fire
extinguisher is installed under the driver's
seat.
Rear stowage compartments Stowage compartment in the rear centre
console
X
To open: pull down the top of stowage
compartment :by the edge of the handle.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
there may be an open stowage space above
the stowage compartment.
Folding table G
WARNING
Keep the folding table closed while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, in the event of sharp
braking, a sudden change in direction or an
accident, you could be injured by objects on
the table or by the folding table itself.
! Do not load the folding table beyond the
maximum permissible load of 2kg. 246
Stowage areasStowing and features

X
To fold out: pull folding table :up in the
direction of the arrow to the desired posi-
tion.
X To fold away: push folding table :down
onto the backrest. Luggage nets
G
WARNING
Only place lightweight items in the luggage
net. Do not use it to transport heavy, bulky,
sharp-edged or fragile objects. In the event of
an accident, the luggage net will not secure
the transported goods.
Luggage nets are located in the front-
passenge rfootwell and on the back of the
driver's and the front-passenger seat. Folding backrest on the front-
passenger seat X
To fold forward: gently push the backrest
back.
X Pull release handle :and fold the back-
rest fully onto the seat cushion until it
engages.
X To fold back: gently push the backrest
down and pull release handle :.
X Fold the seat backrest back until it
engages. Through-loading facility in the rear
compartment
G
WARNING
Do not transport unsecured objects in the
through-loading facility.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by object sbeing thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent. X
To open: fold down seat armrest :.
X Pull the cover, which can now be seen, for-
wards by the grip until it lies on arm-
rest :.
X Pull the centre head restraint on the rear
bench seat into the uppermost position
(Y page 88). Stowage areas
247Stowing and features Z

X
Slide locking mechanism =in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
X Swing flap ;fully to the side.
Flap ;is held ope nby a magnet.
X To close: swing flap ;in the luggage com-
partmen tback until it engages.
X Fold the cover forwards until it engages into
armrest :.
X Fold armrest :up fully if necessary. Enlarging the luggage compartment
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do no tcarry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggage compartmen tunless
they are secured.
Otherwise, you and othe rvehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the luggage compartment
enlargemen tfeature, you must always fully
fold down the respective backrests and
attach the safety net. G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgate closed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior. !
Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat"
section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged.
! Before folding the backrest in the rear
compartment forwards, make sure that the
rear compartment armrest and the
cupholder are folded in. They may other-
wise be damaged.
Vehicles without the EASY-VARIO-PLUS
system Folding the rear seat backrest forwards
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartment capacity. X
Fully insert the backrest head restraints
(Y page 89).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Vehicles with integrated child seat: fold in
the child seat (Y page 53) and remove the
side head restraint (Y page 56).
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle ;of the seat backrest forwards.
Corresponding seat backrest :is
released.
X Fold seat backrest :forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. 248
Stowage areasStowing and features

Folding back the rear seat backrest
X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backres tback .Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged.
X Fold seat backrest :back until it engages.
Red lock status indicator ;is no longer
visible. G
WARNING
Make sure that the seat backrest is correctly
engaged .The red lock verification indicators
on the left and right sides should no longer be
visible. If they are visible, the backrests are
not locked in position.
Occupants could otherwise be injured in the
event of an accident, e.g. by objects being
thrown forwards through the vehicle interior
from the luggage compartment.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 89).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Vehicles with the EASY-VARIO-PLUS
system Folding the rear seat backrest forwards
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartmentc apacity. X
Fully insert the backres thead restraints
(Y page 89).
X Move the rear seat as far back as possible
(Y page 250).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Pull right or left loop ;on the backrest in
the direction of the arrow.
Corresponding seat backrest :is
released.
X Fold down backrest :fully.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding back the rear seat backrest X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. Stowage areas
249Stowing and features Z

X
Swing backrest :back.
X Adjust the backres tto the desired angle by
pulling the loop (Y page 250).
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 89).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Notes on using the luggage compartment Load position
Making the best use of your luggage com-
partment:
R Load capacity is increased when back-
rest :is set to the load position (90°)
(Y page 250).
R Vehicles with a height-adjustable luggage
compartment floor: a level load surface can
be obtained by moving the luggage com-
partmen tfloor to the upper position
(Y page 254).
R Al arge rload area can be obtained by mov-
ing the rear bench seat as far forward as
possible (Y page 250).
R The load area can be lengthened by folding
forward the folding backrest of the front-
passenger seat (Y page 247) and the cor-
responding backrest in the rear.
Adjusting the angle of the rear seat backr-
ests
You can set the angle of the seat backrests
to one of 13 detent positions. X
Pull right or left release loop ;forwards in
the direction of the arrow.
Corresponding seat backrest :is
released.
X Push backrest :forward in the direction
of the arrow, or push it back and let it
engage.
X To ensure that the backrest has engaged,
lean firmly against backrest :.
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
! When moving the rear seats back, make
sure there are no objects in the footwell or
behind the seats. The rear seats and/or the
objects could otherwise be damaged. X
Lift the left or right release handle and slide
the corresponding seat forwards or back-
wards.
X Let go of the release handle again.
Make sure that you hear the seat engage in
position. 250
Stowage areasStowing and features