MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

260 Controls in detailLoadingFor additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.Cargo tie-down rings
The vehicle is equipped with six tie-down
rings.
Four tie-down rings are located in the
cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ringTwo additional tie-down rings are located
on the floor in front of the rear bench seat.
1Cargo tie-down ring

Carefully secure cargo by applying
even load on all rings with rope of suffi-
cient strength to hold down the cargo.
iThe cargo compartment is the pre-
ferred place to carry objects. The en-
larged cargo compartment should only
be used for items which do not fit in the
cargo compartment alone.
iWhile the partition net* will help pro-
tect you from smaller objects, it cannot
prevent the movement of large, heavier
objects into the passenger compart-
ment in an accident, during hard brak-
ing or sudden maneuvers. Such items
must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings.

261 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
Four hooks located on the rear compart-
ment trim panels, two on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items.
The maximum permissible weight per hook
is 9 lbs (4 kg).
Split rear bench seat
To expand the cargo compartment, you
can fold down the left and right rear seat
backrests.
The two sections can be folded down sep-
arately to enlarge the cargo compartment.Folding the backrest forwardWarning!
G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fold the seat cushions fully forward
and always use the partition net when trans-
porting cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(page 260).
!Always release the seat cushion and
fold it up before folding the seat back-
rests forward. The covering on the seat
backrest may otherwise be damaged.
When the rear bench seat is folded for-
ward, the front seats cannot be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise
you could damage the front seats and
the rear bench seat.

262 Controls in detailLoading1Release handle
2Seat cushion
Pull release handle1.

Fold the seat cushion2 forward.3Release handle
4Seat backrest

Make sure the rear seat head restraints
are in the lowermost position
(page 130).

Pull release handle3.
A red indicator will be visible and the
seat backrest is released.

Fold the seat backrest4 forward.Returning seat backrest to original
position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion

Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator no longer should be
visible.

Fold seat cushion2 rearward until it
locks into position.

Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.

263 Controls in detail
Loading
Partition net*Use of the partition net is a particularly im-
portant safety factor when the vehicle is
loaded higher than the top of the seat
backrests with smaller objects.
The partition net can be installed behind
the backrests of the front or rear seats.

Open the partition net zipper.

Roll out the partition net.

Unfold the partition net until it audibly
engages.
Engaging partition net
1Holder
2Mounting hook
Warning!
G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when the rear seats are occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied by pas-
sengers, or cargo is being carried behind the
seat bench.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or sud-
den maneuver, always use partition net
when transporting cargo.
The partition net cannot prevent the move-
ment of large, heavier objects into the pas-
senger compartment in an accident. Such
items must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings (
page 260) in the
cargo compartment floor.
Passenger use of seats behind installed par-
tition net is restricted because of the foot-
well being taken up by the net.

264 Controls in detailLoading
One after the other, engage the two
mounting hooks2 in the holder1.

Push both mounting hooks2 forward
into holder1.
Tightening partition net
Installation behind the front seats1Tie-down hook
2Ring
Installation behind the rear seats1Tie-down hook
2Ring
Insert tie-down hook1 in rings2.Removing partition net

Disengage tie-down hooks1 from
rings2.

Remove mounting hooks2
(page 263) from holder1
(page 263).

Roll up and close the partition net.

Store partition net behind rear seat
bench.iWhen storing the partition net after
use, press the red button on the
partition net bar to fold in.

265 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo compartment cover*
1Handle
Closing cover
Pull cargo compartment cover back by
handle1 until it engages into its
anchorages on the left and right side.
Opening cover

Disengage cover and guide retraction
by its handle1.Removing cover
2Button
3Mounting sleeve

Open the cover (
page 265).

Press button2 and push mounting
sleeve3 inward against spring pres-
sure until it disengages.

Remove cover from mounts.Installing cover

Place left side of cover in left mount.

Position right side of cover over right
mount.

Press button2, releasing mounting
sleeve3 to slide into mount.

Make sure the cargo compartment cov-
er blind is securely fastened.
Cargo management system*
Your vehicle may be equipped with a cargo
management system and accompanying
accessories which enables you to utilize
your cargo compartment in a variety of
ways. You can store the cargo manage-
ment system in the pouch that comes with
the vehicle.
iThe pouch and the telescoping rod are
located under the cargo compartment
floor.

266 Controls in detailLoading1Cargo rails
Inserting the mounting elements into
the cargo rails
1Cargo rail
2Mounting elementYou can move the mounting element2 to
various engaging points on the
cargo rail1 and fix it in place.
These engaging points are located
2 inches apart from one another on the
cargo rail and are indicated by markings.

Turn mounting element2 toL.

Insert mounting element2 in cargo
rail1.

Turn mounting element2 until it en-
gages in the ‹position.
You should be able to feel the mounting
element engage in the cargo rail.
Inserting the cargo tie-down ring in the
mounting element
1Cargo tie-down ring
2Mounting element
iYou can turn the mounting element in
the cargo rail to four positions:
‹To lock the mounting element.
NTo insert or remove the cargo
tie-down ring, the belt reel or
the telescoping rod.
LTo insert or remove the mount-
ing element.
STo move the mounting element
to the next engaging point.

267 Controls in detail
Loading

Turn mounting element2 in the cargo
rail toN.

Insert cargo tie-down ring1 into
mounting element2.

Turn mounting element2 until it en-
gages in the ‹position.
You should be able to feel the mounting
element engage in the cargo rail.Belt reel
1Belt reel
2Mounting element
3Locking button

Insert two mounting elements2 into a
cargo rail.

Turn mounting element2 in the cargo
rail toN.

Insert belt reel1 into mounting
element2.

Turn mounting element2 in the cargo
rail until it engages in the‹ posi-
tion.
Y o u s h o u l d b e a b l e t o f e e l t h e m o u n t i n g
element engage in the cargo rail.

Press locking button3 on the belt
reel1 and pull cargo net out in direc-
tion of arrow.

Place load between the cargo net and
the side wall of the cargo compart-
ment.

Press locking button3 on belt
reel1. With the other hand, slowly
pull net over load until it is taut.
Warning!
G
The cargo tie-down rings should be subject
to equal loads. Make sure to comply with
the information provided in the loading in-
structions (
page 259).
iThe belt reel can be used to tighten
light-weight loads against the side wall
of the cargo compartment, thus secur-
ing them from slipping.

268 Controls in detailLoadingTelescoping rod
1Telescoping rod
2Mounting element

Insert one mounting element2 into
each cargo rail.

Turn mounting element2 in cargo rail
toN.

Insert telescoping rod1 into mount-
ing element2.

Turn mounting element2 in cargo rail
until it engages in the‹ position.
You should be able to feel the mounting
element engage in the cargo rail.Removing rear seat cushions
If your vehicle is equipped with the cargo
management system* you can remove the
rear seat cushions.
Removing the rear seat cushions will pro-
vide you with a larger, flat cargo compart-
ment.

Fold the seat cushions forward
(page 262).
1Release lever

Pull seat cushion release lever1 and
remove the seat cushion by pulling it
upward.
iThe telescoping rod can be used to
tighten the load against the rear seats
so as to secure it from slipping.

269 Controls in detail
Loading

Remove the head restraints
(page 131).

Fold the seat backrest forward
(page 262).
Roof rack*Roof rails
For further information, inquire at your
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
!Leave the seat cushion hinge in this po-
sition. The upholstery could be dam-
aged if you fold the hinge back.
Warning!
G
Take into consideration that when the roof
rack is loaded, the handling characteristics
are different from those when operating the
vehicles without the roof rack loaded.
The maximum roof load when using roof
rack systems is 220 lb (100 kg).
!Attach roof racks to the roof rails only.
Only use those roof racks approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle model.
Follow manufacturer’s installation in-
structions.
The vehicle could otherwise be dam-
aged.