MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG 2003 W163 Owners Manual

91 Controls in detail
Seats
Seats
Information on seat adjustment can be
found in the “Getting started” section
(page 34).
Seat heater*
The seat heaters can only be switched on
with the engine running.
The switches are located on the upper cen-
ter console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heatingSwitching on normal seat heating mode

Press upper part1 of switch.
One indicator lamp in the switch lights
up.
Switching off normal seat heating
mode

Press upper part1 of switch again.
The indicator lamp in the switch goes
out.
Switching on rapid seat heating mode

Press lower part2 of switch.
Both indicator lamps in the switch light
up.Switching off rapid seat heating mode

Press lower part2 of switch again.
Both indicator lamps in the switch go
out.
iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.
iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one indicator lamp re-
mains lit.!If one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are blinking, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.

92 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving and installing head restraintsRemoving head restraint
1Lock button

Pull head restraint to its highest posi-
tion

Press lock button1 and pull out head
restraint.Installing head restraint

Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Press lock button1 and adjust head re-
straint down to the desired position
(page 36).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
iThe head restraint(s) should be stored
beneath the cargo floor plates
(page 144).

93 Controls in detail
Seats
Rear seats
The rear seats are divided asymetrically.
To enlarge the cargo area you can adjust
the left and right part separately. The fol-
lowing changes are possible:

moving the seat fore and aft


folding down the backrest


lowering the seatAdjusting rear seat fore and aft
1Release lever

Pull release lever1 in direction of ar-
row.

Slide seat to the desired position until
it locks in place.Folding down the backrest
1Lock button

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 155).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Slide seat forward.

Remove head restraint(s) (
page 92).

Pull lock button1 up and fold backrest
forward until it locks in place.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked po-
sition.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the rear seats while driving.
Always seat in an upright position and the
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body. Your seat must be adjusted so that
you can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.

94 Controls in detailSeatsFolding up the backrest
Pull lock button1 up and unfold back-
rest until it locks in place.
Make sure that the seat belt is not
caught in the seat.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked po-
sition.

Install head restraint (
page 92).

Slide seat rearward to desired position
(page 93).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) and power
seats (
page 37). Lowering the rear seat
1Release button
2Lever
3Release lever

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 155).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Press and hold release button1 to un-
lock lever2.

Pull lever2 in direction of arrow.

Pull release lever3 and push down rear
seat until it locks in place.

Fold down the backrest (
page 93).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) and power
seats (
page 37).
Folding up the rear seat

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Pull release lever3 and raise rear seat
until it locks in place.Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.

95 Controls in detail
Seats
Easy entry/exit feature*
The easy entry/exit feature allows access
to the third row seats*. The right cargo
floor plate must be removed (
page 144).
Folding rear seat forward
1Lever

Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 35) and power seats
(page 37).

Move rear seat forward (
page 93).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 93).

Pull lever1 up and fold the rear seat
forward.
Resetting rear seat

Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Pull lock button1 (
page 93) up and
unfold backrest until it locks into place.

Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 93) is not visible in
the locked position.

Move the rear and front seats in de-
sired position.

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 36).
Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry/exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

96 Controls in detailSeatsThird row seats* Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop strip

Remove cargo floor plate
(page 144).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizontal
position to release tension of the belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop strip4 on
underside of seat.
5Backrest release
6Seat release

Fold seat down until it locks securely in
place.
The red marking on the seat release
should6 not be visible.

Store cargo floor plates inside the
backrest (
page 144).

Pull backrest release5 and unfold
backrest until it locks securely in place.

Install head restraint1 in backrest
(page 92).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.

97 Controls in detail
Seats
Storing single seat
Remove head restraint from backrest
(page 92).

Pull backrest release5 and fold back-
rest forward until it locks securely in
place.

Remove cargo floor plates from the
backrest.

Pull seat release6 (
page 96) and
fold seat up.

Disengage belt and engage hook2
(page 96) in ceiling mount.

Pull on free end of belt until tight.

Install head restraint in openings pro-
vided in seat cushion.

Install cargo floor plates (
page 144).
Warning!
G
After folding the seats up, manually place
the lap belt portion of the seat belt behind
the seat (arrow). Otherwise, the lap belt may
be subject to damage and could rip.

98 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving single seat
1Hook
2Tensioner
3Hook and loop strip
4Release lever

Lift tensioner2 upward to a horizontal
position to release tension of the belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop strip3 on
underside of seat.

Move release lever4 upward and re-
move seat.Installing single seat

Place seat into the mounting clamps
and click the seat into place.

99 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
With the memory button you can store up
to three different settings for the driver-
and passenger seat.
Together with the driver’s seat you can
store the exterior rear view mirrors.
For the front passenger seat you can store
the seat position.
1Position buttons
2Memory button
!Prior to operating the vehicle the driver
should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be
adjusted for proper height. Also see air-
bag section (
page 55) for proper seat
positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the inside and
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and
210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

100 Controls in detailMemory function*Storing positions in memory
Adjust the seat (
page 36) and exteri-
or rear view mirrors (page 38) to the
desired position.

Push memory button2.

Release memory button and press one
of the position buttons1 within three
seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold one of the position
buttons1 until seat and rear view mir-
rors have fully moved to the stored po-
sitions.Exterior rear view mirror parking posi-
tion (passenger side)
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger exterior rear view mirror so that you
can see the right rear wheel as soon as you
engage reverse gearR.
!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.