MERCEDES-BENZ R320 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

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Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:

Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.

The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with eight cargo
tie-down rings.
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.Cargo compartment
Four cargo tie-down rings are located in
the cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ring
iThe cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. The expanded cargo com-
partment (
page 292) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo compartment
alone.
iWhile the cargo net* (page 301) will
help protect you from smaller objects, it cannot
prevent the movement of large, heavier objects
into the passenger compartment in an accident,
during hard braking, or sudden maneuvers. Such
items must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor.

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Second seat-row
Two cargo tie-down rings are located in the
footwell behind the driver’s and passenger
seat.
1Cargo tie-down ringThird seat-row
Two cargo tie-down rings are located in the
footwell behind the second-row seats.
1Cargo tie-down ringHooks
Two hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, one on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9 lbs (4 kg).

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Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold each seat of the
rear passenger compartment to expand
the cargo compartment.
You can expand the cargo compartment

in part, i.e. folding third-row seats
(
page 292)

fully, i.e. folding second-row and
third-row seats (
page 293)Expanding cargo compartment in part
Folding third-row seats
Completely lower the head restraints of
the third-row seats.
1Seat belt holder
2Release handle
3Seat backrest
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the cargo
net* (
page 301) when transporting cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the seat
backrests must remain properly locked in
the upright position.
In an accident, during hard braking or
sudden 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 290).
Warning!G
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.
!When the outboard second-row seats are
folded forward, the front seats may not be
moved to the rearmost position. Otherwise you
could damage the front and outboard sec-
ond-row seats.
!Close the cup holders in front of the
second-row seats before folding the second-row
seats. Otherwise you could damage the cup
holders and the second-row seats.
iThe third-row head restraints are adjusted in
the same manner as the head restraints of the
second-row seats (
page 135).

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Place seat belt in seat belt holder 1.
Pull release handle 2 on seat
backrest3 in direction of arrow.
Seat backrest 3 is released.
3Seat backrest
4Seat cushion
5Strap
Move seat backrest 3 slightly for-
ward.
Seat cushion 4 is released and folds
forward automatically.
Fold seat backrest 3 to a horizontal
position.Expanding cargo compartment fully
iStrap 5 serves to pull up the seat backrest
when bringing the third-row seats back to their
original position (
page 297).
WarningG
Folded second-row seats are intended to
serve as cargo compartment expansion in
conjunction with folded third-row seats
only. Do not fold the second-row seats and
allow third-row seat occupants to use folded
second-row seats as a footrest while driving.
Third-row seat occupants must, like all vehi-
cle occupants, keep both feet on the floor in
front of their seat. Otherwise, occupants
could slide under the seat belt in a collision.
If occupants slide under it, the belt would
apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries.


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Folding second-row middle seat*
Fold the second-row middle seat to
armrest position (
page 138).
Armrest position
1Seat release strap
2Seat
Pull release strap 1 in direction of ar-
row.
The seat is released and flips up and
forward.
Push down on seat 2 until it engages.
Folded position
Folding outboard second-row seats
Do not fold the second-row seats and allow
third-row seat occupants to use folded
second-row seats as a table while driving.
Objects placed on folded second-row seats
may move freely during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, or an accident and be thrown
around in the vehicle interior. Objects
thrown around in the vehicle interior may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
!When folding both seat rows, it is important
that you fold the seats in the following order:

second-row middle seat*

outboard second-row seats

third-row seats
Otherwise, you could damage the seats.
!Close the cup holder in front of the
second-row seats before folding the second-row
middle seat. Otherwise you could damage the
cup holders and the second-row middle seat.
!When the outboard second-row seats are
folded forward, the front seats may not be
moved to the rearmost position. Otherwise
you could damage the front and the outboard
second-row seats.
!Close the cup holders in front of the out-
board second-row seats before folding the
outboard second-row seats. Otherwise you
could damage the cup holders and the outboard
second-row seats.


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Move the seat to be folded to its rear-
most position (
page 134).
Remove the rear center console*, if so
equipped (
page 315).
Remove the head restraint from the
respective second-row seat
(
page 136).1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
3Release lever
Place the head restraint on the seat
cushion.
Relieve the load on seat backrest 1
and pull release lever 3 past the
resistance point in direction of arrow
as far as it will go.
Seat and seat backrest are unlocked.
Fold seat backrest 1 forward until it
fully rests on seat cushion 2 in a
horizontal position.
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
Push down on folded seat backrest 1
until seat cushion 2 engages in seat
base.
iThe rear center console* can remain
installed, if installed in the most forward position
(
page 317). However, the cargo compartment
floor will then not be an even plane.
The storage compartment and the cupholders in
the rear center console* are only illuminated,
when the rear center console* is installed in the
most rearward position (position 0)
(
page 317).

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Folding third-row seats
Completely lower the head restraints of
the third-row seats.
1Seat belt holder
2Release handle
3Seat backrest
Place seat belt in seat belt holder 1.
Pull release handle 2 on seat
backrest3 in direction of arrow.
Seat backrest 3 is released.
Slowly move seat backrest 3 forward.
Seat cushion 7 is released and folds
forward automatically.
3Seat backrest (third-row seat)
4Recess (on second-row seat backrest)
5Guide pin (on third-row seat cushion)
6Seat backrest (second-row seat)
7Seat cushion (third-row seat)
8StrapFold seat cushion 7 to a horizontal
position.
Guide pin 5 must engage in recess 4
of seat backrest 6.
Fold seat backrest 3 to a horizontal
position.
iThe third-row head restraints are adjusted in
the same manner as the head restraints of the
second-row seats (
page 135).
iStrap 8 serves to pull up the seat backrest
when bringing the third-row seats back to their
original position (
page 297).
iThe outboard second-row seats must be in
their rearmost position (
page 134).

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Returning seats to their original posi-
tion
Third-row seats
Reach into strap 8 (page 296) and
pull seat backrest 3 (
page 296) into
a vertical position.
Pull release handle 2 (page 296)
and adjust seat backrest 3
(
page 296) to the desired position.
Move seat cushion 7 (page 296) to
a vertical position.
Fold seat cushion 7 (page 296)
towards the seat backrest until it
audibly engages.Outboard second-row seats
Pull release lever 3 past the
resistance point as far as it will go
(
page 295) and move up the seat
backrest to an angle of approximately
45 degrees.
Install the head restraint (page 137).
Adjust the seat backrest to the desired
position (
page 134).
Check whether the seat is properly
locked, see “Lock status indicators
(outboard second-row seats)”
(
page 298).
Adjust the seat fore or aft to the
desired position (
page 134).
Warning!G
Make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright
position and are properly locked
An outboard second-row seat is properly
locked only when lock status indicator 1 is
in hinged position and red marking 2 is
barely visible, see “Lock status indicators
(outboard second-row seats)”
(
page 298).
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide
under the seat belt during braking, vehicle
maneuvers, or in an accident. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. That could cause serious
or even fatal injuries.
!When returning the seats to their original
position, it is important to proceed in the
following order:

third-row seats

outboard second-row seats

second-row middle seat*
Otherwise, you could damage the seats.
!Do not fold up seat cushion 7 before fold-
ing seat backrest 3, see “Folding third-row
seats” (
page 296), as this could damage the
upholstery.

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Lock status indicators
(outboard second-row seats)
Outboard second-row seat unlocked
1Lock status indicator
2Red marking
When the seat is unlocked

lock status indicator 1 is extended

red marking 2 is clearly visible
When the seat is unlocked, push seat
backrest back until the seat audibly
engages.
Outboard second-row seat locked
1Lock status indicator
2Red marking
When the seat is locked

lock status indicator 1 is in hinged
position

red marking 2 is barely visibleSecond-row middle seat*
Pull release strap 1 of seat 2
(
page 294) in direction of arrow.
The seat is released and flips up and
backwards.
Push down on seat 2 (page 294)
until it engages in armrest position
(
page 294).
Pull seat backrest release strap 1 of
seat backrest 2 (
page 138) in direc-
tion of arrow.
Fold seat backrest 2 (page 138) to
the rear until it audibly engages.

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Cargo compartment cover blind
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the third-row seats or the
second-row seats.
Blind installed behind third-row seats
1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the
cargo compartment.
Guide blind into mounts2 and
release.
Rolling up blind
Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.Removing blind
Blind installed behind second-row seats
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up.
Push release button1.
Pull blind 2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
blind audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
!With the cargo compartment cover blind
installed, do not pile luggage higher than the
lower edges of the rear side windows.
iThe cargo compartment cover blind has two
extensions which are connected to the cargo
compartment cover blind by cords.
The cargo compartment cover blind must be
extended for installation behind the second-row
seats (
page 299).