remove seats MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 1997 Complete Owner's Manual

120
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Split rear seat bench
The rear seat bench can be moved fore / aft, folded and
lowered to increase the cargo area. The left, right or
both seat back sections may folded down according to
need. To slide rear seat bench fore / aft:
1. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat bench section to desired position until it locks in
place.
To enlarge cargo area: 1. Close cup holder in rear center console.
2. Move front seats forward, see page 39 for manual seats and page 40 for power seats.
3. Pull lever (1) in direction of arrow, and slide seat bench section forward.
4. Remove head restraint(s). The head restraint(s) should be stored beneath the cargo f loor plates.

123
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Easy entry/exit feature

(only in vehicles with third row seats)
Folding right seat bench section for access to rear
compartment area:
1. Move right front seat forward.
2. Slide seat bench section forward.
3. Push head restraint fully down and tilt it forward, see page 43. 4. Pull lock button (2) of seat back up, and fold seat
back forward.
5. Remove respective cargo floor plate, see page 129.
6. Pull lever (6) up, and fold seat bench section forward.
Resetting seat bench: 1. Pull down on seat bench section until it locks into place.
2. Pull lock button (2) up, and unfold seat back to upright position. Check for secure locking by
pushing and pulling on the backrest. The backrest
lock indicators at the lock buttons (2) are not visible
in locked position.
3. Pull up and adjust head restraint.
Caution!
Never drive with the second row right seat folded
forward (easy entry/exit feature). It could open and fold
back unintentionally.
When unfolding the seat, be sure that there is no danger
of anyone being harmed by the procedure.

126
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Third row seats (MB Accessory)
Two single seats can be unfolded to enlarge the seating
area.
To fold seat down: 1. Remove head restraint from seat cushion.
2. Remove cargo f loor plate, see page 129.
3. Lift tensioner (1) upward to a horizontal position to release tension of the strap. 4. Disengage hook (2) and attach belt at hook and loop
strip on underside of seat.
5. Fold seat down until it locks securely in place.
Important!
When seat is correctly unfolded, the red marking on
the seat release (4) should not be visible.
6. Store cargo floor plates inside the backrest, see page 130.
4

127
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
7. Pull release lever (3) and unfold seat back until it
locks securely in place.
8. Install head restraint in seat back.
Note:
For removal and installation of head restraint refer to
rear seat head restraints on page 124.
To sto r e s ea t: 1. Remove head restraint from seat back.
2. Pull release lever (3) and fold seat back forward until it audibly locks securely in place. Place seat
belt between lever (3) and backrest.
3. Remove cargo floor plates from the backrest.
4. Pull seat release (4) and fold seat up. Engage hook (2) in ceiling mount. Pull on free end of strap
until tight.
5. Install head restraint in openings provided in seat cushion.
6. Install cargo floor plates, see page 129.
Wa r n i n g !
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.For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.Adjust head restraint to support the back of the
head approximately at ear level.

135
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Installation behind rear seats
1. Insert tie down hooks (2) in rings (3) behind the rear seats.
2. Pull on loose ends of tie downs until net is tight. Removal:
1. Lift tensioner (4) upward to a horizontal position to release tensioning of the strap.
2. Disengage tie down hooks (2) from rings (3).
3. Remove partition net from holders (1) and close the covers.
Storage: 1. Roll up and close partition net.
2. Store partition net behind rear seat bench.
Caution!
While the partition net will help protect you from
smaller objects, it cannot prevent the movement of
large, heavier objects into the passenger area in an
accident. Such items must be properly secured using
the cargo tie-down rings in the cargo area floor, see
page 132.

138
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Removing blind:
Pull right side mounting sleeve toward vehicle center
(arrow) until button (1) engages, and remove blind from
holders. Installing blind:
Place left side of blind in left mount. Position right side
of blind over right mount. Push button (1), releasing
mounting sleeve to slide into mount.
Notes:
A removable cap is fitted into the mount openings on
vehicles fitted with third row seats.
Passenger use of third row seats with cargo area cover
blind installed is restricted.
2

163
Steering lock
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Caution!
To prevent accelerated battery discharge and a possible
dead battery, always remove the key from the steering
lock. Do not leave the key in steering lock position 0.
Notes:
A warning sounds when the driver’s door is opened
while the key is in steering lock position 1 or 0.
With the engine at idle speed, the charging rate of the
alternator (output) is limited. It is therefore recommended that you turn off
unnecessary electrical consumers while driving in stop-
and-go traffic. This precaution helps to avoid draining of
the battery.
Unnecessary strain on the battery and charging system
may be minimized by turning off the following power
consumers, for example: Heated seats, rear window
defroster.

247
Tires, Wheels
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints
Car care Index
6. Place jack on firm ground. Position the jack under
t he take-up bracket so t hat it is always ve rtical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side, even if the
vehicle is parked on an incline.
7. Open jack further until jack arm end seats firmly in the take-up bracket and its base sits sq uarely on the
ground. Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is clear
of the ground. Never start engine while vehicle is
raised. 8. Unscrew and remove all wheel bolts. Keep bolt
threads protected from dirt and sand.
9. Remove wheel. Grip wheel from the sides. Keep hands from beneath the wheels.
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and wheel hub.
Install spare wheel on wheel hub. Insert wheel bolts
and tighten them slightly.
10. Lower vehicle to ground. Remove jack.
Before storing the jack, it should be fully collapsed, with
handle folded in.
For proper storage of jack see page 237.

Removal & Installation (Front)
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Move appropriate front seat full y forward. Remove lower trim panel from outer edge of seat cushion
frame. Remove bolt from seat belt end fitting. Remove end fitting from seat cushion. Remove B-pillar
trim panel. Remove bolt from be lt height adjuster. Disconnect ET R electrical connector. Remove ETR
bolts. Remove ETR.
3. To install, reverse removal procedur e. Tighten ETR, seat belt end fitting and belt height adjuster bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Activate air bag system . Read diagnostic codes and
erase memory. See DIAGNOSTICS
.
Removal & Installation (Outer Rear)
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove appropriate C-pillar trim panel. Remove bolt from upper seat belt guide bracket. Disconnect
ETR connector. Remove bolts from ETR. Remove ETR.
3. To install, reverse removal proc edure. Tighten ETR bolts and upper seat belt guide bracket bolt to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Activate air bag system Read diagnostic codes and
erase memory. See DIAGNOSTICS
.
HEAD IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE (OUTER REAR)
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove headliner. See HEADLINER
. Disconnect appropriate head im pact air bag module electrical
connector. Remove screws from rear bracket. Rem ove screws from front and center brackets. Using
Wedge (115-589-03-59-00), remove head impact air ba g module from bracket. Remove head impact air
bag module.
3. To install, reverse removal proce dure. Activate air bag system. Read diagnostic codes and erase memory.
See DIAGNOSTICS
.
HEADLINER
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Remove edge trim from sliding/pop-up
roof. Remove front door seals from A- and B-pillars.
2. Remove A-pillar trim panels. Remove front fold ing handle. Remove sun visors and mounting clips.
Remove upper B-pillar trim panels . Remove cargo net holding point c overs. Remove load compartment
handles.
3. Remove coat hooks. Remove C-pill ar trim panels. Remove upper screws from D-pillar trim panels.
Detach rear headliner at roof. Lower headliner until it is supported on front seats. Lower front seat backs
rearward until sufficient ac cess to head impact air ba
g modules is available.

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
2004 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Merce des-Benz - Air Bag Restraint Systems
me
Saturday, October 02, 2010 3:40:40 PMPage 7 © 2006 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

34 Getting startedAdjusting
AdjustingSeats
The seats can be adjusted either manually
or electrically, depending on the vehicle’s
equipment.Warning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you
slide under it, the belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck.
That could cause serious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in an up-
right position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 42).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock your
vehicle.
The power seats* can also be operated with
the appropriate door open. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and / or serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1

compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle's
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.
1BabySmart
TMis a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.