MERCEDES-BENZ R-Class 2012 W251 Owner's Manual

Do not pile luggage or cargo higher than the
seat backrests.
If so equipped, always use the cargo net when
transporting cargo. The cargo net cannot
secure hard or heavy objects.
Parcel nets cannot secure hard or heavy
objects.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will help
to prevent stored objects from being thrown
about and injuring vehicle occupants during
R braking
R vehicle maneuvers
R an accident
Stowage compartments in the front
Glove box
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
you will find an AUX IN jack or a Media
Interface installed in the glove box. A Media
Interface is a universal interface for mobile
audio equipment, e.g. for an iPod ®
or USB
device (see the separate COMAND
operating instructions).
XTo open: pull handle : and open glove box
flap ;.XTo close: fold glove box flap ; upwards
until it engages.
The glove box can only be locked and
unlocked using the mechanical key.
1Glove box unlocked2Glove box locked
Stowage compartments in the center
console
Front stowage compartment
Rear stowage compartment
XBriefly press trim ; in the direction of the
arrow.
Cover : swings upwards.
i
In vehicles with the smoker's package, an
ashtray is installed instead of the rear
stowage compartment ( Y page 265).
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Stowage compartments under the
armrest
The stowage compartment and the stowage
tray can be opened separately.
i In vehicles with the Rear Seat
Entertainment System, a DVD player is
installed in the stowage compartment; see
the separate operating instructions.XTo open the stowage tray: press release
button : and fold the armrest upwards.XTo open the stowage compartment:
press release button ; and fold the
armrest upwards.=Stowage tray?Coin holder
i The Roadside Assistance
º (Y page 272) and MB info call
E (Y page 272) buttons are in the
stowage tray = under the armrest.
Stowage compartments in the rear
Stowage compartments above the center
air vents, 2nd row of seats
Depending on the equipment in the vehicle, a
control panel may be installed instead of the
upper stowage compartment, e.g. if the
vehicle has rear-compartment air
conditioning for the 2nd and 3rd rows of
seats.
Stowage compartment in the center
console, 2nd row of seats
XTo open: press the release button under
the armrest and fold the armrest upwards.
Stowage compartments in the 3rd row of
seats
There is a stowage compartment in the side
trim on both sides. In vehicles with rear-
compartment air conditioning (2nd and 3rd
row of seats), a swiveling side air vent is
installed instead of the stowage
compartment.
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:Stowage compartment
Stowage pockets
GWARNING
Storage bags are intended for storing light-
weight items only.
Heavy objects, objects with sharp edges or
fragile objects may not be transported in the
storage bag. In an accident, during hard
braking, or sudden maneuvers, they could be
thrown around inside the vehicle and cause
injury to vehicle occupants.
Storage bags cannot protect transported
goods in the event of an accident.
Storage bags are located in the rear
compartment on the driver's and front-
passenger seat backrests.
Parcel nets
GWARNING
Vehicles with Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
Do not place objects with a combined weight
of more than 4.4 lbs (2 kg) into the parcel net
on the back of the front passenger seat.
Otherwise, the OCS may not be able to
properly approximate the occupant weight
category.
GWARNING
Parcel nets are intended for storing light-
weight items only, such as road maps, mail,
etc.
Heavy objects, objects with sharp edges, or
fragile objects may not be transported in the
parcel nets. In an accident, during hard
braking, or sudden maneuvers, they could be
thrown around inside the vehicle and cause
injury to vehicle occupants.
Parcel nets cannot protect transported goods
in the event of an accident.
Parcel nets are located in the front-passenger
footwell and on the back of the driver's and
the front-passenger seat.
Center console, 2nd row of seats
Removing the center console
GWARNING
Remove all containers that may be stored in
the cup holder in the rear center console.
Otherwise, liquids could spill on the
occupants and/or vehicle equipment. Hot
fluids spilled on the vehicle occupants may
cause serious injury. Liquids spilled on vehicle
equipment may cause damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
The center console contains a stowage
compartment ( Y page 250) and a cup holder
( Y page 263).
If you are using the fully extended cargo
compartment and want an even loading area
( Y page 253), you must remove the center
console.
! To avoid damage to the center console or
its components, close the stowage
compartment before removing the center
console.
i Remove all objects from the stowage
compartment ( Y page 250) to reduce the
weight of the center console.
Stowage areas251Stowing and featuresZ

XPull release handle A.
The front part of center console :
detaches from supporting base ?.XLift center console : upwards in the
direction of arrow B and hold center
console : in this position.XAt the same time, reach into recess ;.XLift center console : by recess ;
upwards in the direction of the arrow to
release center console : from anchoring
points =.XRemove center console : from the
vehicle.
i Supporting base ? cannot be removed.
Installing the center console
GWARNING
The rear center console must be properly
attached to the rear center console base
when the vehicle is in motion. The rear center
console could otherwise come loose. It could
be thrown around in the vehicle interior,
causing injury to the vehicle occupants
during:
R braking
R vehicle maneuvers
R an accident
You can install the center console in two
different positions. In the foremost position
(position 1) you can extend the cargo
compartment fully ( Y page 253) without
removing the center console.
i The stowage compartment and cup
holder will only be illuminated if the center
console is installed in the rear position
(position 0).XPosition center console B above
supporting base =.XMount the retainers of center console B
using anchoring points ? (position 1) or
A (position 0) of basic carrier =.XGuide the front part of center console B
downwards in the direction of the arrow to
supporting base =.
Center console B must rest on supporting
base =.XPush the front part of center console B
downwards until you hear center console
B engage in securing rings : (position 1)
or ; (position 0).252Stowage areasStowing and features

Cargo compartment enlargement
Important safety notesGWARNING
When expanding the cargo volume, always
fully fold the corresponding seats and, if so
equipped, always use the cargo net 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. This can cause injury to
vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie-down rings.
GWARNING
Never drive a vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
To enlarge the cargo compartment, the rear
bench seats of the second and third rows of
seats can be folded forwards separately. You
can enlarge the cargo compartment partially
( Y page 253) or fully ( Y page 253).
Partially enlarging the cargo
compartment (folding the seats in the
3rd row forward)
XMove the head restraint of the
corresponding seat down fully
( Y page 100).XClamp the seat belt behind retainer ;.XPull release handle : of backrest =
upwards in the direction of the arrow.
Backrest = is released.XFold backrest = slowly forwards.
Seat cushion ? is released and moves
automatically to a vertical position.XFold backrest = forwards into a horizontal
position.
i Loop A can be used to pull the backrests
of the 3rd row of seats upright when the
seats are moved into the original position
( Y page 256).
Enlarging the cargo compartment
completely (by folding the 2nd and 3rd
row of seats down)
GWARNING
Folded second-row seats are intended to
serve as a cargo volume expansion in
conjunction with folded third-row seats only.
Do not fold the second-row seats and allow
Stowage areas253Stowing and featuresZ

third-row seat occupants to use folded
second-row seats as a footrest while driving.
Third-row seat occupants must, like all vehicle
occupants, keep both feet on the floor in front
of their seat. Otherwise, occupants could
slide under their seat belt in a collision. If
occupants slide under the seat belt, it would
apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. 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 come loose
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or an
accident and be thrown around the vehicle
interior. Objects thrown around the vehicle
interior may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
! Make absolutely sure that you adhere to
the specified folding order when fully
enlarging the cargo compartment:
R fold down the center seat in the 2nd row
of seats (7-seat vehicles)
R fold down the outer seats in the 2nd row
of seats
R fold down the seats in the 3rd row of
seats
You could otherwise damage the seats.
Folding down the center seat in the 2nd
row of seats
! Close the cup holder in the 2nd row of
seats before folding down the 2nd row of
seats. You could otherwise damage the
seats or cup holder.XLower the head restraint on the center seat
in the 2nd row of seats fully ( Y page 100).XPull release loop : in the direction of the
arrow.XFold backrest ; forwards completely until
it is resting on seat cushion = (armrest
position).
Armrest position
XPull release loop ? in the direction of the
arrow and hold it securely.
The seat is released and folds up.XPress seat A further down until the front
of the seat engages in the trunk floor
position.
Trunk floor position
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Folding down the outer seats in the 2nd
row of seats
! If you want to fold the outer seats down
in the 2nd row of seats, the front seats must
not be in the rearmost position. Otherwise,
you could damage the front seats and outer
seats in the 2nd row.
! Close the cup holder in the 2nd row of
seats before folding down the 2nd row of
seats. You could otherwise damage the
seats or cup holder.XMove the seat concerned in the 2nd row to
its rearmost position ( Y page 101).XRemove the center console for the 2nd row
of seats, if installed ( Y page 251).
i
The center console of the 2nd row of
seats can remain installed if it is installed
in the front position (position 1)
( Y page 251). However, the loading area
will not be level.
XRemove the head restraint of the seat
concerned ( Y page 100).XLay the head restraints on the seat cushion
of the corresponding seat.XRelieve the pressure on backrest : and
pull release lever ; upwards in the
direction of the arrow beyond the pressure
point to the stop.
Backrest : and the seat are unlocked.XFold backrest : forwards until it is resting
horizontally on the seat cushion.XNow push backrest : down further until
seat cushion ; engages on the floor.
Folding down the seats in the 3rd row of
seats
XPush down the respective head restraints
in the 3rd row as far as they will go
( Y page 100).XClamp the seat belt behind retainer ;.XPull release handle : of backrest =
upwards in the direction of the arrow.
Backrest = is released.Stowage areas255Stowing and featuresZ

XFold backrest = slowly forwards.
Seat cushion C is released and moves
automatically to a vertical position.
i Loop D can be used to pull the backrests
of the 3rd row of seats upright when the
seats are moved into the original position
( Y page 256).
XAfter it has been moved to a vertical
position automatically, fold seat cushion
C further forwards until it reaches a
horizontal position. In doing so, make sure
that guide pin A of seat cushion C
catches fully in recess ? of backrest B.
i
The seats in the 2nd row of seats must be
in the rearmost position ( Y page 101).
XFold backrest = forwards into a horizontal
position.
Moving the seats back into the driving
position
GWARNING
Make sure
R the seats are properly locked
R 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 : is
in hinged position and red marking ; is
barely visible, see "Lock status indicators
(outboard second-row seats)".
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.
! Make absolutely sure that you reset the
seats to the driving position in the specified
order:
R reset the seats in the 3rd row of seats
R reset the outer seats in the 2nd row of
seats
R reset the center seat in the 2nd row of
seats (7-seat vehicles)
Resetting the seats in the 3rd row of seats
! Do not fold down the seat cushions before
moving the backrests into the upright
position. The seat cover could otherwise be
damaged.
XGrip loop = and pull seat backrest ; into
an upright position.XPull release handle ? and move
backrest ; to the desired position.XPlace seat cushion : in a vertical position.XFold seat cushion : towards backrest ;
until it engages audibly.
Resetting the outer seats in the 2nd row
of seats
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XPull release lever ; upwards beyond the
pressure point to the stop and fold
backrest : upwards by about 45 ˚.XInsert the head restraint ( Y page 100).XPull release lever ; to the pressure point
and adjust backrest : to the desired
position.XCheck that the seat is correctly engaged.XSet the seat head restraint to the desired
position ( Y page 100).
Lock verification indicator for the outer
seats in the 2nd row of seats
Seat unlocked
When the seat is unlocked, lock status
indicator : is folded out and indicator
area ; is clearly visible.
XWhen the seat is unlocked, fold the
backrest back until you hear the seat
engage.
Seat locked
When the seat is locked, lock status
indicator : is folded in and indicator
area ; is barely visible.
Resetting the center seat in the 2nd row
of seats
Armrest position
XPull release loop : of seat ; in the
direction of the arrow and hold it securely.
The seat is released and folds up.XPress seat ; further down until the back
of the seat engages in the armrest position.XPull release loop : of the backrest in the
direction of the arrow and hold it securely.XFold the backrest backwards until you hear
it engage.
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down rings
Observe the following notes on securing
loads:
R secure the load using the cargo tie down
rings.
R do not use elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R do not route tie downs across sharp edges
or corners.
R pad sharp edges for protection.
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Footwell of the second row of seats
There is one cargo tie-down ring : in the
footwell behind the driver’s seat and one in
the footwell behind the front-passenger seat.
Footwell of the third row of seats
Two cargo tie down rings : are located in
the footwell of the third row of seats.
Cargo compartment
There are four cargo tie down rings : in the
cargo compartment.
Securing hooks
Only use the mounting hooks to secure items
of luggage up to maximum of 9 lbs (4 kg) in
weight.
There is a mounting hook : on each of the
side panels in the cargo compartment.
Cargo compartment cover
Important safety notes
! When loading the vehicle, make sure that
you do not stack the load in the cargo
compartment higher than the lower edge of
the side windows. Do not place heavy
objects on top of the cargo compartment
cover.
The cargo compartment cover can be
attached behind the second or third row of
seats.
258Stowage areasStowing and features