Middle seat folding MERCEDES-BENZ R320 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

95 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Move the head restraint to its upper-
most position (
page 135).1Seat backrest release strap
2Seat backrest
3Seat cushion
Pull seat backrest release strap 1 in
direction of arrow.4Anchorage ring
Fold seat backrest 2 forward as far as
necessary for you to access anchorage
ring 4.
Warning!G
Please be aware that installation of a child
seat in the second-row middle seat position
can prevent the folding forward of the out-
board second-row seats which can obstruct
access to and exit from the third-row seats.
In case of an accident it will be difficult for
occupants of the third row seats to leave the
vehicle. Serious injuries could result.
Install a child seat in one of the outboard
seating positions according to the installa-
tion instructions if access to the third row
seats is required.


137 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing head restraints
Seat position for removal of head restraints
from outboard second-row seats
1Head restraint
2Release button
To remove head restraint 1, pull head
restraint 1 to its uppermost position.
Press release button2 and pull out
head restraint 1.Installing head restraints
Insert head restraint 1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint 1 down until it
audibly engages.
Push release button2 and adjust
head restraint 1 to the desired
position (
page 135).Armrests
6-seat vehicles
The second-row seat armrests can be
folded up, when loading for example, and
adjusted.
Folding up:
Move the armrest into a vertical
position until it engages.
Adjusting:
With the armrest folded up, disengage
the armrest by pushing it towards the
rear slightly.
Fold the armrest down to the lowest
and then to the desired position until it
engages.
To readjust the armrest to a higher
position, move armrest up to the
desired position until it engages.
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
removed in the same manner.
iOn the outboard second-row seats, the
guide bar with the detent must be on the left.
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
installed in the same manner.
iTo readjust the armrest to a lower position,
you must first fold up the armrest again and re-
peat the steps above.

138 Controls in detail
Seats
7-seat vehicles*
You can use the seat backrest of the
second-row middle seat as an armrest for
the outboard seats.
Before folding the seat, completely
lower the head restraint of the
second-row middle seat (
page 135).
1Seat backrest release strap
2Seat backrest
3Seat cushion
Pull seat backrest release strap 1 in
direction of arrow.
Completely fold seat backrest 2 for-
ward so that it rests on seat cushion 3
(armrest position).
Armrest position
WarningG
The folded second-row middle seat is in-
tended to serve as an armrest only. Do not
fold the second-row middle seat and allow
occupants to use the folded second-row
middle seat as a footrest while driving. All
vehicle occupants must keep both feet on
the floor in front of their seat. Otherwise, oc-
cupants 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 inju-
ries.
Do not fold the second-row middle seat
and allow occupants to use the folded
second-row middle seat as a table while
driving. Objects placed on the folded
second-row middle seat may move freely
during braking, vehicle maneuvers, or an ac-
cident and be thrown around in the vehicle
interior. Objects thrown around in the vehi-
cle interior may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

294 Controls in detail
Loading
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.


297 Controls in detail
Loading
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.