MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2007 R171 Owner's Manual

300 Controls in detail
Loading
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).

301 Controls in detail
Loading
Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold each seat of the
rear passenger compartment to expand
the cargo compartment.
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
Place seat belt in seat belt holder 1.
Pull release handle 2 on seat
backrest3 in direction of arrow.
Seat backrest 3 is released.
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the partition
net* (
page 308) 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 299).
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 second-row seats are folded
forward, the front seats may not be moved to the
rearmost position. Otherwise you could damage
the front and second-row seats.
iThe third-row head restraints are adjusted in
the same manner as the head restraints of the
second-row seats (
page 139).


302 Controls in detail
Loading
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 304).
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.
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 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.
iWhen folding both rows of seats, it is impor-
tant that you fold the second-row seats first, and
then fold the third-row seats.


303 Controls in detail
Loading
Folding second-row seats
Move the seat to be folded to its rear-
most position (
page 138).
Remove the rear center console*, if so
equipped (
page 323).
Remove the head restraint from the
respective second-row seat
(
page 141).
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.
!When the second-row seats are folded
forward, the front seats may not be moved to the
rearmost position. Otherwise you could damage
the front and second-row seats.
iThe rear center console* can remain
installed, if installed in the most forward position
(
page 325). 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 325).

304 Controls in detail
Loading
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)
8Strap
Fold 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.
Returning seats to their original position
Carry out the steps described on
(
page 301) to (page 304) in
reverse order.
Make sure all seats are properly locked
in position.
iThe third-row head restraints are adjusted in
the same manner as the head restraints of the
second-row seats (
page 139).
iStrap 8 serves to pull up the seat backrest
when bringing the third-row seats back to their
original position (
page 304).
iThe second-row seats must be in their
rearmost position (
page 138).

305 Controls in detail
Loading
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.
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 visible
Warning!G
Make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
A second-row seat is properly locked only
when lock status indicator 1 is in hinged
position and red marking 2 is barely
visible.
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. You could slide un-
der the seat belt during braking, vehicle ma-
neuvers, 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 fa-
tal injuries.

306 Controls in detail
Loading
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 306).

307 Controls in detail
Loading
Installing blind
For installation behind second-row
seats, install the blind extensions
(
page 307).
Remove the covers from the mounts in
side trim.
Press on cover at its lower edge as
indicated by arrow.
The mount cover’s upper edge flips
up.
Remove mount cover by pulling
its upper edge out of side trim in
direction of arrow.
Place left side of blind 2 (page 306)
in left mount.
Position right side of blind 2
(
page 306) over right mount.
Press release button1 (page 306)
and guide blind 2 (
page 306) into
mount.
Extending blind1Blind
2Extension
3Guidings
4Guide pins
Position extension 2 over blind 1.
Guide pins 4 must point directly at
guidings 3.
Turn extension2 and blind 1 in op-
posite directions as indicated by the ar-
rows.
Guide pins 4 must engage in
guidings3.
!For installation behind third-row seats,
the blind extensions must not be installed.
Otherwise, the blind could be damaged.
iTo avoid loss of the mount covers, keep
them in a safe place while not in use, e.g. the
glove box.
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.


308 Controls in detail
Loading
When not in use, you can attach the cover
blind extensions to the cover blind.
5Extension guide rail
6Mounting
With the cargo compartment cover
installed behind third-row seats, insert
extension guide rail 5 into
mounting6.
Push extension into mounting6 as far
as it will go.
Partition net*Use of the partition net is a particularly
important safety factor when the vehicle is
loaded higher than the top of the seat
backrests with smaller objects. For your
safety, always use the partition net when
transporting cargo.
The partition net can be installed in two lo-
cations:
1Holder behind B-pillar
2Holder behind C-pillar
Warning!G
Make sure the partition net is properly
engaged at top and bottom position and the
tightening belts are securely fastened.
Never use a damaged partition net.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or
sudden maneuver, always use partition net
when transporting cargo.
The partition net cannot prevent the move-
ment of large, heavier objects into the pas-
senger compartment in an accident. Such
items must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings in the cargo compart-
ment floor (
page 299).
Passenger use of seats behind installed
partition net is restricted because of the
footwell being taken up by the net.


309 Controls in detail
Loading

With the cargo compartment expanded
in part (
page 301), use holders
behind C-pillars 2 and the cargo
tie-down rings in the third-row footwell
(
page 300).

With the cargo compartment fully
expanded (
page 302), use holders
behind B-pillars 1 and the cargo
tie-down rings in the second-row
footwell (
page 300).
Open the zipper on the partition net
package.
Roll out the partition net.
Unfold the partition net.
The partition net bars must audibly en-
gage.Installing the partition net
Partition net installed behind the B-pillar
1Holder
2Partition net bar
Hang partition net bar2 on holder1
as indicated by the arrow.
Push partition net bar2 forward into
holder1 in direction of arrow.Pulling the partition net tight
Belt hook attached in the second-row
footwell
1Belt hook
2Cargo tie-down ring
3Tightening belt
Hook belt hook1 into cargo tie-down
ring2 in direction of arrow.
Pull tightening belt3 by the loose end
in direction of arrow until the partition
net is pulled tight.
After driving a short distance, make
sure the partition net is still tight and, if
necessary, pull it tight again.