fold seats MERCEDES-BENZ R350 2008 W251 Owner's Manual

44 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height (vehicles with
memory function)*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Seat backrest tilt
5 Seat fore and aft adjustment
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child. For additional informa-
tion, see “Children in the vehicle”
(
page 87).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
!When moving the seats, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seats;
otherwise you could damage the seats.
!When the second-row seats are folded
forward, e.g. for cargo compartment expansion
(
page 292), the front seats may not be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise you could
damage the front and second-row seats.
!When adjusting the seat backrest tilt and
head restraint height, make sure the sun visor is
folded up (
page 205). If the head restraint is in
the uppermost position, it could hit and damage
the sun visor.
iVehicles without memory function*:
The seats can be adjusted within 5 minutes after
either front door has been opened. The counter
resets each time

you open or close a front door

you insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch

you remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch

you switch the ignition on or off
iThe memory function* (page 141) lets
you store the settings for the seat position
together with the settings for the steering wheel
and the exterior rear view mirrors.

92 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
4Anchors, third-row seats
Install a LATCH type child seat accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instructions.Installation of infant and child restraint
system
This vehicle is equipped with tether
anchorages for a top tether strap at each
of the rear seat backrests. The tether
anchorage ring of the second-row middle
seat* is located on the rear of the seat
base (
page 94).
Outboard second-row and third-row
seats
1Anchorage ring covers
Remove anchorage ring cover 1 from
seat backrest of the seat on which a
child seat is to be installed.2Anchorage rings
3Hook
Move the respective head restraint to
its uppermost position (
page 135).
Release the respective seat backrest
(
page 129).
The seat backrest folds down.
iNon-LATCH type child seats may also be
used and can be installed using the vehicle’s
seat belt system. Install child seat according to
the manufacturer’s instructions.


94 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Lower the head restraint if necessary
(
page 135).
Make sure the top tether strap can
pass freely between the head restraint
and top of seat backrest.
Install the child restraint system and
tighten the top tether strap according
to the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions.Second-row middle seat*
Warning!G
After installing top tether straps, make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition 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 (
page 131).
If a seat and seat backrest are not properly
locked, the seat could move forward and the
seat backrest could fold. The child seat
would no longer be properly supported or
positioned to provide its intended benefit.
That could cause serious or even fatal
injuries.
Warning!G
Only install a child seat in the second-row
middle seat position if the outboard seat
belt buckle is not obstructed or overlapped
by the child seat. Not all child seats, includ-
ing some Mercedes-Benz approved child
seats, can be used in this seating position.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for more information.
Do not use the LATCH anchors or seat belt
buckle for the outboard seats in conjunction
with a child seat the second-row middle seat
position. Child seats in the middle seating
position must only be secured by the middle
seat position seat belt inserted into the seat
belt receptacle for that seat.


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.


128 Controls in detail
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 44).
For more information on folding the seats,
see “Loading” (
page 288).
Easy-entry/exit feature
Easy-entry/exit feature for driver’s
seat*
This feature allows for easier entry into and
exit from the vehicle. When entering and
exiting the vehicle, the steering wheel is in
its uppermost position.
The easy-entry/exit feature can be
activated or deactivated in the
Comfort
submenu of the control system
(
page 184).With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel will return to the last set
position when you

close the driver’s door with the ignition
switched on
or

insert the SmartKey into the starter
switch or press the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 41) once
with the driver’s door closed
Warning!G
You must make sure no one can become
trapped or injured by the moving steering
wheel when the easy-entry/exit feature is
activated.
To stop steering wheel movement, do one of
the following:

Move steering wheel adjustment stalk*
(
page 47).

Press one of the stored position
buttons* or memory buttonM*
(
page 141).
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could open the driver’s door and
unintentionally activate the easy-entry/exit
feature, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iThe last set steering wheel position is
stored when

the ignition is switched off (page 39)

the position is stored into memory
(
page 142)

129 Controls in detail
Seats
With the easy-entry/exit feature activated,
the steering wheel tilts upwards when you

remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or

open the driver’s door with the
SmartKey in starter switch position
0or1(
page 39) or the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position1 (
page 41)
Easy-entry/exit feature for third-row
seats
This feature allows for easier access to and
exit from the vehicle’s third-row seats.Easy-entry feature for third-row seats
The releases for the easy-entry feature are
located on the entry side and the back of
each outboard second-row seat.
1Easy-entry lever
iIf the current position for the steering wheel
is in the uppermost tilt position, the steering
wheel will no longer be able to move upward
when the easy-entry/exit feature is activated.
The adjustment procedure is briefly interrupted,
when the engine is started.
Warning!G
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. All steering wheel adjustments must be
completed before setting the vehicle in mo-
tion. Driving off with the steering wheel still
adjusting could cause the driver to lose con-
trol of the vehicle.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury, the sec-
ond-row seat backrests must be properly
locked either in the upright position or,
when using the expanded cargo compart-
ment, in the fully folded position while the
vehicle is in motion.
!7-seat vehicles*:
Do not use the driver’s side easy-entry/exit fea-
ture for third-row seats when the second-row
middle seat is in armrest position. Otherwise, the
seat belt outlet of the second-row middle seat
could damage the seat backrest of the outboard
seat.


130 Controls in detail
Seats
Pull and hold easy-entry lever 1 in
direction of arrow at resistance point.
The seat backrest folds forward.
Push the seat forward as far as it will
go.
You should now have sufficient space
to access the vehicle’s third-row seat.
Easy-entry/exit position
Enter the vehicle.
For information on how to fold down the
second-row seats completely, see “Folding
outboard second-row seats” (
page 294).Easy-exit feature for third-row seats
The easy-exit strap is located on the rear of
each outboard second-row seat base.
1Easy-exit strap
To exit the vehicle when seated on a
third-row seat, pull up and hold
easy-exit strap 1.
The second-row seat backrest folds
forward.
Push second-row seat forward a far as
it will go.
Easy-entry/exit position
Exit the vehicle.
For information on how to fold down the
second-row seats completely, see “Folding
outboard second-row seats” (
page 294).


131 Controls in detail
Seats
Returning outboard second-row seats to
their original position
Seat unlocked
1Lock status indicator
2Red markingWhen 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.
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
WarningG
When occupants have entered or exited the
vehicle using the easy-entry/exit feature,
before driving off make sure

the outboard second-row seats are
properly locked

the seat backrests of the outboard
second-row seats 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.
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 seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries.

134 Controls in detail
Seats
Fore and aft adjustment
(outboard second-row seats)
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the front of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle
Pull up handle 1 in direction of arrow
and hold it there.
Move seat to the desired position.
Release handle 1.
The seat must audibly engage.Seat backrest tilt
(outboard second-row seats)
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the rear of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle
While seated, pull handle 1 in direc-
tion of arrow to resistance point and
hold it there.
After adjusting rear seats, make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition 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 (
page 131).
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
fatal injuries.


136 Controls in detail
Seats
Outboard second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint 1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint 1, press
release button2 and push down on
head restraint 1.Head restraints
iThe head restraint of the second-row middle
seat* and the third-row seat head restraints are
adjusted in the same manner.
iThe tilt of the second-row head restraints is
adjusted in the same manner as the front-seat
head restraints, see “Head restraint fore and aft
adjustment” (
page 46).
The tilt of the head restraint of the second-row
middle seat* and the third-row seat head
restraints cannot be adjusted.
Warning!G
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints installed when the rear seats
are occupied. Head restraints are intended
to help reduce injuries during an accident.
With the second-row middle seat* or a
third-row seat occupied, make sure to move
the respective head restraint up from the
lowest non-use position and have the occu-
pant adjust the head restraint properly.
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way that
it is as close to the head as possible and the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of
an accident or similar situation.
iWhen removing or installing the head
restraint of an outboard second-row seat, adjust
the seat to the rear as far as possible
(
page 134) and fold the seat backrest
(
page 129) forward.