MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2006 W251 Owner's Manual

280 Controls in detailLoadingLoading instructionsThe gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers, and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard(s) located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 510). In addi-
tion, the load must be distributed in such a
way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The
GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indi-
cated on the certification label which can
be found on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 510).
For more information, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information” (
page 357).
The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, always use parti-
tion net when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

281 Controls in detail
Loading
Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:

Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.


The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with eight cargo
tie-down rings.
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.Cargo compartment
Four cargo tie-down rings are located in
the cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ring
iThe cargo compartment is the pre-
ferred place to carry objects. The
expanded cargo compartment
(page 283) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo com-
partment alone.
iWhile the partition net* (
page 290)
will help protect you from smaller ob-
jects, it cannot prevent the movement
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 compartment floor.

282 Controls in detailLoadingSecond 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 ring
Hooks
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).

283 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

Push in the head restraints of the
third-row seats all the way
(page 139).
1Seat belt holder
2Release handle
3Seat backrest

Remove cargo compartment cover
blind* (
page 288), if so equipped.

Place seat belt in seat belt holder 1.
Warning!
G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and always use the partition net
(page 290) when transporting cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den 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 281).
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. Other-
wise you could damage the front and
second-row seats.


284 Controls in detailLoading
Pull release handle 2 on seat backrest
3 in direction of arrow.
Seat backrest 3 is released.

Move seat backrest 3 slightly for-
ward.
Seat cushion 4 is released and folds
forward automatically.
3Seat backrest
4Seat cushion

Fold seat backrest 3 to a horizontal
position.Expanding cargo compartment fully
Warning
G
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 the seats, it is important
that you fold the second-row seats
first, and then fold the third-row seats.


285 Controls in detail
Loading
Folding second-row seats
Move the seat to be folded to its rear-
most position (
page 137).

Remove the rear center console*, if so
equipped (
page 308).

Remove the head restraint from the
second-row seat (
page 140).

Place the head restraint on the seat
cushion.
The guide bars must be facing forward.

Push the head restraint against the
seat backrest in direction of the arrow.1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
3Release lever
!When the second-row seats are folded
forward, the front seats may not be
moved to the rearmost position. Other-
wise you could damage the front and
second-row seats.iThe rear center console* can remain
installed, if installed in the most for-
ward position (
page 309). However,
the cargo compartment floor will then
not be an even plane.
!Make sure to remove the head restraint
from the seat backrest and place it on
the seat cushion as described before
folding the seat. Otherwise, the seat or
head restraint may be damaged.


286 Controls in detailLoading
Pull release lever 3 past the resis-
tance point in direction of arrow as far
as it will go.
Seat backrest 1 is released.

Fold seat backrest 1 forward until it
fully rests on seat cushion 2 in a hori-
zontal position.

Push down on folded seat backrest 1
until it engages in position.Folding third-row seats

Push in the head restraints of the
third-row seats all the way
(page 139).
1Seat belt holder
2Release handle
3Seat backrest

Place seat belt in seat belt holder 1.

Remove cargo compartment cover
blind* (
page 288), if so equipped.

Pull release handle 1 on seat backrest
2 in direction of arrow.
Seat backrest 2 is released.

Slowly move seat backrest 2 forward.
Seat cushion 7 is released and folds
forward automatically.
3Seat backrest (third-row seat)
4Recess (on second-row seat)
5Guide pin
6Seat backrest (second-row seat)
7Seat cushion (third-row seat)


287 Controls in detail
Loading

Fold seat cushion 7 to a horizontal po-
sition.
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 283) to (
page 286) in
reverse order.

Make sure all seats are properly locked
in position.
The second-row seats have red markings
on the seat base that indicate when a
second-row seat is not properly locked.

When the red marking on a seat base is
visible, push seat backrest back until
the seat audibly engages.
With the seat properly locked in posi-
tion, you will not see the red marking
on the seat base.
iThe second-row seats must be in their
rearmost position (
page 137).
Warning
G
Make sure all seats are properly locked in
position before driving off. Do not drive with
seats not properly locked.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
not properly locked as this can be danger-
ous. 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.
The seat backrest and seat belt provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and the belt is properly po-
sitioned on the body.

288 Controls in detailLoadingCargo 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 seats1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the car-
go compartment.

Guide blind into mounts2 and re-
lease.
Rolling up blind

Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.Removing blind
Blind installed behind second-row seats1Release 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 high-
er than the lower edges of the rear side
windows.iThe cargo compartment cover blind
has two extensions which are connect-
ed to the cargo compartment cover
blind by cords.
The cargo compartment cover blind
must be extended for installation be-
hind the second-row seats
(page 288).

289 Controls in detail
Loading
Installing blind
For installation behind second-row
seats, install the blind extensions
(page 289).

Remove the covers from the mounts in
side rim.

Place left side of blind 2 in left mount.

Position right side of blind 2 over right
mount.

Press release button1 and guide
blind 2 into mount.Extending blind
1Blind
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.
When not in use, you can attach the cover
blind extensions to the cover blind.
5Extension guide rail
6Mounting
!For installation behind third-row seats,
the blind extensions must not be in-
stalled. Otherwise, the blind could be
damaged.
iThe cargo compartment cover blind
has two extensions which are connect-
ed to the cargo compartment cover
blind by cords.
The cargo compartment cover blind
must be extended for installation be-
hind the second-row seats.