fold seats MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2007 R171 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 adjustmentSwitch on the ignition (page 40).
or
Open the respective door (vehicles
with memory function*).
The seat can be adjusted with the re-
spective door opened.
or
Open a front door (vehicles without
memory function*).
The seat can be adjusted within
3 minutes after either front door has
been opened.
!When moving the seat, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seat.
Otherwise you could damage the seat.
!When the second-row seats are folded
forward, e.g. for cargo compartment expansion
(
page 301), 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 215). If the head restraint is in
the uppermost position, it could hit and damage
the sun visor.
iThe memory function* (page 144) lets
you store the settings for the seat position to-
gether with the settings for the steering wheel
and the exterior rear view mirrors.

96 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Securely fasten hook3, which is part
of top tether strap4, to anchorage
ring2.
Make sure

the top tether strap is not twisted

the head restraint is installed and
positioned such that the top tether
strap* can pass freely between the
head restraint and top of seat back-
rest

top tether strap is positioned be-
tween the seat backrest and the
cargo compartment cover blind*
(if installed)

the top tether strap is positioned
between the seat backrest and the
partition net* (if installed)
Fold seat backrest up and push back-
wards until it audibly engages.
A second-row seat is properly locked
only when lock status indicator 1 is in
hinged position and red marking 2 is
barely visible (
page 135).
Warning!G
When installing a child seat on a third-row
seat, do not fasten hook 3 to the strap
below anchorage ring 2. Otherwise, the
child seat will not be securely fastened.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child seat is not
properly secured in the vehicle.
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
A second-row seat is properly locked only
when lock status indicator 1 is in hinged
position and red marking 2 is barely visible
(
page 135).
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.


132 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 297).
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 190).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 memory position
buttons or memory buttonM*
(
page 145).
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 145)

133 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 second-row seat.
1Easy-entry lever
Pull and hold easy-entry lever 1 in di-
rection of arrow at resistance point.
The seat backrest folds forward.
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.

134 Controls in detail
Seats
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
second-row seats” (
page 303).Easy-exit feature for third-row seats
The easy-exit strap is located on the rear of
the 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
second-row seats” (
page 303).


135 Controls in detail
Seats
Returning second-row seats to their
original position
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 en-
gages.
Seat locked
1Lock status indicator
2Red marking
When the seat is locked

lock status indicator 1 is in hinged po-
sition

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 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 visi-
ble.
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.

138 Controls in detail
Seats
Fore and aft adjustment
(second-row seats only)
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 (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
A second-row seat is properly locked only
when lock status indicator 1 is in hinged
position and red marking 2 is barely visible
(
page 135).
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.


140 Controls in detail
Seats
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 third-row seat head restraints are ad-
justed 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 third-row 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 a third-row seat occupied, make sure
to move the respective head restraint up
from the lowest non-use position and have
the occupant 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 re-
straint of a second-row seat, adjust the seat to
the rear as far as possible (
page 138) and fold
the seat backrest (
page 133) forward.

141 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing head restraints
Seat position for removal of head restraints
from 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 139).Armrests
The second-row seat armrests can be
folded up, when loading for example, and
adjusted.
Folding up
Move the armrest into a vertical posi-
tion 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 third-row seat head restraints are re-
moved in the same manner.
iOn the second-row seats, the guide bar with
the detent must be on the left.
iThe 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.

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).