2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Third row seats

Contents
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 79
Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Remote control with folding key ..... 84
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 86
Opening the liftgate........................ 87
Closing the liftgate ......................... 88
Automatic central locking .............. 89
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 90
Seats.................................................... 91
Seat heater*................................... 91
Removing and installing
head restraints ............................... 92
Rear seats ...................................... 93
Third row seats* ............................. 96
Memory function*................................ 99
Storing positions in memory ........ 100
Recalling positions from memory . 100
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position (passenger side) ............. 100Lighting.............................................. 102
Combination switch ..................... 102
Fog lamps .................................... 105
Hazard warning flasher ................ 106
Interior lighting............................. 107
Instrument cluster ............................. 110
Instrument cluster illumination .... 110
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 111
Display in the speedometer ......... 111
Resetting trip odometer ............... 112
Tachometer .................................. 112
Outside temperature indicator ..... 112
Setting the clock .......................... 112
Automatic transmission ..................... 113
One-touch gearshifting................. 113
Gear ranges.................................. 114
Gear selector lever position ......... 115
Accelerator position ..................... 117
Towing a trailer ............................ 117
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)........................................... 117
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode............................. 118
Switching on LOW RANGE mode .. 118
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 118Good visibility .................................... 119
Rear view mirror .......................... 119
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 121
Windshield wipers ........................ 122
Rear window wiper....................... 123
Sun visor ...................................... 123
Automatic climate control ................. 124
Automatic mode .......................... 126
Adjusting air volume and air
distribution manually ................... 127
Defrosting .................................... 128
Air recirculation mode.................. 128
Air conditioning ............................ 129
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 130
Rear window defroster ................. 131
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and rear automatic
climate control ............................. 131
Front and rear air outlets ............. 132
Power windows.................................. 134
Opening and closing the side
windows ....................................... 134
Rear quarter windows* ................ 136
Sliding/pop-up roof* ......................... 137
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 137

62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Emergency tensioning device, seat belt
force limiter
The front seat belts are equipped with
emergency tensioning devices and belt
force limiters. The outboard passenger
seats belts (except in the third row seats*)
are equipped with emergency tensioning
devices.
The ETD is designed to activate only when
the seat belt is fastened and in the follow-
ing cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing a preset severity level


if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see 1
indicator lamp (
page 54)
In an impact, emergency tensioning devic-
es remove slack from the belts in such a
way that the seat belts fit more snugly
against the body. Belt force limiters reduce
the force exerted by the seat belts on oc-
cupants during a crash.
deployment thresholds.


Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The
belt would also apply too much force to
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.


Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these
might cause injuries.


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries
in a crash.


Each seat belt should never be used for
more than one person at a time. Do not
fasten a seat belt around a person and
another person or other objects.


Belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you wouldn’t have the full width
of the belt to manage impact forces. The
twisted belt against your body could
cause injuries.


Pregnant women should also use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel or on the seat. Always keep both
feet on the floor in front of the seat.

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Installation of infant and child restraint
system
Guide top tether strap between head
restraint and top of seat back. Head
restraint must be installed and posi-
tioned such that the top tether strap
can pass freely between the head re-
straint and top of seat back.
1Hook
2Anchorage ring

Securely fasten the hook1 to the an-
chorage ring2.
For safety, make sure that the hook has
attached to the ring beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.Vehicle without third row seats
3Anchorage rings for second row seats
4Anchorage rings for third row seats*
This vehicle is provided with three tether
anchorages3 for a top tether strap behind
the second row seats.Vehicle with third row seats*
3Anchorage rings for second row seats
4Anchorage rings for third row seats*
This vehicle is provided with tether anchor-
ages for a top tether strap behind the sec-
ond row seats3 and the third row seats 4.
When using the third row observe the fol-
lowing:


Installation of infant and child restraint
systems with a top tether strap is al-
lowed only on both third row seats plus
the center second row seat.
!Do not use the tether anchorages4 for
a top tether strap on a second row
seat.

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety

When using the center second row seat
for a top tether strap, the left third row
seat should only be used for a child re-
straint system, since exiting the vehicle
may not be possible in an emergency
due to the routing of the top tether
strap.


When installing an infant or child re-
straint system with a top tether strap
on the left second row seat, the left
third row seat should not be occupied. Child seat anchors – “LATCH” type
This vehicle is provided with two “LATCH”
(LOWER Anchors and Tethers for CHil-
dren) type anchors (at each of the outer
rear seats and in the optional third row
seats) for installation of a “LATCH” seat
with matching mounting fittings.
1Anchors

Install a “LATCH” type child seat ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
!An infant and child restraint system
must not be installed on the right
second row seat while a passenger
rides in a third row seat. An infant and
child restraint system installed on the
right second row seat will prevent the
use of the easy-entry/exit feature
(page 95).
iWith a child seat installed in the left
rear seat, the seat belt for the center
seat occupied by a passenger must op-
erate freely. Guide seat belt between
its seat cushion mount and backrest
mount along outside of right side child
seat mount.
Non-“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.

95 Controls in detail
Seats
Easy entry/exit feature*
The easy entry/exit feature allows access
to the third row seats*. The right cargo
floor plate must be removed (
page 144).
Folding rear seat forward
1Lever

Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 35) and power seats
(page 37).

Move rear seat forward (
page 93).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 93).

Pull lever1 up and fold the rear seat
forward.
Resetting rear seat

Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Pull lock button1 (
page 93) up and
unfold backrest until it locks into place.

Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 93) is not visible in
the locked position.

Move the rear and front seats in de-
sired position.

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 36).
Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry/exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

96 Controls in detailSeatsThird row seats* Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop strip

Remove cargo floor plate
(page 144).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizontal
position to release tension of the belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop strip4 on
underside of seat.
5Backrest release
6Seat release

Fold seat down until it locks securely in
place.
The red marking on the seat release
should6 not be visible.

Store cargo floor plates inside the
backrest (
page 144).

Pull backrest release5 and unfold
backrest until it locks securely in place.

Install head restraint1 in backrest
(page 92).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.

143 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo area cover blind*
1Handle
2Holder
Closing blind
Pull blind on handle1 across the cargo
area.

Guide blind into holders2.Opening blind

Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle.
Removing blind
3Button
4Mounting sleeve

Roll the blind up.

Push mounting sleeve4 inward against
spring pressure until it engages.

Remove blind from mounts.Installing blind

Place left side of blind in left mount.

Position right side of blind over right
mount.

Push button3, releasing mounting
sleeve to slide into mount.
Warning!
G
Passenger use of third row seats with cargo
area cover blind installed is restricted.

144 Controls in detailLoadingCargo floor plates
Removing cargo floor plates
Lift cargo floor plate at rear edge (ar-
row).
Cargo floor plate unhinges automati-
cally.

Remove cargo floor plate by pulling it
rearwards.Storing cargo floor plates
1Hook and loop strip

Fold the left cargo floor plate together.

Open the hook and loop strip at the
bottom of backrest of the third row
seats* and insert cargo floor plate.

Close the hook and loop strip. Installing cargo floor plates
1Opening
2Pins
3Attachment opening
4Latch

Grip into opening1 and guide pins2
into attachment opening3.
The center pin must snap into place in
latch4.
iBefore you can remove the cargo floor
plates, it is possible that the third row
seats* (
page 96) must be removed.