2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG Owner's Manual

137 Controls in detail
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Sliding/pop-up roof*
Opening and closing the sliding/pop-up roof
1raise roof at rear
2slide roof open
3lower roof at rear
4slide roof closed
With the roof closed or tilted open, a
screen can be slid into the roof opening to
guard against sun rays. When sliding the
roof open, the screen will also retract.
To operate the sliding/pop-up roof, turn
key to position1 or 2 (
page 33) in the
steering lock. Opening the roof

Press and hold the switch in
direction2.
The sliding/pop-up roof slides open un-
til the switch is released.Closing the roof

Press and hold the switch in
direction4.
The sliding/pop-up roof closes until the
switch is released.
Stopping the roof

Briefly press the switch in any direc-
tion.
The movement of the roof will stop.
Raising the roof

Press and hold the switch in
direction1.
The roof is raised at rear.
Lowering the roof

Pull and hold the switch in direction3.
The sliding/pop-up roof is lowered and
closed.
Warning!
G
When closing the sliding/pop-up roof, make
sure that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The closing procedure can be immediately
reversed by moving the switch in direction1
or2.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from steering lock and lock your vehicle.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.

138 Controls in detailSliding/pop-up roof*Opening the roof automatically
Briefly press the switch in direction2.
The roof will not open to the fully open
position.
To open the roof fully, press switch
again in direction2.Synchronizing the sliding / pop-up roof
The power sliding/pop-up roof must be re-
synchronized each time after the battery
has been disconnected, the slid-
ing/pop-up roof has been closed manually
or the sliding/pop-up roof does not open
smoothly or malfunctions (
page 246).
iTo interrupt procedure, briefly move
switch in any direction.
!To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the slid-
ing/pop-up roof.
The sliding/pop-up roof can be opened
or closed manually should an electrical
malfunction occur (
page 246).

139 Controls in detail
Loading
Loading
Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle oc-
cupants and luggage / cargo should not ex-
ceed the vehicle capacity weight indicated
on the certification label which can be
found on the left door pillar.
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.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.
For additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.
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 liftgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

140 Controls in detailLoadingCargo tie-down rings
The cargo area is provided with four
tie-down rings. Additional two rings are lo-
cated at the rear of front seats.Cargo tie-down ring
Carefully secure cargo by applying even
load on all rings with rope of sufficient
strength to hold down the cargo.Hooks
Four hooks located on the rear compart-
ment trim panels, two on each side.
HooksUse the hooks to secure light weight items.
The maximum permissible weight per hook
is 9lbs.(4kg).
iThe trunk is the preferred place to carry
objects. The enlarged cargo area
should only be used for items which do
not fit in the trunk alone.
iWhile the partition net (
page 141)
will help protect you from smaller ob-
jects, it cannot prevent the movement
of large, heavier objects into the pas-
senger area in an accident. Such items
must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings in the cargo area
floor.

141 Controls in detail
Loading
Partition net*Use of the partition net is a particularly im-
portant safety factor when the vehicle is
loaded higher than the top of the seat
backrests with smaller objects.
The partition net can be installed behind
the backrests of the front or rear seats.
Engaging partition net
1Holder
2Mounting hook

One after the other, press the two
mounting hooks2 inward against the
spring pressure and turn them.
The mounting hooks are locked in this
position and you can move the net into
position more easily.

Turn one of the mounting hooks2 in
the opposite direction.
The spring pressure will push it out.

Engage mounting hook2 in holder1.

Turn the other mounting hook and en-
gage it in the opposite holder.

Push both mounting hooks2 forward
into holder1.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied by pas-
sengers, or cargo is being carried behind the
seat bench.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects flying in the occupant area 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 area in an accident. Such items must
be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo area floor
(page 140).
Passenger use of seats behind installed par-
tition net is restricted because of the foot-
well being taken up by the net.

142 Controls in detailLoadingTightening partition netInstallation behind the front seats1Tie-down hook
2Ring
Installation behind the rear seats1Tie-down hook
2Ring
3Tensioner
Insert tie-down hook1 in rings2.

Pull on loose ends of tie-down straps
until net is tight.

After driving a short distance, check
the tension on the net and retighten if
necessary.Removing partition net

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizontal
position to release tensioning of the
strap.

Disengage tie-down hooks1 from
rings2.

Remove mounting hooks2
(page 141) from holder1
(page 141).

Roll up and close the partition net.

Store partition net behind rear seat
bench.
iBefore tightening the partition net, re-
move the cargo floor plates.

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.