2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 seats

99 Controls in detail
Seats
Switching off seat heating
Press upper switch position1 again.
The indicator lamp on the switch turns
off.
Switching on rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn on.Switching off rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2 again.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn off.
Rear seats
iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one red indicator lamp
remains on.
!If one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the rear seats while driving.
When using the rear seats, always make
sure the seats are folded up and in the
locked position, and the seat belts are prop-
erly positioned on the body. Your seat must
be adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.

100 Controls in detailSeatsThe rear seats are divided asymmetrically.
To enlarge the cargo compartment you can
adjust the left and right part separately.
The following changes are possible:

moving the seat fore and aft


folding down the backrest


lowering the seat
Adjusting rear seat fore and aft
1Release lever

Pull release lever1 in direction of
arrow.

Slide seat to the desired position until
it locks in place.
Folding down the backrest
1Lock button

Close cup holder (
page 170) and
ashtray (
page 172) in rear center
console (page 170).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Slide seat forward.

Remove head restraint(s) (
page 95).

Pull lock button1 up and fold back-
rest forward until it locks in place.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.
Folding up the backrest

Close cup holder (
page 170) and
ashtray (
page 172) in rear center
console.

Pull lock button1 up and unfold back-
rest until it locks in place.
Make sure the seat belt is not caught in
the seat.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.

101 Controls in detailSeats
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.

Install head restraint (
page 96).

Slide seat rearward to desired position
(page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 36) or power
seats (
page 38).
Lowering the rear seat
1Release button
2Lever
3Release lever

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 170).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Press and hold release button1 to un-
lock lever2.

Pull lever2 in direction of arrow.

Pull release lever3 and push down
rear seat until it locks in place.

Fold down the backrest (
page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 36) or power
seats (
page 38).Folding up the rear seat

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 36) or power seat (
page 38).

Pull release lever3 and raise rear seat
until it locks in place.
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 165).
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry / exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

102 Controls in detailSeatsFolding rear seat forward
1Lever
Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 36) or power seats
(page 38).

Move rear seat forward (
page 100).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 100).

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 100) up
and unfold backrest until it locks into
place.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 100) is not visible in
the locked position.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.

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

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 37).
Third row seats*Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the center of
the head restraint supports the back of the
head at eye level. This will reduce the poten-
tial for injury to the head and neck in the
event of an accident or similar situation.
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.

103 Controls in detailSeats
Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop fastener strip
Remove cargo floor plate
(page 165).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

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

Attach belt at hook and loop fastener
strip4 (
page 103) on underside of
seat.
5Backrest release
6Seat release

Fold seat down until it locks securely in
place.
The red marking on the seat release6
should not be visible.

Store cargo floor plates inside the
backrest (
page 165).

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

Install head restraint1 in backrest
(page 103).
Storing single seat

Remove head restraint from backrest
(page 103).

Pull backrest release5 and fold back-
rest forward until it locks securely in
place.

Remove cargo floor plates from the
backrest.

Pull seat release6 (
page 103) and
fold seat up.


104 Controls in detailSeats
Disengage belt and engage hook2
(page 103) in ceiling mount.

Pull on free end of belt until tight.

Install head restraint in openings
provided in seat cushion.

Install cargo floor plates (
page 165).Removing single seat
1Hook
2Tensioner
3Hook and loop fastener strip
4Release lever

Lift tensioner2 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

Disengage hook1 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop fastener
strip3 on underside of seat.

Move release lever4 upward and re-
move seat.
Installing single seat

Place seat into the mounting clamps
and click the seat into place.
Warning!
G
After folding the seats up, manually place
the lap belt portion of the seat belt behind
the seat (arrow). Otherwise, the lap belt may
be subject to damage and could rip.


106 Controls in detailMemory function*Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seat (
page 38) and exteri-
or rear view mirrors (page 41) to the
desired position.

Push memory button2 (
page 105).

Release memory button and press one
of the position buttons1 within three
seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory

Press and hold one of the position
buttons1 until seat and rear view mir-
rors have fully moved to the stored po-
sitions.
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.
For information on activating the parking
position feature, see “Activating exterior
rear view mirror parking position”
(page 129).Storing parking position

Stop the vehicle.

Switch on ignition (
page 33).

Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button3 so that you see the rear
wheel and the road curb.

Press memory button2 (
page 105).

Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button3.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.
iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored
you can move the mirror again.
The selected position will be stored rel-
ative to the position button1
(page 105) pressed.

161 Controls in detail
Loading
For additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.Cargo tie-down rings
The cargo compartment is provided with
four tie-down rings. Additional two rings
are located 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.
iThe cargo compartment is the pre-
ferred place to carry objects. The en-
larged cargo compartment should only
be used for items which do not fit in the
cargo compartment alone.
iWhile the partition net* (
page 162)
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.