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Loading and stowing
182 Loading guidelines
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of th e
load within the vehicle. You should therefore
load your vehicle as shown in the illustrations. Distribution of the load within the vehicle: Saloon
Distribution of the load within the vehicle: Estate Observe the following notes when transport
-
ing a load:
R When transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R Position heavy loads as far forwards and as
low in the boot or luggage compartment as
possible.
R The load must not protrude above the
upper edge of the backrests.
R Always place the load against the front or
rear seat backrests.
R Always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R Secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant load restraints. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. Securing a load
Lashing eyelets G
Risk of injury
Distribute the load on the lashing eyelets
evenly .
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if
you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R have an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines.
Observe the following points or guidelines
when securing loads:
R Secure the load using the lashing eyelets.
R Do not use elastic straps or nets to secur e
a load as these are only intended as an anti-
slip protection for light loads.
R If you are using tensioning straps, only use
straps with a minimum permissible tensile
strength of 600 daN and a percentage elon-
gation of approximately 7%.
R Do not route lashing materials across sharp
edges or corners . Cont
rols
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Loading and stowing
183
R
Pad sharp edges for protection.
R Load the anchorages evenly .
R Use all the lashing eyelets if possible.
R Do not overload the lashing eyelets if yo u
are using tensioning devices .
R Please read and observe the operating
instructions for the lashing material used.
There are four lashing eyelets in the boot or
luggage compartment. Saloon
1
Lashing eyelets Estate, vehicle without EASY-PACK load-securing
kit*
1
Lashing eyelets Estate, vehicle with EASY-PACK load-securing
kit*
1 Lashing eyelets
2 Mounting elements
3 Lashing eyelets
X Saloon, Estate with EASY-PACK load-
securing kit*: secure the load to lashing
eyelets 1.
X Estate with EASY-PACK load-securin g
kit*: insert mounting elements 2and
slide to the desired positio n
( Y page 191).
X Secure the load to lashing eyelets 1,3 . Cont
rols
* optional
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Loading and stowing
184 Stowage well under the boot floor
(Saloon)
TIREFIT, the vehicle tool kit, etc. are locate d
in the stowage well. 1
Handl e
X To open: pull handle 1upwards. 1
Handl e
2 Rain trough
X Hook handle 1into rain trough 2.
! Unhook the handle before closing the
boot, as you could otherwise damage the
handle. Stowage well under the luggage com-
partment floor (Estate)
G
Risk of injury
Do not carry heavy or hard objects under
the luggage compartment floor if it is ope n
and the objects are not secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured by objects bein g
thrown around the vehicle in the event of
sharp braking, a sudden change in directio n
or an accident .
A removable insert under the luggage com-
partment floor contains the parts of the EASY-
PACK load-securing kit* and a folding box.
TIREFIT, the vehicle tool kit, etc. are stored
beneath this insert. Controls
* optional
204_AKB; 2; 3, en-G
B
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Loading and stowing
1851
Handl e
2 To press the handle down
X To open: open the tailgate .
X Holding the ribbing, press handle 1down-
wards 2.
Handle 1folds upwards .
X Swing the luggage compartment floor
upwards using handle 1until it rests
against the luggage compartment cover .
X To close: fold the luggage compartment
floor down.
X Press the luggage compartment floor down
until it engages. Bag hook
G
Risk of injury
Only hang light loads on the bag holders.
Do not use them to transport heavy, sharp-
edged or fragile objects. When braking
sharply, changing direction quickly or in the
event of an accident, the bag hooks will not
secure the items sufficiently, which can
result in injury to yourself or others.
! The bag hook can bear a maximum load
of 5 kg. Do not use it to secure a load .
Saloon There is a bag hook on each side of the boot.
1
Bag hoo k Estat
e 1
Bag hoo k
X To open: press bag hook 1(arrow).
Bag hook 1slides out.
X To close: press bag hook 1until it
engages . Cont
rols
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Loading and stowing
186 Coat hooks on the tailgate
G
Risk of injury
The tailgate may close if too great a load is
placed on the coat hooks.
This could cause you or others to be trap -
ped and injured.
If you use the coat hooks, only hang light
clothing on them. Make sure that nobody
can become trapped. 1
Coat hooks Through-loading feature in the rea
r
bench seat* (Saloon)
The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr -
ests can be folded down to increase the boot
capacity. G
Risk of injury
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside
the vehicle or in the boot unless they are
secured .
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured by objects being
thrown around the vehicle in the event of
sharp braking, a sudden change in direction
or an accident. G
Risk of poisoning
Always drive with the boot lid closed .
Exhaust fumes could otherwise enter the
vehicle interior. Folding the rear seat backrest forwards The release handles are at the top of the boot
on the left- and right-hand sides. 1
Rear seat backrest release handle
X Open the boot/luggage compartment.
X Pull right-hand or left-hand release handle
1 on the rear seat backrest .
The corresponding rear seat backrest is
unlocked.
X Fully insert the rear seat backrest hea d
restraints .
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forward .Cont
rols
* optional
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Loading and stowing
1872
Rear seat backrest
X Fold rear seat backrest 2forward.
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat back. Folding the rear seat backrest back 1
Rear seat backrest
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forward .
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped.
X Swing rear seat backrest 1back until it
engages. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is
correctly engaged in position. Otherwise,
vehicle occupants could be injured by
objects being thrown around if you: R
brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R have an accident
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged, the
appropriate display will be shown in the
instrument cluster.
i You should always engage the rear seat
backrests if you do not need the through-
loading feature. This will prevent access to
the boot from the vehicle interior .
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary .
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat back. Enlarging the luggage compartment
(Estate)
The left and right sides of the rear seat back-
rest can be folded down to increase the lug-
gage compartment capacity.
If the combined luggage cover and net is fit-
ted with the luggage compartment cover and
safety net, you can only fold the right rear seat
backrest forwards individually, or both backr-
ests together if you first fold the right rear
seat backrest forwards. Controls
204_AKB; 2; 3, en-GB
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Loading and stowing
188 G
Risk of injury
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside
the vehicle or in the luggage compartment
unless they are secured .
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occu-
pants could be injured by objects being
thrown around the vehicle in the event of
sharp braking, a sudden change in direction
or an accident.
When using the extended luggage compart-
ment always clip in the safety net. G
Risk of poisoning
Always drive with the tailgate closed .
Exhaust fumes could otherwise enter the
vehicle interior. Folding the rear seat backrest forwards 1
Rear seat backrest
2 Release lever for the rear seat backrest
X Fully insert the rear seat backrest hea d
restraints .
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forward .
X Pull left-hand or right-hand release catch
2 of the rear seat backrest forwards.
The corresponding rear seat backrest 1is
unlocked.
X Fold rear seat backrest 1forwards.
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat back. Folding the rear seat backrest back
1
Rear seat backrest
2 Lock verification indicator
3 Release lever for the rear seat backrest
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forward .
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped.
X Swing rear seat backrest 1back until it
engages.
Red lock verification indicator 2is no lon-
ger visible. Controls
204_AKB; 2; 3, en-GB
mkalafa,
2007-06-26T23:11:51+02:00 - Seite 188G
Risk of injur y When transporting objec
tsinthe luggage
compartment, the combine dluggage co-
ver and net mus tbe attached to the rea r
seat backres t.
Page 192 of 377

Loading and stowing
189G
Risk of injury
Make sure that the backrest is correctly
locked in position. The red lock verification
indicators on the left and right sides shoul d
no longer be visible. If they are visible, the
backrests are not locked in position.
Occupants could then be injured in the
event of an accident, e.g. by objects being
thrown forwards out of the luggage com-
partment.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary .
X If necessary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat back. Luggage compartment cover and
safety net (Estate)
The luggage compartment cover and the
safety net are attached to the rear bench seat
backrest as a combined luggage cover and
net. Safety net G
Risk of injury
The safety net cannot secure heavy loads.
You should therefore always lash down the
load .
You could otherwise be injured by object s
which have not been sufficiently secured
being thrown around in the event of shar p
braking, a sudden change of direction or an
accident. G
Risk of injury
In the event of sharp braking, a sudden
change of direction, or an accident, light
loads can be thrown about.
This could result in injury to yourself or oth-
ers .
Therefore, if you are transporting light
loads, use the safety net. Safety net without luggage compartment
enlargement 1
Tab
2 Retainers
X Pull the safety net up by tab 1and hook it
into retainers 2. Cont
rols
204_AKB; 2; 3, en-GB
mkalafa,
2007-06-26T23:11:51+02:00 - Seite 189 G
Risk of injur y When transporting objec
tsinthe luggage
compartment, the combine dluggage co-
ver and net mus tbe attached to the rea r
seat backres t.