2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Owner's Manual

136 Controls in detail
Seats
Rear seat adjustment
Seat backrest tilt (second-row seats)The seat backrest tilt can be set to five
different positions.
The handles for adjusting the seats are
located on the rear of each seat base.
1Adjustment handle
While seated, pull handle1 in direc-
tion of arrow to resistance point and
hold it there.
To move seat backrest back, lean light-
ly against backrest.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat
belts provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and
belts are properly positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you can
correctly fasten your seat belt (
page 54).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
After adjusting rear seats, make sure

the seats are properly locked

the seat backrests are in an upright po-
sition and are properly locked
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the seat backrests. If a seat and
seat backrest are not properly locked, the
seat could move forward and the seat back-
rest could fold. The child seat would no long-
er be properly supported or positioned to
provide its intended benefit.
Warning!G
The seat belt only offers its intended protec-
tion when the seat backrest is in a nearly
vertical position and the occupant is sitting
upright. Avoid sitting in positions that pre-
vent the seat belt from being properly posi-
tioned against the body (
page 54). You
should therefore adjust the backrest to a po-
sition as upright as possible.

137 Controls in detail
Seats
To move seat backrest forward, lean
forward with handle1 pulled and held
at resistance point.
The seat backrest will move forward
against your back.
Release handle1 whe n the s ea t ba c k-
rest has reached the desired position.
To make sure the seat backrest has en-
gaged, lean firmly against the backrest.
Head restraint height
Second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release buttonRaising:
Manually adjust the height of head
restraint1 by pulling it upward to the
desired position.
Lowering:
To lower head restraint1, push
release button2 and press down on
head restraint1.
Warning!G
With a rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant 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
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.
iThe third-row seat head restraints are ad-
justed in the same manner.

138 Controls in detail
Seats
Head restraint fore and aft adjustment
The angle of the head restraint for the out-
er second-row seats or the third-row seats
can be adjusted manually.
While seated, reach behind you with
both hands and find lower edge of the
head restraint.
Adjust the head restraint to the desired
position by pushing or pulling on the
lower edge of the head restraint cush-
ion.Head restraints
Second-row seat head restraint
1Head restraint
2Release button
Removing
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 136).
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 307).
Pull head restraint1 to its uppermost
position.
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 rear seat occupied, make sure to
move the respective head restraint up from
the lowest non-use position and have the oc-
cupant 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
center of the head restraint supports the
back of the head at eye level. This will re-
duce the potential for injury to the head and
neck in the event of an accident or similar
situation.

139 Controls in detail
Seats
Push release button2 and pull out
head restraint.
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward until it
engages.
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward
(
page 307).
Installing
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 136).
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 307).
Insert head restraint1 into openings
on the seat backrest.
Push head restraint1 down until it au-
dibly engages.
Push release button2 and adjust
head restraint1 to the desired posi-
tion (
page 137).
Second-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward until it
engages.
Third-row seat:
Fold the seat backrest rearward
(
page 307).
For more information on seats, see the
“Getting started” section (
page 45).
Lumbar support
The curvature of the driver’s seat can be
adjusted to help enhance lower back sup-
port and seating comfort.
The lever for lumbar support adjustment is
located on the right hand side of the
driver’s seat backrest.1Adjustment lever
Move adjustment lever1 in direction
of arrows until you have reached a
comfortable seating position.

140 Controls in detail
Seats
Multicontour seat*
The multicontour seat has an extendable
seat cushion and inflatable air chambers
built into the backrest to provide additional
lumbar and side support.
The seat cushion depth, seat backrest
cushion-height and curvature can be con-
tinuously varied with switches on the in-
side of each front seat base after the
ignition is switched on (
page 41).
1Seat cushion depth
2Backrest side bolsters
3Backrest center
4Backrest bottom
Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Seat cushion depth
Adjust the seat cushion depth to the
length of your upper leg with
switch1.
Backrest contour
Adjust the contour of the seat backrest
to the desired position with
switchæ orç.
Move the backrest support to the bot-
tom with button4 or to the center
with button3.
Backrest side bolsters
Adjust the side bolsters so that they
provide good lateral support using
switch2.
Seat heating*
The switches for front-seat heating are lo-
cated in the center console.
1Seat heating switch, front seats
2Indicator lamps

141 Controls in detail
Seats
The switches for second-row seat heating*
are located in the rear center console.
1Seat heating switch*, second-row
seats
2Indicator lampsThe red indicator lamps in the switch come
on to show which heating level you have
selected.Switch on the ignition (page 42).
Switching on
Press switch1.
Three red indicator lamps2 in the
switch come on.
Continue pressing switch1 until
desired seat heating level is reached.
Switching off
Press switch1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 2 after approx-
imately 5 minutes.
2Two indicator lamps on
The seat heating automatically
switches to level 1 after approx-
imately 10 minutes.
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
The seat heating automatically
switches off after approximately
20 minutes.
offNo indicator lamp on
iIf one or more of the indicator lamps2 on
seat heating switch1 (
page 140) are flash-
ing, there is insufficient voltage available since
too many electrical consumers are switched on.
The seat heating switches off automatically.
The seat heating will switch back on again
automatically as soon as sufficient voltage is
available.

142 Controls in detail
Seats
Seat ventilation*
The switches for the seat ventilation are
located in the center console.
1Seat ventilation switch, front seats
2Indicator lampsThe blue indicator lamps in the switch
come on to show which ventilation level
you have selected.
Switch on the ignition (page 42).Switching on
Press button1 repeatedly until the
desired ventilation level is set.
Switching off
Press button1 repeatedly until all
indicator lamps2 go out.
Level
3Three indicator lamps on
(highest level)
2Two indicator lamps on
1One indicator lamp on
(lowest level)
offNo indicator lamp on
iThe seat ventilation for the driver’s seat is
automatically set to the highest level if activated
via summer opening feature (
page 251).

143 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
Prior to operating the vehicle, the driver
should check and adjust the seat height,
seat position fore and aft, and seat back-
rest angle if necessary, to ensure adequate
control, reach and comfort. The head
restraint should also be adjusted for
proper height. See also the section on
air bags (
page 76) for proper seat posi-
tioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, operation
and comfort. Both the interior and exterior
rear view mirrors should be adjusted for
adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small chil-
dren should be seated in a properly se-
cured restraint system that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards 213 and 225 and Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 210.2.With the memory function you can store up
to three different configurations.
Each stored position on the driver’s side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting

Steering wheel position

Exterior rear view mirrors’ positionEach stored position on the passenger side
includes the following settings:

Seat position

Multicontour seat*: previously saved
setting
Warning!G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.