2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 down

303 Controls in detail
Loading
Attach add-on roof equipment to the
basic cross bars.
Place cover stripc flush against the
add-on roof equipment, and mark the
end of basic cross bar on cover strip.
Cut off cover stripc at marked loca-
tion.
Press cover stripc piece by piece into
groove of the basic cross bar.
Loading instructions
Load distribution
iCover strips are available as Mercedes-Benz
accessories. Contact your Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
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 tie
down rings, and if so equipped, always use
the cargo net* when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

304 Controls in detail
Loading
The gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard located on the
driver’s door B-pillar (
page 550). In addi-
tion, the load must be distributed in such a
way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle. The
GVWR and GAWR for your vehicle are indi-
cated on the certification label which can
be found on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
page 550).
For more information, see “Tire and Load-
ing Information” (
page 389).
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.
Cargo tie-down rings
Your vehicle is equipped with eight cargo
tie-down rings.
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 preferred
place to carry objects. The expanded cargo com-
partment (
page 306) should only be used for
items which do not fit in the cargo compartment
alone.
iWhile the cargo net* (page 313) will help
protect you from smaller objects, it cannot pre-
vent the movement of large, heavier objects into
the passenger compartment in an accident, dur-
ing hard braking or sudden maneuvers. Such
items must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compartment floor.

305 Controls in detail
Loading
Cargo compartment
Four cargo tie-down rings are located in
the cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ringSecond seat-row
Two cargo tie-down rings are located in the
footwell behind the driver’s and passenger
seat.
1Cargo tie-down ringThird seat-row
Two cargo tie-down rings are located be-
hind the third-row seat backrest.
For information on how to fold the
third-row seats, see “Expanding cargo
compartment” (
page 306).
1Cargo tie-down ring
The maximum permissible weight per
cargo tie-down ring is 331 lb (150 kg).

306 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
Two hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, one on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9 lb (4 kg).Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the
cargo net* (
page 313) when transporting
cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(
page 304).
Warning!G
Never drive the vehicle with the tailgate
open. Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases
may enter vehicle interior resulting in un-
consciousness and death.
!When the second-row seats are folded for-
ward, the front seats may not be moved to the
rearmost position. Otherwise you could damage
the front and second-row seats.

307 Controls in detail
Loading
Expanding cargo compartment in part
Folding third-row seats, electrically
There are several ways to fold the third-row
seats.Two buttons are located on the right side
trim of the third-row seats.
Example, button for the left third-row seat
1Button for returning third-row seats to
upright position
2Button for folding the third-row seatsTwo buttons are located on the
passenger-side in the cargo compartment
Example, button for the right third-row seat
1Button for returning third-row seats to
upright position
2Button for folding the third-row seats
Push in the head restraints of the
third-row seats all the way
(
page 137).
Remove cargo compartment cover
blind (
page 312).
iUse the left button, indicated byL, to fold
down the left third-row seat.
Use the right button, indicated byR, to fold down
the right third-row seat.
iIt is only possible to fold the third-row seats
down when the rear right door is open.iIt is only possible to fold the third-row seats
down when the tailgate is open.


309 Controls in detail
Loading
1Strap
2Seat cushion
Pull strap1 in direction of arrow.
Fold seat cushion2 forward.3Lever
Pull and hold lever3 in direction of
arrow at resistance point.
The seat backrest folds down.
Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.

310 Controls in detail
Loading
Folding third-row seats, electrically
There are several ways to fold the third-row
seats.
Two buttons are located on the right side
trim of the third-row seats.
Example, button for the left third-row seat
1Button for returning third-row seats to
upright position
2Button for folding the third-row seatsTwo buttons are located on the
passenger-side in the cargo compartment
Example, button for the right third-row seat
1Button for returning third-row seats to
upright position
2Button for folding the third-row seats
Push in the head restraints of the
third-row seats all the way
(
page 137).
Remove cargo compartment cover
blind (
page 312).
Press and hold button2 for each side
until the third-row seats are fully fold-
ed.
The cargo compartment is fully extend-
ed.
If a third-row seat is not engaged properly,
for example, the message
3rd row of
seats, right not locked
appears in the
multifunction display (
page 157).
Press and hold button2 again, until
the message disappears.
iUse the left button, indicated byL, to fold
down the left third-row seat.
Use the right button, indicated byR, to fold down
the right third-row seat.
iIt is only possible to fold the third-row seats
down when the rear right door is open.
iIt is only possible to fold the third-row seats
down when the tailgate is open.

313 Controls in detail
Loading
Pull blind2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
cover audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
Installing blind
Cover from the mounts behind second-row
seats
3Cover
Press on cover3 at its upper edge as
indicated by arrow.
Remove cover3 by pulling its lower
edge out of the side trim.
Place left side of blind2 (page 312)
in left mount.
Position right side of blind2 over right
mount.
Press release button1 (page 312)
and guide cover2 into mount.
Make sure the cargo compartment
cover blind is securely fastened.
Cargo net*
iBefore installing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the second-row seats, fold the
third-row seats forward (
page 307).
iBefore installing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the third-row seats, fold the left or
right third-row seat forward (
page 307). After-
wards, return the left or right third-row seat into
its original position.
iTo avoid loss of the mount covers, insert the
mount covers into the mounts currently not in
use.
Warning!G
Make sure the cargo net is properly engaged
top and bottom position and the tightening
belts are securely fastened.
Never use a damaged cargo net.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or sud-
den maneuver, always use cargo net when
transporting cargo.
The cargo net cannot prevent the movement
of large, heavier objects into the passenger
compartment in an accident. Such items
must be properly secured using the cargo
tie-down rings (
page 304) in the cargo
compartment floor.
Passenger use of seats behind installed
cargo net is restricted because of the
footwell being taken up by the net.