2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320CDI fold seats

44 Getting startedAdjustingSeat adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1 Head restraint height (vehicles with
memory function)*
2Seat cushion tilt
3Seat height
4Backrest tilt
5Seat fore and aft adjustment

Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
or
Vehicles with memory function*:

Open the respective door.
The seat can be adjusted with the
respective door opened.
orVehicles without memory function*:

The seat can be adjusted within
3 minutes after either front door has
been opened.
Seat fore and aft adjustment

Press the switch forward or backward
in direction of arrow5.
Adjust the seat to a comfortable seat-
ing position that still allows you to
reach the accelerator/brake pedal
safely. The position should be as far to
the rear as possible, consistent with
ability to properly operate controls.
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in
direction of arrow3.
!
When moving the seat, make sure there are
no items in the footwell or behind the seat.
Otherwise you could damage the seat.
!
When the rear seats are folded forward, e.g.
for cargo compartment expansion (
page 284),
the front seats may not be moved to the rear-
most position. Otherwise you could damage the
front and rear seats.
!
When adjusting the seat backrest tilt and
head restraint height, make sure the sun visor is
folded up (
page 203). If the head restraint is in
the uppermost position, it could hit and damage
the sun visor.
i
The memory function* (
page 134) lets
you store the settings for the seat positions
together with the settings for the steering wheel
column and the exterior rear view mirrors.

93 Safety and Security
Occupant safety

Securely fasten hook2, which is part
of the tether strap, to anchorage
ring1.
Make sure

the top tether strap is not twisted


the head restraint is installed and
positioned such that the top tether
strap can pass freely between the
head restraint and top of seat back-
rest


top tether strap is positioned be-
tween the seat backrest and the
cargo compartment cover blind (if
installed)


the top tether strap is positioned
between the seat backrest and the
partition net* (if installed)

Lower the head restraint if necessary
(page 129).
Make sure the top tether strap can
pass freely between the head restraint
and top of seat backrest.

Install the child restraint system and
tighten the top tether strap according
to the child restraint manufacturer’s in-
structions.
Blocking of rear door window operation
With the override switch you can disable
the rear side window switches in the rear
door panels.
Warning!
G
After installing top tether straps, make sure
that 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 backrest is not
properly locked, the seat backrest could
fold. The child seat would no longer be prop-
erly supported or positioned to provide its
intended benefit.
Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children could otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you, and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

284 Controls in detailLoadingHooks
Four hooks are located on the rear com-
partment trim panels, two on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items
only. The maximum permissible weight per
hook is 9 lbs (4 kg).
Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Folding the rear seat backrest forwardWarning!
G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the partition
net* (
page 287) 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 283).
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.!
Always release the seat cushion and fold it
up before folding the seat backrest forward. The
covering on the seat backrest may otherwise be
damaged.
When the seat backrest are folded forward, the
front seats may not be moved to the rearmost
position. Otherwise you could damage the front
and second-row seats.

286 Controls in detailLoadingReturning the rear seat backrest to
original position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator5 (
page 285)
should no longer be visible.

Fold seat cushion2 rearward until it
locks into position.

Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.
Cargo compartment cover blind
The cargo compartment cover blind can be
installed behind the rear seats.1Handle
2Mount
Rolling out blind

Pull blind on handle1 across the car-
go compartment.

Guide blind into mounts2 and re-
lease.
Rolling up blind

Disengage blind and guide retraction
by its handle1.
Warning!
G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when the rear seats are occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.!
With the cargo compartment cover blind in-
stalled, do not pile luggage higher than the lower
edges of the rear side windows.

287 Controls in detail
Loading
Removing blind
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up (
page 286).

Push release button1.

Pull blind2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
cover audibly engages.

Remove the blind.
Installing blind

Place left side of blind2 in left mount.

Position right side of blind2 over right
mount.

Press release button1 and guide
cover2 into mount.

Make sure the cargo compartment
cover blind is securely fastened.
Partition net*
i
Before removing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the rear seats, fold the left or right
rear seat forward. Afterwards, return the left or
right rear seat into its original position.
i
Before installing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the front seats, fold the rear seats
forward.
Warning!
G
Make sure the partition net is properly en-
gaged at top and bottom position and the
tightening belts are securely fastened.
Never use a damaged partition 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 partition net
when transporting cargo.
The partition net cannot prevent the move-
ment of large, heavier objects into the pas-
senger compartment in an accident. Such
items must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings (
page 283) in the
cargo compartment floor.
Passenger use of seats behind installed par-
tition net is restricted because of the foot-
well being taken up by the net.

288 Controls in detailLoadingUse 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. For your
safety, always use the partition net when
transporting cargo.
The partition net can be installed in two
locations:
1Holder in B-pillar
2Holder in C-pillar


Without the cargo compartment ex-
panded (
page 284), use holders
above C-pillars2 and the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compart-
ment (
page 283).


With the cargo compartment expanded
(page 284), use holders above
B-pillars1 and the cargo tie-down
rings behind the front seats
(page 283).

Open the zipper on the partition net
package.

Roll out the partition net.

Unfold the partition net.
The partition net bars must audibly
engage.Installing the partition net
Partition net bar hung up behind the C-pillar1Holder
2Partition net bar
Hang partition net bar2 on holder1
as indicated by the arrow.

Push partition net bar2 forward into
holder1 in direction of arrow.

289 Controls in detail
Loading
Pulling the partition net tightBelt hook attached behind the front seats1Belt hook
2Cargo tie-down ring
3Tightening belt
Hook belt hook1 into cargo tie-down
ring2 in direction of arrow.

Pull tightening belt3 by the loose end
in direction of arrow until the partition
net is pulled tight.

After driving a short distance, make
sure the partition net is still tight and, if
necessary, pull it tight again.Loosening the partition net
Belt hook attached behind the front seats1Buckle
2Belt hook
3Cargo tie-down ring
Loosen the tightening belt by pulling
buckle1 upward in direction of arrow.

Remove belt hook2 from cargo
tie-down ring3.Removing and storing the partition net

Take partition net bar2 out of
holder1, see “Installing the partition
net” (
page 288).

Press the red button on the upper and
lower partition net bar.

Fold the partition net.

Roll up the partition net.

Close the zipper on the partition net
package.

292 Controls in detailLoading
Place load between the cargo net and
the side wall of the cargo compart-
ment.

Press locking button3 on belt
reel1. With the other hand, slowly
pull net over load until it is taut.
Telescoping rod
1Telescoping rod
2Mounting element

Insert one mounting element2 into
each cargo rail.

Turn mounting element2 in cargo rail
toN.

Insert telescoping rod1 into mount-
ing element2.

Turn mounting element2 in cargo rail
until it engages in the‹ position.
You should be able to feel the mounting
element engage in the cargo rail.Removing rear seat cushions
If your vehicle is equipped with the cargo
management system* you can remove the
rear seat cushions.
Removing the rear seat cushions will pro-
vide you with a larger cargo compartment.

Fold the seat cushions forward
(page 285).
1Release lever

Pull seat cushion release lever1 and
remove the seat cushion by pulling it
upward.

Remove the head restraints
(page 129).
i
The telescoping rod can be used to tighten
the load against the rear seats so as to secure it
from slipping.