2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 seats

92 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infant and child restraint systems
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
All lap-shoulder belts except the driver’s
seat belt have special seat belt retractors
for secure fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child
restraint instructions for mounting. Then
pull the shoulder belt out completely and
let it retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down
on child restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. To deacti-
vate the special seat belt retractor for the
front passenger seat, the front passenger
seat must be in the most backward posi-
tion. The seat belt can again be used in the
usual manner.The use of infant or child restraints is re-
quired by law in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, the U.S. territories and all
Canadian provinces.Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system’s
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and the child could be burned on these
parts.
If children open a door, they could

injure other persons

get out of the car and injure themselves
or be injured by following traffic
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger or cargo compartment unless
they are firmly secured in place. For more in-
formation, see “Loading” (
page 295) and
“Useful features” (
page 315).
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the event
of

strong braking maneuvers

sudden changes of direction

an accident
Warning!G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.
iFor information on child seats with mounting
fittings for tether anchorages, see “Installation
of infant and child restraint system”
(
page 96).
For information on LATCH-type child seat
mounts, see “Child seat anchors – LATCH type”
(
page 95).

164.boo Seite 92 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

93 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Infants and small children should be
seated in an appropriate infant or child
restraint system properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions for the child restraint, that
complies with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards 213 and 225 and
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2.
A statement by the child restraint manu-
facturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the instruction
manual provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint
system, make sure to carefully read and
follow all manufacturer’s instructions for
installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to the inside of the vehicle and to
infant or child restraints.
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats
whenever possible. Regardless of seating
position, children 12 years old and under
must be seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or child restraint
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle’s seat belt, the seat
belt and top tether strap, or lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer’s
instructions.
Always sit as upright as possible, properly
use the seat belts and use an appropriately
sized infant restraint, toddler restraint, or
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following im-
portant information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the front
passenger seat:

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the front
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the OCS senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard
appropriate child restraint on the front
passenger seat.

164.boo Seite 93 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

95 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Child seat anchors – LATCH type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH
(L
ower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
type anchors (at each of the outer rear
seats) for the installation of a LATCH child
seat with matching mounting fittings.
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck. A booster seat may be
necessary to achieve proper belt positioning
for children from 41 lb until they reach a
height where a lap/shoulder belt fits
properly without a booster.
When the child restraint is not in use,
remove it from the vehicle or secure it with
the seat belt to prevent the child restraint
from becoming a projectile in the event of an
accident.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.
A child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
Warning!G
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts. Posi-
tion shoulder belt across chest and shoul-
der, not face or neck.
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children over
41 lb until they reach a height where a
lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install child seat according to manufactu-
rer’s instructions.
The child seat must be firmly attached to the
right and left side anchors2 (
page 96).
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be re-
placed.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.
164.boo Seite 95 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

96 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The LATCH anchors are blended with
covers.
Example, second-row seats
1Anchorage ring covers
Remove anchorage ring cover1 from
the seat on which a child seat is to be
installed.
Example, second-row seats
2Anchors
Install a LATCH type child seat accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instructions.Installation of infant and child restraint
system
This vehicle is equipped with tether
anchorages for a top tether strap at the
second-row seat backrest. For installing an
infant and child restraint system at the
third-row seats, use the cargo tie-down
rings in the cargo compartment
(
page 303).
1Anchorage ring cover
Remove anchorage ring cover1 from
seat backrest of the seat on which a
child seat is to be installed.
!Make sure the seat belt for the center seat
can operate freely with a child seat installed.
iOnly the rear outer seats can be used for in-
stalling a LATCH type child seat.
For installing a Non-LATCH type child seat use
the vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child seat
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
164.boo Seite 96 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

98 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Lower the head restraint if necessary
(
page 135).
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.The override switch is located on the
driver’s door control panel.
1Override switch
For more information on power windows,
see “Power windows” (
page 246).
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. A child’s unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.

164.boo Seite 98 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

111 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function*
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Transfer case
Differential locks*
Good visibility
Climate control
3-zone automatic climate control*
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features
164.boo Seite 111 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

122 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Pull tailgate upwards to open.Opening the tailgate from the inside
You can unlock the tailgate from the
third-row seats and then open it manually.
The handle is located on the right of the
tailgate’s window trim.
1Handle
2Push
3Lift
Push handle1 in direction of
arrow2 and hold it there.
Lift handle1 in direction of arrow3.
The tailgate is released and can be
opened manually.
iVehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked (
page 40).iIf you do not open the tailgate within a few
seconds, the tailgate lock will automatically
engage again. Additionally, the tailgate will
relock automatically, if the vehicle was locked
when the tailgate was released from the inside.
If the tailgate lock does not engage automatically
and, if applicable, the tailgate does not relock
after a few seconds, you have to close the tail-
gate manually (
page 123).
164.boo Seite 122 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12

130 Controls in detail
Seats
For information on seat adjustment, see
the “Getting started” section (
page 45).
For more information on seats, see “Load-
ing” (
page 295).
Easy-entry/exit feature for third-row
seats
This feature allows for easier access to and
exit from the vehicle’s third-row seats.Easy-entry feature for third-row seats
The lever for the easy-entry feature is lo-
cated on the rear of the seat base of the
passenger side second-row seat.
1Easy-entry lever
Pull and hold easy-entry lever1 in di-
rection of arrow at resistance point.
The seat backrest folds forward.1Easy-entry lever
Pull and hold easy-entry lever1 once
again in direction of arrow at resistance
point.
Lift up the right second-row seat until it
folds forward.
You should now have sufficient space
to access the vehicle’s third-row seat.
Warning!G
To help avoid personal injury, the
second-row seat backrests must be properly
locked either in the upright position or,
when using the expanded cargo compart-
ment, in the fully folded position while the
vehicle is in motion.
!Make sure that the head restraint is pushed
all the way down (
page 135).
iVehicles with memory function*:
The front passenger seat moved slightly forward.
164.boo Seite 130 Freitag, 30. März 2007 12:54 12