2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Ac rest

269 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
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 9lb(4kg).Expanding cargo compartment
You can separately fold the left and right
rear seat backrests to expand the cargo
compartment.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward
Warning!G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fully fold the corresponding seats
and, if so equipped, always use the
cargo net* (
page 272) 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 268).
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.


270 Controls in detail
Loading
1Release loop
2Seat cushion
Pull release loop1.
Fold seat cushion2 forward.3Release handle
4Seat backrest
Make sure the rear seat head restraints
are in the lowermost position
(
page 127).
Pull release handle3.A red indicator5 will be visible and the
seat backrest4 is released.
5Indicator
Fold seat backrest4 forward.


271 Controls in detail
Loading
Returning the rear seat backrest to
original position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion
Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator5 (
page 270)
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.

272 Controls in detail
Loading
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.Removing blind
1Release button
2Blind
Roll the blind up (page 271).
Push release button1.
Pull blind2 to the left against the
spring pressure until the spring in the
cover audibly engages.
Remove the blind.
Cargo net*
iBefore installing cargo compartment cover
blind behind the front seats, fold the rear seats
forward.
iBefore 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.
Warning!G
Make sure the cargo net is properly engaged
at top and bottom position and the tighten-
ing 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 268) 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.

273 Controls in detail
Loading
Use of the cargo net is a particularly impor-
tant safety factor when the vehicle is load-
ed higher than the top of the seat
backrests with smaller objects. For your
safety, always use the cargo net when
transporting cargo.
The cargo net can be installed in two
locations:
1Holder in B-pillar
2Holder in C-pillar
Without the cargo compartment ex-
panded (
page 269), use holders
above C-pillars2 and the cargo
tie-down rings in the cargo compart-
ment (
page 268).

With the cargo compartment expanded
(
page 269), use holders above
B-pillars1 and the cargo tie-down
rings behind the front seats
(
page 268).
Open the hook and loop fasteners on
the cargo net package.
Roll out the cargo net.
Unfold the cargo net.
The cargo net bars must audibly
engage.Installing the cargo net
Cargo net bar hung up behind the C-pillar
1Holder
2Cargo net bar
Hang cargo net bar2 on holder1 as
indicated by the arrow.
Push cargo net bar2 forward into
holder1 in direction of arrow.

278 Controls in detail
Loading
Press the plug connection on the
checkered surface and pull plug2 for
the seat heating out of the seat cush-
ion.
Pull seat cushion release lever1 and
remove the seat cushion by pulling it
upward.
Remove the head restraints
(
page 128).
Fold the seat backrest forward
(
page 270).
!Vehicles with rear seat heating*:
Depending on vehicle production date your vehi-
cle may equipped with a plug connection for the
rear seat heating*. In this case, the electrical
contact on the bottom of the seat cushion must
be disconnected before removing the rear seat
cushions.
iWhen placing the seat cushion back in,
guide the plug connection back together until the
plug engages.
!Leave the seat cushion hinge in this posi-
tion. The upholstery could be damaged if you fold
the hinge back.


281 Controls in detail
Useful features
Storage compartment in front center
console
Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.
Briefly press the front of the cover.
The cover opens automatically.Storage/telephone* compartment un-
der front center armrest
1Button to open storage/telephone*
compartment
iDepending on vehicle configuration, the
lower storage compartment contains an ashtray
(
page 285).
iDepending on vehicle configuration your
vehicle may not equipped with an upper storage
compartment.
iThe mobile phone cradle* (page 292), the
Roadside Assistance button• (
page 298)
and the Information button¡ (
page 299)
are located in the storage/telephone* compart-
ment.

282 Controls in detail
Useful features
2Storage/telephone* compartment
3Coin holder
Opening the storage/telephone* com-
partment
Pull button1 and lift up armrest.
The coin holders3 are located in front
of storage/telephone*
compartment2.Rear storage compartments
Depending on the vehicle configuration,
your vehicle may be equipped with three
storage compartments in the front of the
rear seats.
1Storage compartment cover
2Release button
Briefly press release button2 on
storage compartment cover1.
The storage compartment opens
automatically.
iDepending on vehicle equipment, the upper
storage compartment may be replaced by a
control panel, for example in vehicles with rear
climate control* (
page 216) or rear automatic
climate control* (
page 231).
iDepending on vehicle configuration, the
middle storage compartment contains an
ashtray (
page 286).