
Useful information
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variations are pos-
sible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all of the functions descri-
bed. This is also the case for systems and
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page 25). Stowage areas
Loading guidelines
G
WARNING
Secure and position the load as described in
the loading guidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being thrown around in
the even tofsharp braking, a sudden change
in direction or an accident.
You will find further information in the "Secur-
ing a load" section.
Even if you follow all the loading guidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
WARNING
Keep the boot lid/tailgate closed while the
vehicle is in operation. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could enter the vehicle interior and poi-
son you.
The handling characteristics of a laden vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting a load:
R when transporting a load, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(including occupants).
R position heavy loads as far forwards as pos-
sible and as low down in the boot/luggage
compartmenta s possible.
R the load must not protrude above the upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always place the load against the rear or
front seat backrests. Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R secure the load with sufficiently strong and
wear-resistant lashing material. pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre. Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The stowage compartments must be closed
when items are stored in them. Luggage nets
are not designed to secure heavy items of
luggage.
You or other vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
Sharp-edged and fragile objects must not be
placed in the luggage net.
Do not place hard objects in the map pockets.
Objects must not protrude from the map
pockets. 310
Stowage areasStowing and features 

an accident, the luggage net will no
tsecure
the transported goods.
Luggage nets are located in the front-
passenger footwell and on the left and right-
hand sides of the boot/luggage compart-
ment. Skibag
Unfolding the skibag and loading skis G
WARNING
The skibag is designed to carry up to four pairs
of skis. Do not use the skibag to carry any
other type of load.
The skibag must always be secured when
laden. Otherwise, injuries could be caused by
it in the event of an accident. X
Fold down the rear seat armrest.
X Press release catches ;together and fold
down cover :. X
Pull skibag :into the vehicle interior and
unfold it.
X Open the boot lid. X
Press release catch :.
The flap opens downwards.
X Slide the skis into the skibag from the boot. X
Pull strap :tight by the loose end until the
skis are held firmly inside the skibag. X
Engage hook :in securing ring ;.
X Pull the strap tight by the loose end. 314
Stowage areasStowing and features 

Removing the skis and folding up the
skibag
X
Loosen the two straps.
X Remove hook :from securing ring ;.
X Take the skis ou tofthe skibag.
X Close the flap in the boot.
X Smooth out the skibag and fold it up.
X Put the skibag into the backrest.
X Fold the cover back up.
i You should always close the flap in the
boot if you do not require the skibag. This
will prevent unauthorised access to the
boot from the vehicle interior.
Removing the skibag G
WARNING
When the skibag has been removed, always
drive with the boot lid closed. Otherwise,
exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle inte-
rior. The skibag can be removed for cleaning or
drying. X
Open the boot lid.
X Press release catch :.
Flap ;folds down.
X Press catch =in and pull out frame ?
containing the skibag. Through-loading facility in the rear
compartment
The through-loading facility is opened from
the boot.
X
Fold down the rear seat armrest.
X Press release catch :.
The flap opens downwards. Through-loading facility in the rear
bench seat (Saloon)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the boot unless they are secured.
Otherwise, you and other vehicle occupants
could be injured by objectsb eing thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent. G
WARNING
Always drive with the boot lid closed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior. Stowage areas
315Stowing and features Z 

The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded down separately to
increase the boot capacity.
Folding the seat backrest forwards
!
Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat"
section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged. i
Vehicles with memory function: when you
fold one or both parts of the rear seat back-
rest forwards, the respective fronts eat
moves forward slightly, when necessary, in
order to avoid contact.
X Vehicles without memory function: if nec-
essary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forwards.
X Open the boot.
X Pull right-hand or left-hand rear seat back-
rest release handle :.
The corresponding rear seat backrest is
released.
The head restraints for the seat backrests
in the rear compartment lower. X
Fold rear seat backrest ;forwards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding back the seat backrest G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is cor-
rectly engaged. Otherwise, vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged, this
will be shown in the multifunction display in
the instrument cluster.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. 316
Stowage areasStowing and features 

X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Fold rear seat backrest :back until it
engages.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 110).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
i You should always engage the rear seat
backrests if you do not need the through-
loading feature. This will prevent unauthor-
ised access to the boot from the vehicle
interior. EASY-PACK through-loading facility in
the rear bench seat (Estate)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggage compartmen tunless
they are secured.
Otherwise, you and othe rvehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, a sudden change in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the enlarged luggage compart-
ment, always clip in the safety net. G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgate closed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward !
Before you fold down the rear seat back-
rest, remove the side head restraints for
the integrated child seat; see the "Side
head restraints for integrated child seat"
section. The side head restraints could oth-
erwise be damaged. !
When folding the rear seat backrest for-
wards, ensure that there are no items lying
on the seat cushions .These items could
otherwise be damaged or could themselves
damage the rear seats. The left-hand and right-hand rear seat backr-
ests can be folded forwards separately to
increase the luggage compartmentc
apacity.
The combined luggage cover and ne tcan
remain installed.
i When you fold one or bot hparts of the
rear seat backrests forwards, the headr-
ests are also lowered if necessary. In the
case of vehicles with memory function, the
respective fron tseat is moved forwards
slightly to avoid contact with the seat
behind it. Stowage areas
317Stowing and features Z 

X
Vehicles without memory function: if nec-
essary, move the driver's or front-
passenger seat forwards.
X Pull the left-hand or right-hand release han-
dle at the rear in load compartment :or
at the side beside backrests ;.
The corresponding backrest folds for-
wards.
X Pull back the left or right release lever in
the luggage compartment :.
The corresponding backrest folds for-
wards.
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary.
Folding the rear seat backrest back G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear seat backrest is cor-
rectly engaged. Otherwise, vehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident
If the rear seat backrest is not engaged, this
will be shown in the multifunction display in
the instrument cluster.
! Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. X
Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
forward if necessary.
X Fold seat backrest :back until it engages.
X Adjust the head restraints if necessary
(Y page 110).
X Move the driver's or front-passenger seat
back if necessary. Securing
aload
Plastic hooks (Saloon) On vehicles without a through-loading feature
in the rear bench seat, six plastic hooks are
fitted to the boot floor. You can use these to
attach the luggage securing fixture, which is
available as an accessory.
Lashing eyelets General notes
G
WARNING
Distribute the load on the lashing eyelets
evenly.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change directio nsuddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines. 318
Stowage areasStowing and featu
res 

Observe the following notes on securing
loads:
R
secure the load using the lashing eyelets.
R do not use elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R do not route lashing materials across sharp
edges or corners.
R pad sharp edges for protection.
Boot/luggage compartment Saloon
:
Lashing eyelets Estate
:
Lashing eyelets
There are six lashing eyelets in the boot/lug-
gage compartment.
Bag hook G
WARNING
Only hang light loads on the bag holders. Do
not use them to transport heavy, sharp-edged
or fragile objects. When braking sharply, changing direction quickly or in the event of
an accident, the bag hooks will not secure the
items sufficiently. This could result in injury to
yourselforo
thers.
! The bag hoo kcan bear a maximum load
of 3 kg. Do not use it to secure a load. Saloon
X
Pull bag hook ;down by tab :. Estate
X
To open: press bag hook :(arrow).
Bag hook :slides out.
X To close: press bag hook :until it
engages. EASY-PACK luggage compartment
cover
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The luggage compartmen tcover is not a
restraint system. Secure the load under the Stowage areas
319Stowing and features
Z 

Safety net with luggage compartment
enlargement
X
Make sure that the safety net is attached
to the rear seat backrest (Y page 320).
X Guide the safety net up by tab :and hook
it into eyelets ;. Coat hooks on the tailgate
G
WARNING
The tailgate may close if too great a load is
placed on the coat hooks.
This could cause you or others to be trapped
and injured.
If you use the coat hooks, only hang light
clothing on them. Make sure that nobody can
become trapped. :
Coat hook EASY-PACK boot box
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Only load the EASY-PACK convenience box to
the maximum permissible load of 10 kg. To
prevent overloading, the floor of the box
moves down onto the boot floor mat when
loaded with more than approx. 5kg.
Do not transpor tsharp-edged and fragile
objects in the box.
Otherwise, e.g. in the event of a rapid change
of direction or heavy braking, the objects
could be thrown out of the EASY-PACK con-
venience box and injure you and others.
! When the EASY-PACK convenience box is
pulled out, no objects may be placed on the
frame of the box or pushed onto the frame
from above. Otherwise, the box could be
damaged.
Adjusting the height to any position G
WARNING
Make sure that your hands are not inside the
EASY-PACK convenience box when the load
surface moves up. Otherwise, you could be
injured. X
Pull the box out by handle :in the direc-
tion of the arrow all the way to the stop.
X Lowering the load surface:p ush the
centre of load surface ;down by hand in
the direction of the arrow until load sur- 322
Stowage areasStowing and featu
res