W211 wagon questions
 

Had the car a couple of months now and still haven't figured everything out.

1. i decoded the VIN and see option U16 - STOWAGE TANK BEHIND REAR SEAT BACKREST
What is this exactly?
2.Where would I find the head rests for the 3rd row seating? I'm thinking PO discarded them maybe.
3. This might be related to #1. Just behind the middle row seats there is a panel on the floor of the trunk. Does it open or anything? i can't see any handles but it seems like it would open up.
4. The cargo cover/net is a cool little feature. Unfortunately my 3 legged pitbull Sasha immediately jumps thru the net on the sides where there is a pretty large gap. Why on earth they designed the net to have such large gaps on both sides eludes me. Anyone else have a dog that doesn't let the net contain them? Any creative solutions for this one?

1. paste your vin to verify options
2. the headrest for the 3rd row should already be attached to the seat, they just fold up with a press of the side button. (if you are talking about your 95 e320 then the headrest for the 2nd row doubles as your 3rd row headrest)
3. can you provide a picture for the panel you are talking about, that would be for the 3rd row seating. (if talking about your 95 e320 there should be a center pull tab for that small cargo area.

Sorry, I had included "W211" in the subject but you might have not noticed that. I'm asking about my 2005 E500 wagon to be clear.

I don't see how the headrests could stay attached when you fold up the 3rd row seat. there isn't room. So do they pop out and get stored in a storage bin or something?
The panel I'm asking about is the one with the red arrows pointing to it below. (not my car but same panel)

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d29bb79f26.jpg

when get a chance i will take a picture of mine and what the headrest are located. the E320 wagon under your name threw me off. I thought that part was for the most recent vehicle you drive.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ffba727e79.jpg
headrest that fold into the seat to fold down

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...0584719f1b.jpg
back of trunk with all panels down
i will have to do more discovery about if that back panel directly behind the seats does come out

it'll take time

the tank is a bad name for it, more like a giant plastic bin that fits behind the back seat. It's hidden storage if you're not using your cargo cover. Most owners just remove it the first time they need to fold down the seats. There's a good description of it in the owners manual. Here's a pic of mine.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...14433a78c0.jpg
I removed it because it interferes with the top tether for child seats and it also interferes with the 3rd row seat. But it's a neat neat idea I guess.

If you're not going to use it, are you willing to sell?

Nope sorry, the kids will eventually grow out of the child seats and I'll want to use it.

I found a few gray and tan ones on eBay for $70-$100 ea if you're interested.
Not sure I want another item to remove everytime fold the seats down.

See attachment.

I noticed that 05w211wagon's 3rd row headrests have C shaped posts and fold down. However, when i searched for the part numbers for a 05 wagon 3rd row seat headrests, i got 211-970-24-50-9D15 This shows to have straight posts and lists wagon 3rd row in the description. Were there multiple options for the 3rd row seats? Is that part number correct?
checkout this link to the part # 211-970-24-50-9D15

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d844e37bd4.jpg
Part # is correct C is incorporated into head restraint as depicted in previously posted picture.

We tossed the rear plastic storage bin aside. We live in the country so there is not much need to "hide" items. The rear seat backs are a bit heavy to move with the retractable cover in place and somewhat of a pain to lower quickly to even access the bin. The storage bin also takes up desirable cubic feet in the back area.

If you want more enclosed storage space, maybe loose the rear hide-a-way seat cushions and put stuff under that carpeted floor cover? We have the NAV system and there is quite a bit of unused storage space under that left rear cover for extra oil containers, some tools.or what ever.

The 3rd row seats bottom cushion is quite thick and has a built in cup holder. The bottom cushion can be easily separated from the wood panel and the the cup holders are held in with a couple of screws. The back cushion is very thin and doesn't really interfere so I left it in place. The next step was pulling the fold up footwell/brace that sits directly above the doughnut spare tire. It's held in with just 3 torx screws.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...125317889e.jpg
Once the footwell panel was removed I had room for a 245/45R17 full size spare.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...de68a89e32.jpg
Inside and around the full size spare there's plenty of room for all my just in case tools, spare parts, jumper cables etc. We take this wagon on some pretty big road trips and don't want to get stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a 50 miles at 50mph doughnut spare.