gordongl450

I have never found the cargo cover useful and one of the first things I did when I got our GL home was remove it.

It gets in the way when it is behind the third row seats with the seats up. If you want to stand up a narrow box, the cargo cover just takes up room. Also, it's not very useful to hide your stuff because it is very difficult to see into that portion of the truck anyway due to the dark glass and the rear pillar.

If you put the third row seats down, the cargo cover gets in the way if you needed to load a large package or box.

You could move the cargo cover to the mounting forward slots with the third row seats folded down but then you have to move it to it's back mounting slot position again to put the third row seats back up. That also requires the added step of removing and replacing the plastic covers on the forward slots.

It always bothered me that Mercedes did not include and extra set of plastic covers to conceal the mounting slot in the back that becomes exposed if you do not want to use the cargo cover. It looks terrible, all the holes and that big phillips head screw!

Well, I asked my parts department if this small plastic part is available separately and it is! The part number is A 164 691 00 33 8K67 for each. You have to order two (there is not a left and a right). They were something like $1.50 each.

It's a minor style point that made me happy!

gordongl450

Here are the new plastic covers in place.

I know this is incredibly minor, but I wanted to share it.

HoustonRider

i assumed they were missing when I took delivery.

My dealer ordered them for me, now I don't have to look at those exposed silver bolts on my black interior. I think its the way it should have come.

StevethePilot

One thing I have found is the cargo cover's great for valuables left in the car when I'm, say, skiing. So I do use it.

Something I think was very overlooked in the car is what to do with the cover when it's NOT installed (and yes, I think that the second set of covers is a very good idea). In my wife's RX330, when you take the cargo cover off you can open the back of the spare tire cover and there's a purpose molded place to put the cover in.

STP

gordongl450

Steve,

So you use the cargo cover in the front mounting slots with the third row seats folded down?

I agree with you with that installation, it can hide valubles.

Gordon

Newbie_2_MB

I do use it quite a lot, especially when traveling to keep stuff hidden. Yes, the windows are tinted, but in the right light, you can see in. I normally have the 3rd row down flat.

I take it out when I have the dogs in the back because I then put up the mesh screen that MB provided (love that thing!) or if I have a dog crate in the back. With the cargo cover in place with the 3rd row down, it's a tight squeeze to get the large Vari Kennel into the back.

When I took delivery, the dealer forgot to include the cargo shade cover so that had to be ordered. I was also missing all of the plastic plugs that you mentioned, so they gave me 4 of those, plus I was missing some of the plugs for the 2nd row of seats to cover up the child safety seat anchors.

oknish

Gordon for President. He gets my vote for sure

My cargo cover is collecting dust somewhere and those two holes were really bad to look at. I am ordering those covers tomorrow.

lkchris

The 8K67 portion of the part number you've posted is the color code--obviously it's not the same for everybody.

gordongl450

Sorry, I don't know anything about part codes.

The parts department would hopefully ask if you want black, gray or tan. They don't use the terminology Ash and Macadamia.

Gordon

StevethePilot

I've done it with the third row down in the front mounting points, and with the third row up in the rear mounting points.

STP

ima55r2

The parts guys have too many color codes to remember. I give them my insurance card with the VIN and they get all the info they need.

It's probably easier just to take in one of the covers from the front set.

lkchris

There are only three GL interior colors.

nantucketsleigh

I've owned 4 SUV's over the past 9 years and removed the cargo cover from each one as soon as I got them home. I like the idea of hidden storage but I have not seen a cover that is not more trouble than its worth. Mabe some day a convenient one will be invented.

lkchris

The cover on the W124 wagon raised with the tailgate.

The cover on the W210 wagon lifted a little when the tailgate was raised.

ubrs

Won't the thieves know that you are hiding something of value? thus making it a more enticing target.. I mean, one would only use the cover to hide valuables, not groceries or smelly ski boots.

I always take mine out as soon as I take delivery of an SUV.

Newbie_2_MB

I used it in 2 Ford Explorers I had (1996 & 2003) all of the time, regardless of what I had back there because if there was something in that area, the reflection was so strong in the back window, you couldn't see out of it, so you had to have the cargo cover deployed 100% of the time.

I haven't had the reflection issue in the GL, but I guess I'm just so used to having it that I do use it when I have groceries back there or whatever. I've never had a vehicle broken into, so I can't say if the cover either deters or attracts thieves.

StevethePilot

I had two cars with smash-n-grabs in front of my house and one on my own LX470 just before Christmas. In that one, they took my flight bag (which had my pilot's license, my learning materials, and damnit my log book). The formula was simple; if they could see it, they went for it. If not, they moved on. Not worth the risk for potentially zero reward, I guess?

STP

Kaumajet

So maybe you should change your name to Stevetheformerpilot.

Just sayin'.

scottybdiving

I feel for ya. Everyone hates a thief. Aqui en Tejas, if they can see it, they are fair game. That would mean that they drove past the sign that says "WHICH PART OF NO TRESPASSING, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND". There is a 12 ga Baretta A390, loaded, leaning against the wall. It is intended for coyotes, but has other uses as well.

P.S. The other sign says, "MY DOBERMAN CAN MAKE IT TO THE FENCE IN 8 SECONDS, CAN YOU?" Doberman, airedale ........... who cares as long as they have a deep voice.

MKW

I like the cover for hiding things in the back. If I have too many items to cover , I use the divider net so things don't fly into the passenger compartment in an accident. I love the GL cover's two mounting positions allowing it's use whether third row is up or down.
On the Audi A7 we looked at,the cover can only be mounted if the third row seats are down. If they are raised up, not only is there no rear position for the mounting the cover , , but it is so wide it can only be ( temporarily and dangerously ) stored across the foot well of the second row , banging your kids' feet !

fmr

I like the cover as well specially given the 2 mounting locations. The only time we have removed it is for long trips with part of the 3rd row up and lot's of luggage. In other suv's/ wagons we have owned we have used it all the time as well. The Range Rover cover was very useful as it was a hard folding cover so when closed you could have jacket/blanket/hats etc on top of it, but when it needed to be removed was not as compact as the GLs.