[JohnS]

Hello, I came over to the Metris forum after studying the Ford Transit and Sprinter for some time. I am interested in a family passenger wagon that can be easily reconfigured for occasional cargo hauling use -- furniture, building supplies, lawn and garden equipment, etc. The Sprinter still interests me. But the Metris overall size really makes more sense for me. The Transit passenger model has unacceptably limited rear passenger knee room and very limited passenger seating adapability. Ford does not seem interested in making the Transit comfortable for full size adult rear passengers. The sprinter is a bit better in that respect. PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME! -- Will the Metris rear passenger seats be easily removable and or foldable/stowable? This will be the determining factor for me as a potential Metris owner. Thanks.

 

[tennispro]

Hello, I came over to the Metris forum after studying the Ford Transit and Sprinter for some time. I am interested in a family passenger wagon that can be easily reconfigured for occasional cargo hauling use -- furniture, building supplies, lawn and garden equipment, etc. The Sprinter still interests me. But the Metris overall size really makes more sense for me. The Transit passenger model has unacceptably limited rear passenger knee room and very limited passenger seating adapability. Ford does not seem interested in making the Transit comfortable for full size adult rear passengers. The sprinter is a bit better in that respect. PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME! -- Will the Metris rear passenger seats be easily removable and or foldable/stowable? This will be the determining factor for me as a potential Metris owner. Thanks.

Hi John, welcome to the Metris forums.

I do not know the answer to your question for sure, but it's likely the US-spec Metris rear seats will behave identically to the Euro Mercedes Vito rear seats, because the Metris is simply a renamed Vito.

In this video of the new Vito, skip ahead to 1:30, and watch the video for about a minute. You will see that the seat fold down, and then folds out of the way.

I'm not sure yet if the seat can be removed once it's fully folded. I bet there is a way to remove it -- it looks to be held on by only the two seat rails at that point.

EDIT:

If you look at this video of the new Vito, and go to about 4:20, the seats do not fold. I hope we are not getting these seats. This van seems to lack the rails in the floor that were present in the Vito in the first video.

 

[tennispro]

Also John, take a look at the Metris Order Guide that is posted up here:
http://www.metrisforum.com/forum/209-purchasing-ordering/921-2016-mercedes-metris-order-guide.html

On page 11, it mentions the following standard equipment for the Metris Passenger Van:

- code U60: Second row seats, 2-place, removable
- code U63: Third row seats. 3-place, removable

And on page 13, as an option, it mentions:

- code U71: Additional second row seat, folding curbside

Then read page 110 of the Metris Equipment Guide here.

http://www.metrisforum.com/forum/209-purchasing-ordering/1033-official-metris-equipment-guide.html

It looks like only the outer seat on the second row (ordered with option U71), will be easily foldable/removable for easier access to the third row.

I too would like to know how easy or cumbersome it will be to remove the rest of the seats. Maybe one of us can get an answer directly from Mercedes-Benz Vans USA?

 

[warren]

If the seats do not actually fold, that's a horrible call to make, being the type of vehicle it is, such a simple yet effective feature should be included by default.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

My understanding is that the seats can be easily lifted out and removed from the van by a couple of burly men��
However they do not fold, and certainly do not fold into the store.

It's a crappy automobile, but the ideal car for mixed use if you don't want to remove seats is a Current gen Chrysler minivan.

 

[Haulin]

How easy would it be to loosen the seats to shift it forwards and backwards?

 

[Colin]

I don't need them to fold, but i do need them to be easy to remove and put back in. I don't want it to be a puzzle or super heavy to do. I'm sure the salesperson will be happy to acquiesce to my request to see the seats come out of the van in person.

 

[Haulin]

I can't seem to find any guide on how to remove the Metris seats so your best bet will be the dealership. I have read that the seats themselves are quite heavy.

 

[Colin]

Hmmm, guess I'll have to wait and see. The fact that they aren't publicizing how the seats go in and out makes me nervous that it isn't the easiest, most fluid thing.

 

[Haulin]

Mercedes Benz has a free online manual for the sprinter that details how one can remove the seats so we may have to wait until they post one up for the metris but a guide of sorts should be included in the manual.

 

[Colin]

I look forward to see a manual online in the future. Hopefully we can see one soon.

 

[Haulin]

I've just realized that the Metris is similar to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class so their seat removal process should be similar if not the same. I manages to find an interactive manual for the V class here: http://moba.i.daimler.com/baix/trucks/vs20/en_GB/index.html#emotions/Startseite.html

 

[BradClif]

The seats remove easy by depressing a lever on the rear/bottom then rocking them forward and lifting out of the track . But yes they are heavy and awkward !

 

[alvincalinisan]

i desperately need to buy the u71, "additional seat, 2nd row, folding curbside"

does anyone know where i can purchase this U71 additional seat 2nd row folding curbside? i've been looking everywhere online and with dealers and none of them offer it after market, they all say you can only obtain it if you build one new and choose it as an option.

the only way i can see myself finding this is if a buyer didnt want the this 8th seat and wants to sell it to someone or if a buyer didnt need their middle row and now has a surplus of that seat i need.

if anyone can refer me to someone that has it, that would be great! thanks.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

I'm not sure if the 8th seat can be installed on a van with the 7-seat configuration. The eight seat has only one leg, so I therefore assume it latches also onto a portion of the two-place bench. I don't know if the two place is different depending on options, or if a seven seaters two-place has hardware for installing the 8th seat.

 

[Styles]

I'm not sure if the 8th seat can be installed on a van with the 7-seat configuration. The eight seat has only one leg, so I therefore assume it latches also onto a portion of the two-place bench. I don't know if the two place is different depending on options, or if a seven seaters two-place has hardware for installing the 8th seat.

It's just a couple round "Y-ish" shaped standoffs that bolt to the side of the double seat frame. Something that would be straight forward to make if you couldn't source them otherwise.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

Give no the fact that it is a seat, I would think it would be better to go OEM spec. That being said, if it's a simple bolt on then I was both right and wrong. You don't just need the seat, you also need that hook up. So keep that in mind if you are looking to do this.

 

[venturewised]

I have the 8 seat, and I'm pretty sure there's an extra piece of hardware. I went to take a pic of it, but someone locked my van and there's too much snow to go back out with my keys, LOL.
I'll post a pic tomorrow in the light.

With that said, I actually wish I had 2 rows of the 2+1 seat instead of that rear bench.

 

[fullofdays]

good to know

 

[WildRiley]

According to Lance Frigard, manager at the Lynnwood, WA dealership, it costs a dealer almost $3K to add in the additional seat for some reason (jumping through hoops for safety and ??????). Adding the OEM trailer hitch after the fact is over $2K due to where the wires run and the additional programming. I had asked about the cost of adding an 8th seat to a solid deal they had on a van missing one. Ended up walking away.