3rd Row Seat Installation ?
 

What are your thoughts on retrofitting a 3rd Row Seat package into my 99 ML 430 ?. There is a school of thought out there that believes it's a waste and if it didn't come from the assembly line that way - don't mess with it . Then again, there are some that believe that it works well and if and when installed properly, you could never tell the difference. : CONFUSED :

Don't have the answer for you, but do have a comment. I thought about putting one in mine, but after seeing someone riding down the road with kids in theirs, I have decided against it. You see, when someone is sitting in the third seat, they are right up against the tailgate. Any minor rear-end accident is going to injure whoever is sitting there. Knowing my kids, they will ALWAYS want to sit back there too.

We installed quite a number of these on 98s and 99s, it's a good looking installation, no problem there. But I'm with Q--it just doesn't look all that safe to me.
Gilly

I wouldn't do it after market either, the factory option included cargo windows that opened for venting. I don't like one aspect of the areodynamics of my ML. When the rear passenger windows alone are opened, there is some incredible buffeting and wind noise such that it affects the sound of music or voice. In your 99, as in my 2000. There is no rear ventilation ducts and I suspect that the cargo area temperature would be hard to control and fresh air for the kids hard to come by. You were planning on putting kids back there right because you'd have to give Shaq the shotgun... ;)

I recommend it!
 

I put the third row seats in my '98 six months after we got it (would have been four if they came in the correct fabric the first time). We don't use them often but they're very practical when the in-laws come over or when we take other people's kids along. They're not exceptionally roomy but perfectly adequate for shorter trips. Beats driving a Suburban or a van, and can't be any less safe than the back seat of a Caravan or similar vehicle.

We have a growing family and the 3rd row will prevent us from having to buy another car. I think it to be extremely practical.

It's been four years and two kids since I'd posted above. With four kids the third row is an absolute necessity. The way-back seats are comfortable for kids, and come out relatively easily for hauling cargo.