Quote:
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Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
Why would you want to bother to add an airbag?
If your wife is properly belted in place with the lap belt and shoulder harness, the airbag isn't going to do anything.
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Brian,
I agree that an airbag is going to do no more to
save one's life than a seat belt, and that its primary function is to coddle to those who don't wear seatbelts. However, I'm convinced that an airbag will prevent serious injury, such as the breaking the clavicle, or trauma from one's head hitting the wheel/dash. My wife was in a major accident on our wedding day, driving her (former) Toyota Camry w/ airbags. The extent of her injuries was a rash from the seatbelt and a minor dislocation in her ribs. Based on what she told me, if it were not for the airbag stopping her, she would have some broken bones - but she would be alive.
I'm seeing from everyone's responses, that in the larger picture, the hazards of "retrofitting" the passenger airbag most definitely outweigh any benefit. Plus, as Hattarasguy pointed out, I would not find out if it worked properly until I got into an accident. In the meantime, there is always the hazard the thing would go off unexpectedly since it was not a proper "factory" install.
As a brief aside. I know a guy who was "t-boned" on the drivers side by a full size pickup running a red light at 40MPH while driving his '85 300SD. The truck was totaled - he sustained some injuries to his knees, but is still driving the car! I need to remember that airbags (side curtain, etc) compensate for less steel in newer cars, including the W220. The combination of the industrial strength of the W126 and seatbelts are plenty of protection. And I
always make sure my passengers wear seatbelts!