Air bag replacement cost? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jeremy5848 · #31 01-27-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

. . . SRS logic totalled the car by adding to the front end damage the cost of a windshield, airbag and dash

Sixto
87 300D

The airbag broke the windshield? and the dash?

hey_allen · #32 01-27-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

The airbag broke the windshield? and the dash?

That's normal for most passenger side airbags.
They fire upward, and bounce off of the windshield. The dash tears when they deploy, and the windshield often cracks badly when the bag hits it and starts to expand to the rear.

sixto · #33 01-27-2009, 08:47 PM

It might be by design that it shatters the windshield to soften it before a passenger gets thrown through.

Sixto
87 300D

Jeremy5848 · #34 01-27-2009, 11:04 PM

Lovely.

bustedbenz · #35 01-28-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Lovely.

My thoughts exactly. A car that tries to self-destruct upon receiving a sharp glance to the front bumper is obviously safer.

hey_allen · #36 01-28-2009, 01:05 AM

Well, typically it requires a significant blow centered within 5 degrees of the vehicle axis. The sensor that trips the SRS is often not even located at the bumper area any more, though I'm not sure where MB had it on the '80's generation cars.

From what I understand, they are now comparing between at least two sensors, and both have to trip within a small fraction of a second to actually deploy the bags.

As to the windshield, I'd rather replace glass than smash into it myself.
That being said, use of a seat belt makes the smashing much less likely.

What I don't understand about that empty seat deployment is why it deployed at all. I thought there was a pressure sensor that detected if there was enough weight there to be an adult body.

compu_85 · #37 01-28-2009, 01:29 AM

The crash sensor is inside the SRS computer itself. That's why when a flex disk lets go and the driveshaft wacks the trans tunnel it sets the bags off.

I see lots of cars passenger side airbags that break the windshield when they go off... not a design I favor. Neither my SDL nor my TDI have that design, thankfully. My sister's Pontiac does...

-Jason

e300D97 · #38 01-28-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mb_newbie

I have a 2003 E 320 MB w/ approx 72k miles. My passanger-side rear door airbag, as well as the passanger side head (front door to back door) deployed for no reason. What is the expected cost to repair this, including the repairing of the torn rear leather panel? Im located in OC CA.

For a 2003 I would assume this to be covered under the SRS warranty which I believe is longer than the Powertrain.

Matt L · #39 01-28-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hey_allen

What I don't understand about that empty seat deployment is why it deployed at all. I thought there was a pressure sensor that detected if there was enough weight there to be an adult body.

My '96 W210 has a passenger-side air bag but no sensor. Since the belt would be unbuckled without a passenger, the bag will fire at stage 1.

Later 210's have sensors in the passenger seat. In fact, these are often problematic.

Jeremy5848 · #40 01-28-2009, 12:56 PM

Mercedes in the 1980s put the SRS computer (which includes the accelerometer) in the console, down on the transmission hump forward of the ashtray. It's there in my '87 300D Turbo. I believe the "passenger sensor" is a relatively late addition of only about ten years ago.

After an airbag "event," does the SRS computer (and/or the accelerometer if it is separate) have to be replaced along with the airbag(s)?

compu_85 · #41 01-28-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

After an airbag "event," does the SRS computer (and/or the accelerometer if it is separate) have to be replaced along with the airbag(s)?

I'm going to quote Uwe Ross, owner of Ross-Tech, who makes the VCDS scan tool for Audi / VW, and deals with many, many control modules:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uwe

Airbag controllers have electro-mechanical devices in them that, once they've seen the g-forces necessary to deploy restraints, should not be trusted to work properly again. This is why the "Crash Data Stored" {fault code} cannot be cleared. It's also why VW's repair manuals require any control module with that code to be replaced with a new one.

Do your self a favor, if you want to be sure that your airbags will deploy properly in an accident, and perhaps more important, want to be sure that they do not deploy except in an accident, install a control module that has not been in a crash!

This is one area where you do NOT want to try to save a few bucks. I'd rather have no airbag controller at all than one that has "Crash Data Stored" with live bags in front of me!

-Uwe-