CDI quest - door panel SRS cover looks funny - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scott19_68 · #1 06-28-2010, 08:51 PM

Not sure if this is PO/dealer trying to hide airbag deployment or just leather vs. MBtex but I'd appreciate some expert opinion on this one. See pictures below taken from 2 different vehicles with similar interior color schemes.

Jeremy5848 · #2 06-28-2010, 08:55 PM

Both the front doors on our '96 are wrinkled and I am quite sure the airbags have never popped. I would say it is at least "not abnormal" for the fabric to wrinkle. We need to hear from someone who has had such a car from new.

glenlloyd · #3 06-28-2010, 09:11 PM

Check EPC to see if there are multiple part numbers (besides colors) and that will at the very least give you hint.

steve a

babymog · #4 06-28-2010, 10:37 PM

No side airbags in the '96 W210 Jeremy, IIRC they were introduced in '99.

TMAllison · #5 06-29-2010, 12:17 AM

The W210 "diesel" never got rear "door" bags.

My 99 side door panels look the same as pic 2, front AND rear. Dont know what a W211 is supposed to look like.......

The 98-99 added "front to rear" side "curtain bags" where the 96-97 had front curtains only; that, and a turbo, were big factors in my purchase as I had recently been in a 6X rollover in a BMW 528i where 6 of 8 bags popped. You want as many as you can get when it gets hairy. A 2nd and 3rd deployment wouldn't hurt sometimes as not all accidents are over in 5 secs; mine lasted 30-45 secs down a 70 degree ravine with 300' drop in elevation and 800' path of travel.....I walked away with bumps, bruises, a helicopter ride, and a $25k bill at the local trauma center for 20 mins of poking and prodding. The helio ride (my first) cost another $10k. The BMW had an estimated $200k damage done to a $50k car.

Not certain if the W211 "has" rear curtains. I think it has rear doors only....?

Jeremy5848 · #6 06-29-2010, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

No side airbags in the '96 W210 Jeremy, IIRC they were introduced in '99.

Then what are the funny things in the sides of the front doors in my '96 E300D (W210, OM606NA) that say "SRS Airbag???"

Ah, you mean rear doors. Yes, that is so - no rear airbags, the groceries are on their own.

jcyuhn · #7 06-29-2010, 10:33 AM

Pretty sure the 210 got rear door bags in '99, so the last year the US got the E300 would have had them.

Back to the original poster. We are looking at the rear door of a 211. Both of those are normal. The gathered appearance is used on cars with the leather interior option. The smooth appearance is used on cars with MB-Tex. (The 210 was the same way, BTW, though only diesels and station wagons had MB-Tex available - I've owned both.) On the 211 the standard interior changed across model years, so you likely need to know the specific year and option content to tell what you have. For example, my older brother drives a 2005 E320 CDI. The front seats are MB-Tex with leather seating inserts, the rear is entirely MB-Tex. I am pretty sure that car has the smooth appearance. Gas cars likely have leather standard, at least until later in the 211 model run, and would have the gathered appearance. And of course, full leather is an option on the CDI, and would include the different side airbag covering.

Mystery solved?

TMAllison · #8 06-29-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Pretty sure the 210 got rear door bags in '99, so the last year the US got the E300 would have had them.

99 came with 6 bags; two front, two front doors and two "front to rear" side curtains. No rear door bags. Facelift 210's may have been configured differently.

nhdoc · #9 06-29-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

...Back to the original poster. We are looking at the rear door of a 211. Both of those are normal. The gathered appearance is used on cars with the leather interior option. The smooth appearance is used on cars with MB-Tex. (The 210 was the same way, BTW, though only diesels and station wagons had MB-Tex available - I've owned both.) On the 211 the standard interior changed across model years, so you likely need to know the specific year and option content to tell what you have. For example, my older brother drives a 2005 E320 CDI. The front seats are MB-Tex with leather seating inserts, the rear is entirely MB-Tex. I am pretty sure that car has the smooth appearance. Gas cars likely have leather standard, at least until later in the 211 model run, and would have the gathered appearance. And of course, full leather is an option on the CDI, and would include the different side airbag covering.

Mystery solved?

He's right I believe...the difference is the wrinkled one is leather while the flat one is MB-Tex, it was the same way on the W210 and it was an easy way to tell a leather interior from an MB-Tex one.

jcyuhn · #10 06-29-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

99 came with 6 bags; two front, two front doors and two "front to rear" side curtains. No rear door bags. Facelift 210's may have been configured differently.

Post facelift 210s are definately different. My 2001 wagon was a 10-bagger - 2 front, 2 front door, 2 B-pillar, 2 rear door, and 2 in the ceiling between C & D pillars (for the jump seat).

I've learned over time not to argue with you

Pulled up some pictures from ebay - '99 cars do not have rear door bags. '00 cars do have rear door bags. I have the probably-mistaken impression the B-pillar curtain bags and rear door bags were added to the 210 at the same time. I'm pretty certain my '98 E300 only had 4 airbags...but it's been a few years.

scott19_68 · #11 06-29-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

... Both of those are normal. The gathered appearance is used on cars with the leather interior option. The smooth appearance is used on cars with MB-Tex.

Thank you for the information - I've been combing through pictures on eBay of '05 and '06 CDI's and looking to see if there is was a correlation between VIN# and panel texture (no). Interestingly, seems like the late model 211's only use MB-Tex panels.

Thanks again,