Replacing airbags- E320 CDI - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 08-27-2018, 09:10 PM

As some of you know, the blue CDI I sold to my brother, was wrecked recently. (photos here: Feasability?- CDI drivetrain swapped into E320 wagon )
Parts car photos on post #24.
I bought the car back, and was planning to use it to make an E320 CDI wagon (I bought an '04 wagon). I decided to hold off on the engine swap project, and get the CDI back on the road. I also bought another E320 for parts (same color interior and exterior). Today I removed the right front fender, right front door, airbag module, side curtain airbag, seat airbag, rear door airbag, and other parts from the parts car. It just so happens that the parts car had damage as well, but in different places from the CDI. The bumper on the CDI is slightly damaged, but still usable. I got all the airbags installed today. I thought I might have to remove the entire headliner, but as it turned out, just the items fastened to the right edge needed to be removed (A & B pillar trim, grab handles, sail panel). I used a 1/4" drive 10mm socket to remove the three nuts holding the airbag assembly under the headliner. The airbag is attached to a long piece of black plastic, which was easily un-clipped from the body. The curtain airbag goes all the way from the dash to the sail panel (about 7' long).

Not knowing, I removed the parts car seat, and almost totally disassembled it, thinking I was going to use the entire seat back. Figuring out an easier way, I just moved the seat all the way back, and tilted the seatback all the way back. I was able to drill out the rivets, and install the bag without removing the seat. The rear door bag was easy as well, just three rivets, and put the door panel back on. I installed the airbag module, and will power it up another day (maybe tomorrow?).

I also removed the front right door and fender, and installed them on the CDI. I still need to install the rocker panel cover (photos later).