When do airbags get 'TOO' old? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ck42 · #1 07-31-2002, 10:20 AM

I've done a search and can't find any info on this.

Does MB give any sort of info regarding when an airbag should be replaced? 17 years seems kinda old to me.

If I do need to get it replaced, any idea of what the bill is gonna be?

turnne1 · #2 07-31-2002, 10:40 AM

I think the cars MB would certify the cars made 1990 and later for 15 years...the 80's cars I believe was 10 years...as far as the cost I have no idea...I assume it would not be cheap

Warren
1992 300SD 144K
Columbus Ohio

MikeTangas · #3 07-31-2002, 11:07 AM

Originally the life expectancy of the air bags was 10 years, then upped to 15. There is concern as to whether or not the bag(s) will deploy properly when they get old.

I do know on my 560 I resurrected that the bag deployed fine and it was at the 15 year mark. In the course of bringing this junkyard beauty back to life I put a bag in from a somehwat newer car and I'm not gonna worry about it. The blown bag I removed, I checked out closely and noted that the kevlar outer fabric and the rubberized inner all appeared to be in top shape, perhaps because it is nicely protected in an enclosed unit.

Nate Stanley · #4 07-31-2002, 11:52 AM

For what it's worth, Oldsmobile Division offered airbags as an option in the 1974 full size models.

The option was discontinued after awhile due to lack of interest, but ---

1 or 2 years ago, someone in a '74 Olds got in a wreck-- and the airbag worked perfectly.

On the other hand, I know of a guy who had a '99 Chevy S-10 who broadsided a stray stud bull at 60 MPH at 3:00 in the morning. He walked away, the bull had to be put down. The airbags didn't deploy.

Sometimes age just doesn't matter---

turnne1 · #5 07-31-2002, 12:59 PM

Wow...hard to believe that Olds had the airbag option in 1974 considering the other parts of the cars that were not exactly state of the art...hard to belive they had the technology.

I have heard that MB had them in Europe several years before they were available stateside and I know both driver and passenger airbags were available stateside several years before other manufacturers followed...as for the age factor of the airbag...I am not sure I would want to test that principle the hard way

Warren
1992 300SD 144K
Columbus Ohio

lrg · #6 07-31-2002, 02:12 PM

Remember that when Mercedes (or anyone else for that matter) assigns a "life" to something like an airbag it is usually assuming the worst as to conditions. The last thing any of these manufacturers wants is to get sued by someone with a 20 year old airbag because "you never told me I had to replace it." I'd guess that on average these bags are generally good for far more than 10-15 years, especially if the car is stored out of the sun or whatever makes airbags go bad faster. The 10-15 years probably represents the minimum time before the first few airbags from a production run might begin to go bad. If you're willing to take a bit of a risk I'd guess they're mostly still good after even 25 years. You have to decide if the slight risk of it not deploying vs. not spending the $$ to replace it is worth it.

#7 07-31-2002, 09:03 PM

I remember seeing a thing about airbags a few years ago. They had found some old 74 vintage cars and were doing things like jumping over ramps and curbs etc. to try and make them blow when they shouldn't. None failed the test, but they did blow when the cars were run into a fixed object just the way they were designed to. This was at least 5 years ago and the bags in question were 20+ years old.

benchracer · #8 08-01-2002, 02:50 AM

If my car had air-bags, I'd be happy to have them fail. I feel safe enough in my car with the seat belt on, and I don't want to meet another air-bag.
Was driving our Honda Civic(what a piece of crap car) a few years ago when an unlicensed, uninsured driver in an Acura(costlier than the Civic, but he couldn't afford insurance) decided to do a U-turn directly in front of me. I T-boned his car, both my air-bags were deployed. The seat belt would have stopped me just fine, but I was thrust forward just enough to have my face smacked by the air-bag - felt like someone had slapped my face with an open hand as hard as they could. Slammed my sunglassses against my eyeballs, my eyeballs actually ached for a day or two like they were bruised. The passenger side bag deploys upward from the dash - it broke the windshield. The part you don't think about is trying to catch a breath afterward. You exhale after being smacked in the face, and since the bag is packed with a powder, like talcum, to keep it from sticking together, your next inhale of powdered oxygen just about makes you choke.
I'm quite happy without air-bags, thank you. I don't doubt for a second that children have been killed by these torture devices. They do serve one purpose, makes people feel all warm, fuzzy and safe which sells plenty of Volvos. Side impact bags? How about a roundhouse punch to the temple?!

turnne1 · #9 08-01-2002, 08:37 AM

Well am I certain airbags have saved more lives that it has killed...and imagine if the glass from the windshield that the airbag blew into had hit you in the face...I am sure your eyeballs would have been more than bruised...or if your head/face went into the steering column....things to ponder?

If I were a betting man I would take the airbags

Warren
1992 300SD 144K
Columbus Ohio

gsxr · #10 08-01-2002, 07:17 PM

It's funny how all the stories about people being injured by airbags, or airbags not deploying when they're supposed to (or vice-versa), are all NOT in Mercedes-Benz vehicles! There's a reason for that. I wouldn't be too crazy about driving a non-MB with an airbag either. But I'll take my MB with airbag over one without ANY day!

Regards,

Larry Delor · #11 08-02-2002, 11:35 PM

From what I remember the Olds airbag system was a mechanically operated system - No electronics involved.

I think they stopped offering it, due to lack of interest because of the addtl. cost.

#12 08-04-2002, 06:45 PM

I'm with Dave on this one--wear your seatbelt and I doubt airbags really matter. Most people iseriously njured by airbag deployment were not wearing seatbelts--an absolute must with airbags to keep you far enough away for them to deploy properly.

And I have my doubts airbags have really saved anyone a properly worn seat belt would not have. Then, one has to consider all the cases where airbags deployed in a minor accident and the accident turned major because the driver could no longer see. Not to mention the economic cost...but I digress. Overall, airbags are probably more useful than the center rear brake light mandated since the early 80s (and not on my Mercedes!).