My '85 500 SEL has 241,850 miles on the clock, and is equipped with air bag in the steering wheel. When and what kind of maintenance checks are required to ensure that a vehicle with this many miles and age has a system that fully up and ready to deploy if needed ?? I checked my recently-acquired Model 126 Service Manual Library CD and could not find this subject discussed anywhere. Thanks.

The last time I took my 86 300E into the dealer they updated the airbag expiry sticker, from 1996 to 2001. Upon further inquiry, I was told that the effective life was first determined to be ten years, and recently extended to 15 (hence the update). I imagine the same guidelines extend to your vehicle, although I would be curious about the actual effective life of the SRS system (that is, not motivated by the manufacturer's fears of potential lawsuits, etc...). Apart from that issue, I would think that as long as your SRS warning light doesn't light up while driving (and that the bulb works!), your airbag should be ready for action, god forbid!
Regards,
Nick

The operational life of the air bag is 15 years. After that it should be replaced for $1800. Talk about making DC happy!!

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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS DEALER M.B. TECH
190E 2.3 ITS RACECAR