Air Bag

Tree hours ago, I was involved in a car accident, let me explain.
The road was wet, I was in a semaphore in my C 250 D waiting for a green light, I was totally stopped, when a Mitsubishi Mini Van hit me in the tail, I think that the Mitsubishi was at least 40 mph when hit my car, because the impact, mi carīs nose hit the rear bumper of a Mitsubishi Pajero.., the result: the radiator grill, the two electric fans, two front lights, the hood, the bumper, one turning light, the rear bumper, the trunk, all dead. After the impact, the engine was runing, I hope this means that is all OK with it. Iīm ok, I was wearing the seatbelt. But the airbags never came out. Taking a look in the impact zone, I can apreciate that the front bumper wasnīt really hit very strong, the impact was at the grille and the front lights.
I repeat Iīm perfect, not even a hit.
But I wish to know, when the airbags should came out. There is a minimun speed, or something?
Thanks
Jose Rios.

Glad to hear that you have nothing!

Well, the airbag will only come out if the bumper is hit perfectly in front after a certain speed, otherwise forget it. Here comes the main problem of car compatibility...

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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[This message has been edited by Adamou (edited 02-15-2000).]

Jose,

I'm very glad that you're okay.

I recently witnessed a similar collision. A large crew cab, 1 ton Ford truck hit a small, brand new F150 truck and pushed it into the car in front of it, a small Japanese sedan of some kind. The large truck was probably doing 50MPH at impact. The F150 was stopped, as was the car in front of it.

The impact was so severe that the seat back on the F150 broke, and the lady driving was in extreme pain. She said that she had a severe headache. This is easy to understand, since her brain had just been flattened against the back of her skull. There was considerable damage on the front of her truck indicating hard impact.

The F150 Air Bag did not deploy. She was wearing her seatbelt as well.

After witnessing this accident in progress and hearing your experience, I maintain more distance between myself and the car in front of me. I also glance at my mirror more often.

Good Luck,
Larry

[Benzmac]

For an airbag to pop, the car has to go through certain thresholds. You did not meet one or more of them. This is normal. I wonder if the ETR (emergency tensioning retractor )for the seat belt popped?

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

I saw my car today, the impact wasnīt really strong at the front, Ok, the grille, the lights are broken, but the fenders are intact, all I see is that the car absorbed all the energy of the impact, since the rear of the Mistubishi Pajero wasnīt really damaged. The rear of the car looks bad, the Mitsubishi Minivanīs bumper hit my carīs bumper, the rear lights, are intact, but the trunk canīt be opened, and in the passenger side rear fender are some signs of the impact, the rear door of this side is really difficult to be opened. As soos as I get the pictures of the car, I could send to anyone who want to see them.
Thanks.
Jose Rios.

In a multiple car accident at a low rate of speed (30 mph), I was caught between a '96 Jeep Cherokee that hit me from behind and a '96 Jaguar XJ6 that I then rear-ended. The Jaguar hit the back of an 18-wheeler. None of our airbags deployed. The Jag slid under the steel beam of the trailer. My 420SEL went under the rear bumper of the Jag and the Jeep knocked my rear bumper facia loose. The chrome strip on top of my front bumper was forced back and everything above it was crushed flat into the main fan and water pump. $13,000 and 5 weeks later... and presto... I have a new front end! I was hoping my insurer would have totaled my car. They didn't. If my front bumber hit the Jaguar, then perhaps the airbag then would have deployed pushing the repair bill over the fix/scrap threshold. Good luck with your repair.

The airbag deployment logic is based on g-force, in this case negative. If the vehicle absorbs the impact and slows down at acceptable rates by giving up body parts, then great - it saves impact damage to the driver. If the vehicle slows down quicker than what is acceptable, then the airbags come in to play. The extent of damage to the vehicle is not an indication of whether or not the airbag was needed. The deceleration rate of the vehicle determines how violently your body is going to be thrown.

I saw my car today, in the shop removed the hood (it will be replaced with a new one), the headlights (xenon ones will be fitted, since the insurance of the guy who hit me cover all the damage). Finally I saw the engine, its intact, even the plastic fan.
The most damaged part is the rear, when I arrived at the shop, they are working in the rear, to align it, I saw all the process, Its amazing, before the aligment, the rear right door canīt be opened, after, its like new. in the rear, all the work needed is to rebuild the plastic bumper, paint it, paint the trunk, test the trailer hitch ball (factory installed). The front needs some details, but are all external details.
About the ETR, how I should know if this system worked? It need to be replaced after a crash?
Thanks