Do I need a new airbag?
 

Just noticed that my 1989 300te has a decal on the door stating that the air bag should be replaced in 2004....well, it's 2004. What do I do?

Don't worry.

Forget it and buckle up. I think they extended the life of the airbag another 5 years anyway.

I really fell frontal airbags are a sham anyway, seat belts are much more effective. Side airbags can help you out.

That's interesting...

15 years is the official limit, but what happens after 15 years or so with all these newer cars? They have 8 airbags each, and now Mercedes upcoming 221 S-Class will have twice that amount. How many bags will have to be replaced in 15 years or so? That's just nuts!

Fewer and fewer new MB buyers keep their cars beyond the warranty period. That's a subsequent buyer's problem. My problem.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... $950, see cars forum

I think that starting around 1990 on most cars- the airbags do not have to be replaced, unless they deploy. 1990 was the year that many auto makers added airbags in their cars. I would say that 1990 was the #1 year that most manufacturers added airbags- with the new government requirement for automatic passive restraints. Some cars got the motorized or automatic door mounted seat belt, while many added a driverside airbag for the restraint.
I did not even know that Mercedes recommeded replacement of the actual airbag on the 80s Mercedes. I would guess that if they were replaced with the new bag, that it should never need replaced again, since the later (1990-2004 ?) cars do not require it. On some late 80s and early 90s cars, a service check of the airbag is required.
I know that on my 1990 Lexus LS400- it states in the owners manual and on the sunvisor, that the airbags system should be checked 10 years after date of manufacturer and 2-3 years every year thereafter. It does not mention anything about replacing the airbag. I inquired about this on the Lexus site and they said all the dealer does is check the airbag light and make sure all of the sensors look OK and there is really no need to have the system checked at all- unless the warning lamp stays illuminated. Even the Lexus dealer told me that.
I would say that your airbag is fine if the warning lamp is showing normal operation.

86560SEL my Camry has the same sticker on the visor. I talked to the dealer it sounded like I was the first one who ever asked then this question! They said as long as the light doesn't come on about all they could do is pull any codes that might be in the computer. Airbags are very expensive so unless the light comes on it will probably work. Also if MB says 15 years that is probably a conservitive number. When is the new S class comeing out? The W220 has only been out for four years! W126 ran about six years before redisign, W140 about 8. So 2006 -2007 for W220 replacement?

I heard as early as 2005.

The W126 lasted '81-'91. With the midlife upgrade in '86.

W140 lasted '92-'99 with the midlife upgrade in '94-'95

This will be the first S-Class not influenced by Bruno Sacco in any way. Cross your fingers.:p

w126 s class ran from '79 till '91.

Didn't Paul Bracq design the 108/9 cars? 126 was Sacco's first.

Yes, but I think Sacco was still in MB's design group. From the late '50's I think.

W126 '79-'94 if you count South Africa. Only '81-'91 in the US, though.:( Such a short life.:rolleyes:

W126 was the first design headed by Bruno Sacco. Yes. But not the first to be influenced by him.

Air bag extension
 

Service bulletin 91/48 states that airbag life has been extended to 15 years on all vehicles produced prior to Jan 92, vehicles produced after that date should have the 15 year sticker. The dealer can order labels that reflect the date up to 2007 (I had mine replaced) I dont know what I will do in 2007

My 95 S420 has an airbag replacement date label in the glove box door. It's up in 05.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... $950, see cars forum

The interior of the W126 was changed for 1988-1991. They also got passengers side airbag, and I think the 560 started to get some sort of traction control. I hope the new S looks nice, the pictures I have seen don't look to promissing. Think Acura.:mad: It can't look to much worse then the new 7 series. At this rate Jag. will have the only luxury car that looks good. Unless you buy an older Bently.

They went to the square seated leather, and I'll tell you what I like about that design. The pockets, you know, the pockets attached to the front bucket seats that you store stuff in from the back? Well... Mercedes finally smartened up and made them durable! No more broken plastic pieces or stretched cords.:) The previous design was a POC! :mad:

As far as traction control. The US finally received ASR in the last W126 model production year, 1991. It was an expensive option. Even the diesel could have traction control! I have it, and it is called ASD. Like an electrical positrac.

HATTERASGUY - you are 100% correct. My old 1993 Toyota Camry also had that statement on the sunvisor if I recall and I think that my airbag equipped 1992 Buick Park Avenue also has that statement about service on the airbag system after 10 years. From what they tell me at Lexus and the Lexus-Toyota forums- replacement or service is not necessary unless your airbag has deployed, or your "airbag" light stays illuminated.

I guess back in the mid 80s thru early 90s- I guess they was unsure of how long the airbag material would safely last- since airbags were a fairly new introduction since the first airbag equipped mid 70s GM cars.
I have wondered if the cars with the very first airbags - the early to mid 70s full-size General Motors cars- which had airbags as a option- recommended replacement after a few years.

A few 1973 Chevrolet Impalas and Caprices had the option, but the models it was the most common on was the 1974-1976 Oldsmobile Delta 88/98/Toronado, Buick LeSabre/Electra/Riveria and the Cadillac Coupe/Sedan DeVille/Fleetwood/Eldorado. I think only 10,000 had the option.

Interesting that some here with mid 90s Mercedes say that their cars still mention replacement. My 1998 Taurus does not mention anything about replacing the airbag.