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.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.