Anyone know anything about 15 year old + undeployed Airbags? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#16 01-15-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mespe

The headrest do go up. If there isn't a tiny button on the seat adjustment, they are manual. If you have a tiny button that button slides up and down.

In 1981 I do not believe that they were powered, so you might have to break out the WD40 and spray them down, because they probably haven't moved since installed at the factory.

Hmm...I will take a look at them after I remove the ice off my door

Freezing rain last night/currently.
Fun

#17 01-16-2005, 05:46 PM

Success, movement, and I like it

phidauex · #18 01-16-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

The older airbags are notorious for injuring people as they open with too much force. Very dangerous if you are a small person. I don't care for airbags at all. My eye doctor (surgeon) does lots of work on people that get hit in the face with airbags. Detached retina, ruptured corneas, etc. He paid a mechanic to show him how to disable the front airbags on his new Volvo. I prefer to wear my belts and drive a nice sturdy car. Sure the airbag may save you from facial lacerations, etc. but I would rather have scars and vision than be a good looking blind guy. I would disable them. RT

This is an interesting perspective. Unfortunately, this surgeon didn't have to perform surgery on the neck injuries people have gotten from NOT using an airbag. Experts sometimes have the most skewed viewpoints of all, because of how narrow their vision is (not just your surgeon, but anyone who has had to focus several years of their life on one tiny aspect of the world).

It would be like the guy who pulls drowned bodies out of rivers disabling the seatbelts on his car because of how often he sees people who were trapped by their seatbelts underwater. Of course, since thats his job of course that is all he sees.

peace,
sam

rwthomas1 · #19 01-16-2005, 07:50 PM

phidauex,
I agree that the eye surgeons opinion is skewed by his perspective. I admit to not liking airbags for the reasons the surgeon stated and others as well. I think that the automakers use airbags as a sales tool to show how "safe" their cars are. I still would prefer to be in a MB without an airbag than a Kia with one. IMHO airbags are used to make crappy car designs appear safer than they are. Airbags have their place but they shouldn't be a substitute for a good strong vehicle. RT

#20 01-16-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

Airbags have their place but they shouldn't be a substitute for a good strong vehicle.

...or a well designed vehicle.

Seen some of those mercedes smart cars? They have some sort of egg-shell shape to them that is apparently quite rigid given their size.

MBDFahrer · #21 01-16-2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

phidauex,
I agree that the eye surgeons opinion is skewed by his perspective. I admit to not liking airbags for the reasons the surgeon stated and others as well. I think that the automakers use airbags as a sales tool to show how "safe" their cars are. I still would prefer to be in a MB without an airbag than a Kia with one. IMHO airbags are used to make crappy car designs appear safer than they are. Airbags have their place but they shouldn't be a substitute for a good strong vehicle. RT

You're flying into a wall at 80 MPH, here's a pillow and good luck

whunter · #22 01-16-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestas

If I may rant on a related subject..... head rests on American cars are useless! I'm tall, and when I tilt my head back with the head rest full up, I look straight up at the ceiling.... very little protection against whiplash! My MB gives full protection. Whatever happened to NHTSA requirements to protect people against whiplash?

that you are not global average height.

They only build to the generic global average.

Tall and short are not worth considering = extra cost...