Hi all,

I'm curious if it's possible to retrofit a passenger's side airbag to an '86 300SDL. My interest in this is so my wife can be afforded equal protection in an accident, as what I have.

I preface this by saying that I'm aware this is not something to be taken lightly, and I suspect the better part of valor is to leave well enough alone. I'm aware that the presence of the passenger airbag means that I lose the glove box, and that it means certain trim modifications.

Right now, I have the driver's side airbag, so that means I have the network of sensors in, as well as the rest of the supporting network. Everything I've seen points to there being no (obvious?) difference in the components of the SRS system in the '86 compared to the '89 - '91 W126s (which had the passenger airbag as an option). It stands to reason the passenger airbag was a modular addition to the existing system, so adding it after the fact would be feasible. For example, th '86 and '90+ drivers' side airbags are identical, save for the addition of the emobossed horn logo (both are "type 3" wheels). Of course, there is a lot I don't know I don't know.

Has anyone thought of doing this? If so, is it feasible, or just a pipe dream? I would like to have this, but I'm also very cognizant that there are hazards that may outweigh any benefits. Plus the, "In 1986, they didn't have the passenger side airbag available anywhere, so how could you add it?" Any thoughts? I appreciate any help.

Casey

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Casey Cooper
"From a long line of Mercedes ownership"

'86 300SDL 250K miles (Gone, but not forgotten); best diesel I have ever driven, too bad about the Achilles heel.

'81 240D 370K miles (Sold to my brother after 9 years and 150K miles of reliable driving!)

[Five other Mercedes in family clipped for less length.]

I would imagine that an airbag addition would not be safe to begin with and cost of such a modification would be great. I am pretty sure that even though the earlier and later 126s look the same that there were many internal improvements made to the cars.
For safety's sake I would go with a later model 420 or 560 that has a passenger side airbag.

In my wildest dreams I could not imagine being able to find someone who would take on this job. The liability factor would be so astronomical that you would probably go to jail if someone got hurt,,,, even if the airbag worked right. Let that job to the factorys.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

I'm starting to get a sense of what a bad idea it would be to add the passenger air bag. I wasn't even thinking of the "L" word (liability). I actually was thinking of doing it myself, taking parts from a later 126 with the passenger air bag. Now that I think about it, doing that myself makes things even worse.

Like many people in this forum, I'm an avid DIYer. I've been upgrading the interior of my car to make it look like the '89 + facelift, including adding the adjustable rear seat. For me, in addition to any perceived safety benefit from the passenger air bag, it also had the "kewl" factor. However, there is a big difference between truly cosmetic upgrades, like new door panels, and safety related things, like an airbag. No one will be injured if the door panel malfunctions ... Like the song says, "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." I'm folding on the passenger air bag.

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Casey Cooper
"From a long line of Mercedes ownership"

'86 300SDL 250K miles (Gone, but not forgotten); best diesel I have ever driven, too bad about the Achilles heel.

'81 240D 370K miles (Sold to my brother after 9 years and 150K miles of reliable driving!)

[Five other Mercedes in family clipped for less length.]

Worst part about that venture would be doing all the work and never knowing if your efforts even worked until it's too late.

At this point in the game even the latest production W126's airbag is 14 years old. Flip a coin will it work properly? If you do do this at least buy a new airbag. Wear your seatbelt the W126 is safe enough, or buy a newer MB, W220's have tons of air bags and pre-safe.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

cooper, was it very hard to add the rear adjustable seat? I'd like to do that one. However, I bet you swapped the whole seat since you have the newer style like you said. Would it be too hard if I found a 560 in a junkyard and just took the motor/switches? Basically I want to know if it's a very feasible task. Are the brackets already there behind the seat? Do the power and non-power seats share seat frames allowing things ti just be bolted in and plugged in?

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Why would you want to bother to add an airbag?

If your wife is properly belted in place with the lap belt and shoulder harness, the airbag isn't going to do anything.

Airbags were added to vehicles, at great expense, for the sole reason to ensure that the morons who do not use the belts won't get killed in a head on crash.

You could take your driver's airbag out of the SDL and be just as safe if you use the seat belt and shoulder harness.