Air Bags in 85 300SD

[DieselJim]

I was cruising ebay looking for deals. Saw a car here in atlanta that is an 85 300SD with a driver side air bag? Were airbags an option that year? How hard would it be to install an air bag on a 85 300SD with none. Air bags are possibly the greatest lifesaver in the history of automobiles. It is amazing how the death rate went way down as speed limits went up. Part of this has to be a result of airbags.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4552181576&category=6330

[Richard Eldridge]

At the same time cars got airbags, states began passing laws requiring people to wear belts, the movement to put children in the rear seats began, and cars became quite a bit safer.

When I pushed down on the pedal of my 82 Buick Regal, it seemed to require an additional prayer that it would actually stop in time. The brakes on that car (discs on the front, drums on the rear) sucked bigtime. The same system was used on Chevys, Pontiacs, and Oldsmobiles, as they were the same car.

Most of the l70's and 80's cars are off the road by now, other than those that have been crushed, melted and resurrected as safer Camrys.

I am sure that airbags have helped, but they are not the only thing that has.

[Johnhef]

It was either ABS or Airbags that were first offered as an option in 1978 on Mercedes, although I'm leaning more toward ABS.

The earliest car I've seen in person with an airbag was an 84 500SEL.

[pwogaman]

Read about 1/2 way down the page and you'll find the following text. There is also a picture.

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/crashes.html

Safety in the Air: The 20th Anniversary of the Airbag
The 1981 Mercedes S-Class (W126) world premiered the airbag. It was also the first vehicle constructed to specifially withstand offset crashes - employing a forked front end structure, which redirects and distributes the energy over the front of the passenger safety cage.

A customer's 1980 500SEL, one of the first 10 cars with airbag, on the driver's side, was crash tested with about 400,000 km on the clock, in 1992, when the millionth airbag came off the line. The bag performed to specs, ..and yes, the owner did receive a replacement.

[DieselJim]

Speaking of air bags did I get lucky today. A 2003 or 04 mustang could have merged in behind me but merged in behind the pickup behind me in traffic at a light. the traffic started to move and the stang gunned it and when the I had to slow and the truck slow the stang destroyed its front end and popped its bags. Glad it merged in behind the truck. It would have hurt my 300SD a little more. I don't know what the idiot was thinking giving it the gun at a busy stop light. Does anyone know if it is feasible to install an airbag yourself on a non airbag equipeed 126 from 85?

[turbodiesel]

Very rare option for an SD. ABS was also available starting MY 1984 for US cars. The 126 always had an Airbag and ABS as an option in euro spec cars.

[Hit Man X]

Originally Posted by DieselJim

Does anyone know if it is feasible to install an airbag yourself on a non airbag equipeed 126 from 85?

There was an '85 parts car here w/ an Air Bag that's gone now.

But I looked and it has some relay under the dash, extra under the hood, and something with the "RS" on the seatbelts. I think there was one by the OE alarm also that stated to "disconnect here, then the battery"

IMO - not too complicated provided you can find schematics of what to pull.

[DieselJim]

Reading the tech CD from MB on the w126. Lots of cools stuff. If I find a car with an airbag system I might as well take the seat belt tightener(ETR system) and the knee restraints too. Looks pretty cool. I hope they have a wiring diagram. Just getting started

[hughet]

My 84 300SD was built with the SRS system in March 1984. I heard somewhere that SRS (with a driver side airbag and automatic seatbelt tensioners) was a $2,000 option.

[Hit Man X]

Wow, not too expensive considering the price of the car. I'm suprised more don't have them. I guess just too many people didn't know about the option or really knew what it was all about.

[TwitchKitty]

Don't dare sell that car converted to airbags or let anyone else drive it. Beside the monetary liability someone may seek satisfaction with a rope.

I would possibly do this for a car that I drove exclusively myself but I like to be able to test my work and the only way I can think of to test this job does not appeal to me.

[dannym]

Hey,
I was reading the history of Mercedes somewhere. It could have been the Haynes manual or somewhere else I don't remember.
Anyway it seems Mercedes was the first to design al kinds of safety equipment in automobiles.
Airbags, crumple zones, crossover seat belts, head rests... the list goes on.

What's even more amazing is Mercedes declined to enforce the patents saying public safety was more important.
I think that's pretty awesome.

Danny

[ck42]

Have driver side air bag as well as anti-lock brakes. Lucked out with heated seats too ))

[86560SEL]

From what I understand (according to the USA 1984 Mercedes sales brochure) that the driverside airbag was an option beginning on USA models beginning in 1984 and was only offered on the 300SD, 380SE, 500SEL and I think even the 190E and 190D. It was not offered on the 300D, 300CD, 300TD or 380SL. Also an option in 1985. I think it also mentioned ABS optional in 1984 as well- not sure of the first year of that.

Airbag (driver) standard beginning in 1986 (USA).

[Hatterasguy]

I would never convert a car to an air bag on your own. The liability is just to great, besides unlesss you buy a brand new one ($1k maybe?) a 20 year old bag is close to useless.

If it bothers you that much buy a newer car. Safty wise newer is better provided everything else is kept equal; ie same car.

Maybe a W140?