BLKROKT

Ok, since this seems to be the season for stupid questions, it's my turn to join in the fun.

I just picked up a really nice leather airbag cover off of eBay. I have removed my airbag unit from the steering wheel (airbag+cover), and it's not obvious to me the best way to get the OE plastic airbag cover off. It's held tightly in place by like 20 tabs that slot into openings on the airbag itself. I started prying at the tabs holding it on, and tried yanking it off little by little, but then thought that wasn't the best thing to do to an explosive device. So I stopped.

Does anyone have a tip on how to do this easily? And safely?

Thanks

Mort

I know what you mean about taking the cover off. I tried for a while on my 2012 and gave up. Fortunately I had a spare airbag and the leather cover so I just mated them together and used that instead of the one from the car. Fortunately it worked fine. We know it can be done but seems to be a tough job. Maybe jam all the tabs open with popsicle sticks until you can pry it apart. Whatever you do you will need to hold the tabs open until you can get it started and it will deform the plastic in the process. Hope someone has a better idea. GL

Jasonoff

Popsicle eating meet in the near future...

BLKROKT

Yeah that's what I thought. I just know nothing about airbags, and I'm going to have to hold the thing with some force while I'm prying all those tabs with a screwdriver or something. It would be just about the worst possible time for it to go off....

Girard@ACGautomotive

I used dimes to hold the tabs open. Good luck it's nothing short or a ***** to do but worth it!

BLKROKT

Good tip Tal, thanks!

There's zero chance it's going to go off, right?

Jasonoff

It's a solid propellant that uses a powered igniter. I think the only other way you could set it off is if you tossed it in a fire.

BLKROKT

Ok, cool. I figured with how hard I punch it during my road rage episodes that I'd be ok, but it's good to hear confirmation.

Jasonoff

Maybe wear your helmet just in case

Girard@ACGautomotive

As long as it's out of the car, no chance.

odonnks

Maybe some of this will help.

http://www.mercedescla.org/forum/62-...r-install.html

BLKROKT

These posts were helpful - for future reference in case anyone else tries it. Cutting off the old tabs seems to be the way to go, rather than dimes or popsicle sticks.

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14720

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132579