Does anyone know if mercedes recommends deactivating the rear side airbags and side curtain airbags if you are installing a child car seat on the left or right side?

I believe the proper place for a childseat is the center seat location, then the airbags won't be an issue. Check the owners manual, it will tell you how to anchor it properly and suggest where to place it.

My car has rear side airbags but i don't see anyway to deactivate them.... I would certainly say if there is a way to deactive them, to do so if a child seat is in the rear seat.

I agree. My car seat always goes in the rear middle seat with the anchor. It's a pain to crawl and strap a baby in there but it's the safest place to put them. Unless you have 2 or more little one's then you will run into this issue.

I always thought the seats had sensors in them so they can tell the difference between a full grown passanger from a baby and a car seat to automatically turn off the airbags?

If that is the case, I have seen no indication that the rear airbags are "Disabled" ...... My old truck did have an indicator showing the airbags were off......

Thats just for the front passenger seat.

At least for my 06, it only does that in the front passenger side, not for the rear seats.

The dealer can deactivate the rear side airbags if you want to. For 2005 and older, our cars have rear sides as standard. I think starting in 2006, the rear sides became an option.

Sorry for the silly question, but why not install it on the left or right side? That is where the LATCH system is located and I think there is none in the center position. Would the airbag cause any serious problem to an infant in a properly installed baby seat using LATCH [left or right]?

My 15 mo. baby girl is on the passenger side rear using LATCH on a "RECARO Young Sport" seat with Side Impact Protection. The side airbag will only protect your child if anything. You can go to your local Fire Station and they will help you install your baby seat correctly free of charge.