Second Hand Mercedes-Benz CLS Curtain Airbag

The CLS does have curtain airbags (also called side curtain or head airbags) fitted as standard across its production run, deploying from the roofline to protect front and rear occupants in a side impact. Despite its four-door coupé body style with a sweeping roofline, Mercedes engineered curtain airbag protection into the CLS from the outset. You can search with confidence that this is a genuine part on the vehicle.

The W219 ran from 2004 to 2010 and the W218 from 2011 to 2018 (facelifted around 2014), and these are entirely different generations with different body structures, roofline profiles, and SRS systems, so a W219 curtain airbag will not fit a W218. Always tell the breaker which generation you have, as the part numbers and mounting points differ significantly between the two. Never attempt to fit a curtain airbag from the wrong generation.

The W218 was facelifted in 2014, and while the basic body shell was carried over, whether the curtain airbag module is interchangeable across that facelift boundary is something you should confirm with the breaker against your exact registration, as SRS system updates sometimes affect compatibility. Give the breaker your VIN or registration so they can check the specific module against your car's system. Because airbags are safety-critical single-use components, fitment must be verified carefully and the part should be installed by a qualified technician.

Engine variant makes no difference to curtain airbag fitment on the CLS, so a curtain airbag from a 220d and a 350 of the same generation are drawn from the same pool. What matters is the generation (W219 or W218), the side (nearside or offside), and your specific SRS system configuration, which the breaker should verify against your registration. Engine choice is simply not a factor here.

Yes, side is critical: nearside (NS) is the passenger side and offside (OS) is the driver side, and the two curtain airbags are handed differently to fit the roofline on each side of the car. Always tell the breaker clearly which side you need, and double-check this before ordering. Fitting the wrong side is not safe and the part cannot simply be reversed.

Curtain airbags are safety-critical components and should always be fitted by a qualified technician with the correct diagnostic equipment to properly integrate the airbag with the SRS system. Used curtain airbags are single-use parts — once deployed they cannot be reused — so the breaker should confirm the unit has never been triggered before supply. DIY installation of any airbag is strongly discouraged and could result in non-deployment or accidental deployment, both of which carry serious safety risks.