Swapping Seat Cushions/Disabling "Babysmart" feature?

[John_Collins]

I'd like to swap my bottom seat cushions from side to side in my 99SL600. By switching them, I can get extra life out the leather and padding since the driver's seat gets the most wear and it is now four years old. The swap is quick and easy, the cushion assemblies are identical and only require the removal of two bolts that are located under the front lip of the seats. I recommend doing this.

The snag is that newer models have a Siemens supplied "Babysmart" sensor located deep within the cushion of the passenger seat. Its purpose is to sense whether a special compatible baby seat is installed and then to disable the airbag on that side of the car. If I simply swap cushions and disconnect the wiring, the SRS light goes on and the passenger seat doesn't have airbag protection. The switch is much more than a simple pressure switch. It has three wires and electronic circuitry.

I'd rather not peel the leather cover off both cushions to move the switch to the other one because I fear I may damage the switch or the leather during the process. The switch looks expensive and fragile--too expensive to just buy another one for the other cushion.

An inelegant solution would be to go ahead with the cushion swap and run an extension cable (3 wires) under the carpet to the driver's side so the sensor will detect my weight in the seat and the system will function normally.

But what I would really like to know is if there is a way to simply disconnect the switch and build a jumper with resistors or whatever (I'm competent in this area) so the system will always think the seat is occupied by an adult. To do this, I need to know the electrical parameters of the sensor when it is in the compressed status. I.E., what does it look like electronically? I called Siemens and they can't advise me on disabling a safety system. No surprise there.

My question: Does anyone know the specs of the sensor or have any further information on it?

BTW- Never will a baby seat occupy my car. Period.

Picture of sensor attached. It is about as large as a seat bottom cushion and appears complicated.

[Timothy Shiben]

I understand why you what to do the swap, but when it pertains to the safety features of a auto, such as airbags, its hand off, due to safety and the liability.

I suggest using a good leather product; I just had to redye my bolster on my 92-MB about a year ago.

Timothy

[John_Collins]

The reasons for the swap are partly the leather wear, partly foam compression and partly spring sag. When I swapped the cushions in my 95SL (now sold) I was suprised that I sat a lot higher and had more support from the base. It really is a worthwhile project. After a couple of years I'll switch them back.

I should not be compromising safety if all I want to disable is the ability to sense whether there is a compatible baby seat installed on the passenger side. As stated, there never will be--not while I own the car. I'll return it to factory specs whenever I decide to sell it.

RE: I understand why you what to do the swap, but when it pertains to the safety features of a auto, such as airbags, its hand off, due to safety and the liability.

I suggest using a good leather product; I just had to redye my bolster on my 92-MB about a year ago.