On the one hand I applaud MB for finding a solution to forgetting to turn off the airbag when a baby seat is put on the front passenger seat by using a special car seat with a transponder that tells the car to turn off the airbag.
On the other hand I object to losing control and not having a simple switch like other cars do and being forced to buy an expensive Britax (rebadged Mercedes) seat. Even worse is the possibility of someone using a non-transponder-equipped seat and running the risk of the airbag going off.
I wonder, therefore, if there is a source of junked MB-Britax seats (none on e-bay) with excisable transponders, or even a circuit diagram to build such a transponder.