[dsakko]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve11 (original)

Fitted my new R56 JCW/Recaro seats, pics are rubbish but you get the idea.

Sweeet! It's a bummer here in SA that if your car was fitted with any airbags (even if they were an optional extra) they have to remain in place and fully operational, meaning I can't change the seats unless they have side airbags in them.

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by dsakko (original)

Sweeet! It's a bummer here in SA that if your car was fitted with any airbags (even if they were an optional extra) they have to remain in place and fully operational, meaning I can't change the seats unless they have side airbags in them.

The factory ones from MINI have the airbags, as long as you don't mind paying $7000.

[dsakko]

Haha! Ok - who's going to donate to the "dsakko Needs Some Recaros" fund????

[n5290066]

Quote: Originally Posted by Quickbrick (original)

Seats look great Steve

...but are they actually JCW seats, or are they the equivalent Recaros? Reason I ask is that they don't seem to have the JCW logo on them in the normal place, and I also can't see the airbags in the sides???

How do you get on with insurance and the dealer? I'd be interested in similar seats if i knew i'd be ok with all that.

[Quickbrick]

Quote: Originally Posted by n5290066 (original)

How do you get on with insurance and the dealer? I'd be interested in similar seats if i knew i'd be ok with all that.

I don't think it is a legal requirement to have the airbags in QLD. I say this based on the R53 JCW seats as BMW were more than happy to sell them to us and they didn't have airbags fitted. BMW will even disable the airbag warning light on the dash for you so long as you sign a piece of paper that says they have warned you of the danger etc. My understanding is the paperwork is so that you can't later say that you didn't realise you lost your side airbags and try and take BMW to court in the event of an accident.

Dsakko - is the SA law about airbags a new one? Could you guys legally fit the old JCW seats in the R53s? Did MINI offer the R53 JCW seat in South Australia?

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by n5290066 (original)

How do you get on with insurance and the dealer? I'd be interested in similar seats if i knew i'd be ok with all that.

As Quickbrick stated my understanding is that the factory R53 JCW seats don't have airbags anyway so i don't see a problem.
The fact MINI will disable the airbag function shows there is no issue with them.
My insurance didn't mind either.
R56 may be a different case ?

[dsakko]

Quote: Originally Posted by Quickbrick (original)

IDsakko - is the SA law about airbags a new one? Could you guys legally fit the old JCW seats in the R53s? Did MINI offer the R53 JCW seat in South Australia?

Not sure if it's changed, but this was the ruling when the R53 JCW seats were first released. It's an SA only rule but I know of at least one R53 with them fitted, so not sure if it's one of those "only if you get caught" things, or if the TransportSA adviser was being overly cautious(they have a free advice hotline).

[steve11]

I really am amazed at Australian beauracracy sometimes...Some clown in the SA transport dept. thinks he knows better than the likes of BMW/MINI...lol.
Same thing applies to the centre speedo drama's...it was ok everywhere else in the world but not good enough for good old Australian law makers...what a joke!!!

[AndrewH]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve11 (original)

Same thing applies to the centre speedo drama's...it was ok everywhere else in the world but not good enough for good old Australian law makers...what a joke!!!

It had nothing to do with law makers. BMW Australia could have sought type approval for the centre speedo but didn't want to go through the process just for Australia - evidently with modern electronics being what they are, it was easier and cheaper to print Australian specific speedo and tacho dials than get a type approval done. When that particular ADR was still around, other car companies sought and received type approval for centrally mounted speedos - Toyota (Echo) and Nissan (X-trail) being 2 such examples. The ADR has since been harmonised with the equivalent UN ECE reg.

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by AndrewH (original)

It had nothing to do with law makers. BMW Australia could have sought type approval for the centre speedo but didn't want to go through the process just for Australia - evidently with modern electronics being what they are, it was easier and cheaper to print Australian specific speedo and tacho dials than get a type approval done. When that particular ADR was still around, other car companies sought and received type approval for centrally mounted speedos - Toyota (Echo) and Nissan (X-trail) being 2 such examples. The ADR has since been harmonised with the equivalent UN ECE reg.

I am well aware of that. My current company car is an Echo.
That is exactly my point, the fact that approval was required when the centrally located speedo is ok everywhere else in the world.
I stand by what i said.. the Australian design rules are/were a joke.

[dsakko]

Haven't they changed now? Have they adopted the Euro specs???

Oh, and getting back on topic I've just had fitted an XTreme performance clutch and a pair of the Moss Mini leather door pull covers. Very nice!

[AndrewH]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve11 (original)

I stand by what i said.. the Australian design rules are/were a joke.

I think that you've demonstrated that you've got no idea

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by AndrewH (original)

I think that you've demonstrated that you've got no idea

Thanks Andrew thats nice of you.
I have no idea why you would take my opinion of the ADR's personally ?
Am i not entitled to an opinion ?
Please PM me if i have said something to upset you or are you just having a bad day ?

[eb/w mini]

A new passenger side front fog light.
The original bulb got smashed in a freak yachting accident and apon fronting up to the local bmw dealer to get a new bulb i was quoted 78 clams or something like that. the bulb has some kinda bmw/ mini specific dohicky that i couldnt find in supercheap or places like that so for the last few months ive been dreading getting caught unawares by a quick deploying fog.
I took the minister in to get an oil change and he took the bulb out n got a replacement bulb for 32 clams.
Bring on the fog now! I scoff in your general direction fog god.

[steve11]

Fitted some nice new Advan A048 semi slicks to my OE 17"s today for track use.
Hope that's ok with everyone ?
Sorry for the sarcasm. LOL.

[Dave Elliott]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve11 (original)

Thanks Andrew thats nice of you.
I have no idea why you would take my opinion of the ADR's personally ?
Am i not entitled to an opinion ?
Please PM me if i have said something to upset you or are you just having a bad day ?

I too seemed to have upset AndrewH a little while ago whilst discussing the ADRs. I had suggested that the guys looking after the ADRs should have made more of an issue of the placement of the indicator stalk on the MINI and other imported cars (where it contradicts that of locally made and Japanese cars) rather than the centrally mounted speedo.

I think he works or used to work in the same office as the ADR guys. He knows what he's talking about but doesn't seem to take criticism of the ADRs very well

[steve11]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dave Elliott (original)

I too seemed to have upset AndrewH a little while ago whilst discussing the ADRs. I had suggested that the guys looking after the ADRs should have made more of an issue of the placement of the indicator stalk on the MINI and other imported cars (where it contradicts that of locally made and Japanese cars) rather than the centrally mounted speedo.

I think he works or used to work in the same office as the ADR guys. He knows what he's talking about but doesn't seem to take criticism of the ADRs very well

Oh OK, thanks for the heads up Dave, i'll try to steer clear of anything that may upset him in future.

[Dave Elliott]

I'd better post the original reason for visiting this thread.

I was looking locally for a new Bypass Valve and was quoted over $200 from or local dealer. This seemed a bit rich considering the part is only 35 pounds sterling.

I contacted Wollaston BMW (one of MINI2 sponsors) and one is on its way at 36 + 15 pounds. In other words a lot less than half price.

Looking forward to getting my hands dirty again. I'll be fitting Powerflex engine mount bushes at the same time.

Cheers,

Dave

[OJM]

2 x new Hankook K107 runflat tyres on my front wheels = £217 after fitting

There goes the GTT strut brace, for now

[AndrewH]

Quote: Originally Posted by steve11 (original)

Thanks Andrew thats nice of you.
I have no idea why you would take my opinion of the ADR's personally ?
Am i not entitled to an opinion ?
Please PM me if i have said something to upset you or are you just having a bad day ?

I work with the guys and gals that do ADR's and trust me, they are extremely hard working especially given they deal with a hell of a lot of crap - mainly from people that are bored and have nothing better to do with their time than make preposterous and/or unfounded criticisms of them, the ADR's and the ADR process. Often times they get blamed for the decisions of manufacturers or for the decisions of state and terrotory governments. They are also in the unenviable position of having to weigh up the national good, not just the interest of a tiny vocal minority. I imagine that the reason why we don't require indicator stalks on the right side is that it would probably be considered to be a barrier to trade. The policy people would at some point have looked at the statistics for the number of accidents caused by a person flipping on the wipers instead of the indicators and weighed this up against the very serious consequences that may have resulted from a claim by a foreign government that we have put in place an artificial barrier to trade. Obviously the barrier to trade issue has far more serious consequences (such as retaliatory action) than some slight inconvenience cause by the indicator stalk not being where a hand full of people think it should be. In the end, the position taken is one which protects the national interest.

It's easy to criticise, it's a lot harder to actually be a productive part of the process making a difference. Oh, and I'm not sensitive about ADR's, I just feel the need to jump to their defense sometimes and nip stupidity in the bud