I would jump in on the petition, but I am located in Canada, already had it fix twice (on warranty) because of the pasanger car seat. Usually happen when people move the seat around abruptly when the car is started it pinches wired (i am in a car pool so this happens). The best way to prevent this is making sure once in a while that the wires underneath the seat are tie correctly.
By the way they fix it both time under warranty but now that my warranty is over i really hope it doesn't happen again because there is no way to reset that fault except to go to the dealer which is 6 hours from where I live.
Thanks for that restyle! I take it that these are MINI USA documents? How could we use these to help us in our quest to get this problem fixed in the UK?
I think you`re more likely to get a positive result to any problem if you go to your dealers armed with a copy of the TSB {Technical Service Bullitin) relating to that fault.
It is often the case that the dealer will initially deny he has ever heard of such a problem before, {I think it must be taught to them on day 1 of their management course}.
So even if its the case that your car is out of warranty, you might just be able to come to some sort of agreement on getting the problem sorted either as part goodwill gesture, or reduced rates.
Who knows ? ... But you`ve got nothing to loose in trying.
Please find attached all comments added to the Airbag Warning Light Petition as of 04/02/2007. I have removed ALL owners names and registration numbers to protect all concerned. I hope you may find this of some use by taking it to your dealer and getting the problem admitted as a manufacturing fault therefore repaired free of charge and with a warranty added. Please keep adding to the Petition and feel free to take individual concerns to BMW UK Customer Services.
Thanks for that jairfranz... soon as i get a chance i will be at the dealers trying to get this problem sorted. how have you gone on in getting yours sorted?
It looks like the links to the alldata site have been tightened up now so you can't get in without a subscription. When I first saw them and clicked on them, they worked and I could access the documents. Does anyone have a saved copy they could email to me? Thanks.
- Tell Dealer to ask BMW for goodwill
- Call BMW Customer Service Yourself as well to complain using the info here
- Be polite, firm but persistent
- if no joy call VOSA
So far BMW have offered to pay the £77 labour but want me to pay £66 for the seat belt pre-tensioner part; now I have all these examples will be calling Customer Service again tomorrow
Had my second repair at Cooper Thames Ditton last week. The approach I adopted was while checking the car in, clarified that if the same error was found during the diagnosis for the same failing part then it would be covered under the warranty for the repair last year. If it was one of the three other areas that could fail (it was the driver's side last time) then I wanted them to call me before carrying out any repair. I explained that I had been in contact with several other Mini owners who had had similar problems, mentioned the US recall and the fact that I had seen the Technical Service Bulletins. When the diagnosis was done, they called me back and said it was the passenger side this time, so not covered by the previous repair warranty. Without prompting, they offered to contact MINI UK to see if they would be willing to contribute to the repair. The next day, MINI UK said they would pay 50% of the parts and labour, so I was happy to pay that = £44+VAT. Previous charge for driver's side was £127+VAT but I think they padded that out with a bit more diagnostic - parts prices look comparable.
Moral of the story - get the facts, make sure they know you have the facts, stick together!
Last edited by clouseau999; Feb 13th, 2007 at 08:50 PM.
Reason: typo
I've been told by a BMW/MINI tech that it only disables the element of the system that the fault was detected on. All other elements of the airbag system stay active if there are no faults registered on them.
Had a airbag light come on on an 52 plate Cooper S. 45k on the clock. Not had anything loose under the seats or knocking the cable. The car was in cruise control at 70mph on the motorway and had been for several miles when the light suddenly came on. not tried to have it sorted by the dealer yet as don't think I can afford the £50-100 that I keep hearing it will cost!
Yep but until the fault is read you dont know what parts at fault & hence the airbag MAY NOT function ... mine is the seatbelt pretensioner so not a major concern but want to get it fixed soon and will claim the cost back off MINI UK later if I can
Dont trust the car / computer to activate the airbags correctly when the light is on & dont want my passenger to be at risk - this RISK is why we're campaigning for MINI to warranty repair them all as a potential safety issue
According to the guy at VOSA, if the light doesnt come on but the system failed eg. in an accident we'd have a strtonger case; once the warning light is on & you're aware you need to do something - in this case I'm putting the onus back on MINI to fix it under warranty
Contact Customer Service on 01344 426565 & ask your dealer to request Goodwill from MINI UK ...
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Airbag Petition Update 04/02/07 
Vosa Are Going To Take This Up With Bmw !! 
