[justineallen]

I've got a 2003 Mini without the Isofix attachment. I'm trying to avoid having to sell my Mini when our new baby comes along and just wondered if anybody had had any experience of the front airbag being deactivated so the infant seat can go in the front.

Any views/advice much appreciated.

[minisoopercooper]

on your car it is something the dealer has to do for you - on later models (Jul 05 onwards) there is a key switch to do it yourself.

Paul

[Paul]

Why not use the back seats? That's what we did, no problem.

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Why not use the back seats? That's what we did, no problem.

Exactly what I was going to say. In Canada, it is illegal to put a car seat in the front unless there is no back seat. If you have a very young infant, then you need a rear facing seat. I would recommend one of those rear view mirrors you can suction cup to the boot window. Then looking through your rearview mirror, you can see what your baby is up to also.

Cheers! and congratulations.

[lespurgeon]

I was reminded when we had our seat checked that those rear facing mirrors tend to fly off if somebody runs into the back of you - and they are usually positoined exactly to fly into the face of a rear-facing passenger.

I sit far enough back that I can see *most* of our little guy from the driver's seat if I look back at stop lights. Wife sits further foreward, and can only hear him.

[beken]

Quote: Originally Posted by lespurgeon (original)

I was reminded when we had our seat checked that those rear facing mirrors tend to fly off if somebody runs into the back of you - and they are usually positoined exactly to fly into the face of a rear-facing passenger.

I sit far enough back that I can see *most* of our little guy from the driver's seat if I look back at stop lights. Wife sits further foreward, and can only hear him.

You can get the ones with a swivel joint on them so you mount the mirror off in the corner somewhere (don't mount it directly in front of child). Also, when sticking them on, you have to make sure the rear window is absolutely clean as well as the suction cup. It's when dust and oil (finger prints) get inbetween the contact surfaces that allows air to get into the suction cup and compromise the strength of the hold.

[StuandEm]

Hi Everyone,
My wife is looking to go on a journey with her sister in her lovely Mini2 and we were checking to see if the baby seat (rear facing) can go in the back. We checked out the manual and it stated:
"Universal reboard-Position Child restraint systems must NOT be used in the rear seat".

Can anyone explain what this means as looking at the treads on here people clearly use rear facing baby seats in the back of the Mini2's

Thanks in advance

Stuart, Emily and baby Lucy

[suzysafloozy]

Quote: Originally Posted by StuandEm (original)

Hi Everyone,
My wife is looking to go on a journey with her sister in her lovely Mini2 and we were checking to see if the baby seat (rear facing) can go in the back. We checked out the manual and it stated:
"Universal reboard-Position Child restraint systems must NOT be used in the rear seat".

Can anyone explain what this means as looking at the treads on here people clearly use rear facing baby seats in the back of the Mini2's

Thanks in advance

Stuart, Emily and baby Lucy

looking forward to replies to this - im a nanny and will be taking on a newborn in march so i hope i dont have to start waiting at bus stops!

[jovigirl]

Hi,

I had my front airbag deactivated in June of this year so that I could carry my baby in the front seat. I have to put both seats down in the back to be able to fit the pram in so it wasn't an option to put her in the back seat.

It cost me just over £250. I did get a reduced rate as I had a bit of a hassle with the dealership. Basically what it involves is you need to contact them to let them know you want it done. You then have to complete some paperwork that gets sent to Germany so the dealership can get the codes for the computer to deactivate the airbag. They also have to order a new seat belt for the passenger side.

The problem I had was that I completed the paperwork the day I took my car in to have the work done, only to be told 3 hours later that they couldn't do the work as the paperwork needed to be completed about a week previous so they could get the codes etc.

This was the fault of the dealership and as I was very, very heavily pregnant they said they would reduce the cost of the work because of the inconvenience I had suffered (however that was because I kicked up such a stink in the showroom - pregnancy hormones and all).

The work only took a few hours once they did it and they even gave me the original seatbelt for if I get the airbag re-activated.

Hope this helps you out.

[Randall Raines]

This reply is a bit late for the original post but it may help someone else reading this .

As stated by "jovigirl", passenger airbag de-activation can be done by the main dealer, I wasn't actually aware of the change of seatbelt though (i have never had it done myself though ).

I think it varies on different models to how it is done or what needs to be done (the R52s actually have a de-activation switch that is turned on and off with the key, on later models, possibly even later R50s & R53s), I have also seen a accessories kit on the much talked about RealOEM website .

Any advice I give may vary from MINI - MINI so you are better off going on the RealOEM site and putting your actual details in and see if a kit is available (even if it doesn't show up on here, contact your main dealer as something should be able to be done ).

1. Click the link for the RealOEM website : RealOEM.com
2. Select the model & options for your MINI or put in your chassis #.
3. Click the "Browse Parts" button.
4. Select 61: VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.
5. Select 61 95: ACCESSORIES AND RETROFITTINGS.
6. Scroll down to RETROFIT, PASSENGER AIRBAG SHUTOFF and click the image.

If the parts / retrofit are available for your model it will show up below, if nothing is shown contact your main dealer and see what can be done .

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by jovigirl (original)

Hi,

I had my front airbag deactivated in June of this year so that I could carry my baby in the front seat. I have to put both seats down in the back to be able to fit the pram in so it wasn't an option to put her in the back seat.

It cost me just over £250. I did get a reduced rate as I had a bit of a hassle with the dealership. Basically what it involves is you need to contact them to let them know you want it done. You then have to complete some paperwork that gets sent to Germany so the dealership can get the codes for the computer to deactivate the airbag. They also have to order a new seat belt for the passenger side.

The problem I had was that I completed the paperwork the day I took my car in to have the work done, only to be told 3 hours later that they couldn't do the work as the paperwork needed to be completed about a week previous so they could get the codes etc.

This was the fault of the dealership and as I was very, very heavily pregnant they said they would reduce the cost of the work because of the inconvenience I had suffered (however that was because I kicked up such a stink in the showroom - pregnancy hormones and all).

The work only took a few hours once they did it and they even gave me the original seatbelt for if I get the airbag re-activated.

Hope this helps you out.

Or you could have got a smaller pram/pushchair?!

[slim_boy_fat]

I was looking for this last week, i couldnt believe that there was not key for switching off the passenger air bag.

To be honsest the mini is a bit child un friendly, the rear is not easy to get into and that not taking into account the way the rear seat belts fit, a child seat is not easy to fit in the first place. Add to that you cant fit a car seat to the front without handing £250 over to the mini dealer

Poor show all round.

Seems a lot of these areas have been addressed in the newer version.

[Paul]

All MINIs had a passenger deactivation switch (as an option at first I believe) from the 'facelift' in July 2004.