Hi all. Embarrassed that this is my first post to the forum but I have had a minor accident in my new Cooper S (Span it setting the driver side seat airbag off.)
Can any one advice me do I need a new seat cover or will they restich the seat and where is the best place to get an airbag from at a reasonble price
Regards Lynsey
EDIT: I span it coming off a roundabout and the impact of hitting the kerb set off the airbag, No damage to the car, allignment is fine and the wheels are true but the airbag is out of the seat :-( I was advised by mini to go through my insurance they quoted me over £200 just for the airbag and over £300 for seat cover obviously this doesn't include labour.
I was wondering is a new seat cover necessary (The seats are part leather) The stitching has burst but there is no damage to the actual leather. Could anybody advise if it can be restitched? I have found an airbag for £60 off an airbag specialist site.
Last edited by minicore; Oct 5th, 2011 at 02:30 PM.
Reason: Merge with updated thread
I span it coming off a roundabout and the impact of hitting the kerb set off the airbag, No damage to the car, allignment is fine and the wheels are true but the airbag is out of the seat :-( I was advised by mini to go through my insurance they quoted me over £200 just for the airbag and over £300 for seat cover obviously this doesn't include labour.
I was wondering is a new seat cover necessary (The seats are part leather) The stitching has burst but there is no damage to the actual leather. Could anybody advise if it can be restitched?
I bet you got a right old shock when the airbag went off! Since there was an impact, you could obviously go through your insurance... but it's probably not worth it when you consider that your renewal price will likely be affected (and you'll lose your no claims if they're not protected).
How much labour is involved in the airbag job? I wouldn't be surprised if the car actually HAD to go back to MINI for at least part of the work; I imagine there are things which need to be reset which only a dealership can do? I might be mistaken though...
If the leather has split neatly along the seam, I'd get some quotes from independent companies who specialise in re-trimming or repairing vehicle interiors, rather than splashing out for an entire new cover and fitting.
I suspect if your airbag deployed, and engine code will have been registered. You might still need to go back to your dealer to get code reset, even if you did get the a new airbag and seat fixed.
Also the trigger mechanism that caused the airbag to be deployed my need replacing.
This is probably going to get expensive.
I'm still trying to figure out how your airbag deployed without an impact that would seriously damage your chassis. Hitting a curb without any damage to the car should not trigger an airbag to deploy. You might investigate whether or not there is a safety/warranty issue here. - just a thought.
05MCS BEP
Alta 22mm rear anti-swaybar, Madness CAI, Alta 15%, NGK BRK7EIX, M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement plates, BSH Lower Engine Mount
The seat airbags on earlier Mini's (Gen1/Mk1) are fairly easy to replace with a new or good secondhand unit......or using a complete secondhand seat can sometimes be a cheaper option on older Mini's. The airbag warning light SRS system can usually be reset cheaply using a diy reset tool off ebay (as said may also be a sensor to replace?) or by using a local mobile specialist/auto electrician, etc.......they may also be able to advise/replace the stitching which of course must give easily to let the airbag inflate in an emergency.
I would guess the later Gen2/Mk2 Mini is very similar but have no personal experience of the SRS system on the later Mini's so hopefully someone else can advise further.
I know I can't beleive there is no damage except the airbag. It has been checked out and is driving absolutely fine. Pure luck I think. The kerb I hit side on wasn't square it have a slant / maybe this helped.
My boyfriend has ordered the airbag with what looks like the activator I'm not sure it should be here tomorrow.
Then it's the task of finding somebody to fit it, my main concern was paying for a whole new leather seat cover I just couldn't see this as the only answer, I'm tempted to get my nan to stitch it
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