Disable passenger airbag: Permanent or via switch?

We are awaiting delivery of a new Mini.

The dealer was confused about this too so got the workshop foreman who brought the service manual out.

On pre facelift (is that July-ish 04) models you can only disable the airbag.
Post facelift there is the option of a factory fit switch for 30 Pounds Sterling.

Cheers

d

ukdavvy said:

We are awaiting delivery of a new Mini.

The dealer was confused about this too so got the workshop foreman who brought the service manual out.

On pre facelift (is that July-ish 04) models you can only disable the airbag.
Post facelift there is the option of a factory fit switch for 30 Pounds Sterling.

Cheers

d

Click to expand...

Not in the USA (or maybe USA and Canada?) I believe, legal issues, or fears would be my guess for the reason?

MINI USA told me it could be done.
3 Midwest (CHI & MKE) area dealers said they would or could not disable the pass. airbag. Paul hit it on the head...
So, struggle on getting the kids into the back, or use the 4dr car mostly like we do.
The switch looks nice.

It should be doable. I am looking at doing this for my '05. I would like to get instructions and the part from Europe. Then you can fill out a government form that authorizes the disabling of the airbag on your car. You should be able to get the many companies that specialize in this to have it done.

I am not sure why MiniUSA won't do this. It is not a safety issue. There are numerous cars sold in the US, with this feature, I have on of them. So I can't figure out why.

For me it's not MINI USA as they said its possible, the dealers don't want to deal with it.
Even saying I'd sign something.
They don't have a problem taking runflats off though.
Let us know if you if you figure a way to get the stuff from Europe.

Yes - let us know.

I'd be willing to order a UK part and have a private shop do the work for me.

JR

Any Luck?

Has anyone had any luck doing this in the US?

Don't US models have a weight sensitive system that only fires the airbag if more than 20kg(?) is in the passenger seat. This is not the case in the UK of course.
Whilst the airbag switch is useful an automatic several stage airbag dependant on weight is a more elegant solution and i thought this was standard in the US
Note also that there are no isofix mountings on the front seat (unlike some other cars). (ISOFIX is a EU standard)

Yes, there is a weight system in the US spec cars. If nobody is in the seat, the airbag is disabled. If I child under a certain weight is in the seat, the airbag light (on ceiling) will come on to let you know it is disabled. If an adult sits in the seat, it is armed...

Because us Americans are sue happy you are probably not going to have any luck with this. Even if you install the switch, you will probably have to have the system reset and a dealer might not be willing to mess with it after you did. My advice is to leave it alone and let the car do the thinking...