Officially Put my car up for sale.

-B

 

Yes there is the end of an air bag in the pillar, and yes the pillar will separate if the bag is deployed. People argue that the retaining straps will hold the panel from flying off...
They are right... Sorta...

The straps can hold the stock panel most of the time (occasionally they do break one or both of them)... However when you start adding weight to the panel physics says more mass being moved with the same force will need more force to stop it... The straps will break free more easily. If you think the pop in clips will hold the windshield side in place, your wrong. Those are there to hold it in place under normal conditions... Not a bag deployment! It only takes a couple pounds of pressure to pop them out. How many psi does an airbag deploy with? Enough to launch a 5 gallon bucket 100 or so feet in the air! (Been there, done it lots of times )

You also run the risk of the gauges themselves becoming a projectile if they are not fastened down. If they are just pressed into place chances are they will pop out.

What you can do about all of this... Disable the side curtains. Don't even need to go through pulling them out, just un plug the cylinders in the back of the car, and wire up the right resistor to keep the SRS light off. Simple fix, but hope you never need the bags.

(This was in NO way intended as an attack on the OP... Im not downing his work, nor trying to pick a fight or hurt his feelings. It was meant as an educational post from somebody who has deployed A LOT of airbags on purpose. So take it for what it is...)

 

Time for a little RANT:

Everyone like to say that you should not mount gauges on the A-pillar, "if you have an accident the gauges will fly out and hit you" I am now going to TOTALLY DISPROVE that internet crap!

In the shot below you will see the two tethers that hold the A-piller in place if the side curtain airbag deploys. (marked by red arrow)



The Tethers then slot into these holes on the body:



Also you will notice that the Curtain Airbag does NOT even go into the A-pillar, only the anchor strap for it does, it is designed so that the A-Pillar panel can pop away about 2 to 3 inches.

 

So the tether end of the bag has no force behind it during a bag deployment?

Sure looks like a lot of explosive force to me... And all there is to contain it is two small nylon retaining straps, screwed directly into soft plastic... Add weight + the explosion during a deployment physics says it will equal FAILURE of the retaining system because it is the weakest link.

 

Looking at your daytime pic in the other thread, and the brightness you show here, I might want to pic a couple of these up! Looks like they are only mounted in a 7/8" hole correct? Can you PM me a link?

 

I'm not really a fan of stripes, but with extra vinyl laying around, I made some fender/hood stripes. I'm not really sure if I like them yet, I'll have to see later when I get the car out of the garage.

For now here's a photo from my GoPro (wide angled so it may look a bit off).

 

Aaahhh... The old Corporal stripes... Seen it played a couple times, not many though. Its a good classic look, but is hard to pull off on the MINI because there is no separation between hood and fender on the side of a MINI...

Try tapering the ends (a sharp or rounded taper) all the way up past the headlight hump in the hood... I believe that would be the best look you where going for.

 

I thought about making it longer so that it goes past the headlight hump, but after seeing it on another Mini, I decided to go for the short and stubby stripe. I felt that in that sense it'll have the MINI's look and also be subtle.

I didn't want them to stand out to be honest. I'm planning on getting some matte black vinyl so it blends better to the plastic trim.

I'll keep what you said in mind next time when I have the matte vinyl, thanks!

 

Shorties are good... If you are cool with the length just knock off the sharp edges, MINIs body lines are very subtle.

Glad you didn't decide to sell her.

 

I'll render some previews first of a more rounded hash stripe to see what my best option is.

I would have sold it if I had money to buy a better car

New plan is to keep the MINI or keep it within the family, while I save up for something like a S2000 or Evo 8/9. Honestly prefer Japanese cars and the itch for that coming back strongly It's just hard to save up while in college.

 

I had an EVO VIII before my R50! Hands down my R53 wins in actual enjoyment!
Sure stock for stock the EVO wins every category on paper, but there is just something that comes with owning a MINI... Oh yeah they arent everywhere and driven exclusively by A-holes! (Just me on that last one depending on who you ask. :D)

 

I can totally relate! I myself also came from an Evo X. Driving a MINI everyday is just a whole lot better. With the evo, you have to always drive it hard to appreciate the car.
The MINI is just more of an all-around car than the evo IMO.

 

Nice to hear. Going in on the 30th for a P-0456 thing. I hope it's not scary. Blue Meanie seems to be acting just fine in the mean time. Coolant a bit low, so caring for that today, but oil level is good. Our cold snap is done for a few days that G, so a car wash tomorrow or Tuesday. Yay! It will be much nicer to drive in the 40's!

 

I still want an Evo It was one of my must have cars as a kid, so I have to get a taste of ownership to get that out of me. Don't get me wrong, I love pushing my R50 to its limits, but I want something that has more power in reserve

Oh, it was nice out so I took my camera and car out on the street to see if I like my stripes. I'm happy with them the way they are My JC sticker might have to go though

 

RSD!

 

Thats some pretty impressive artistic photography for a rear seat delete.

 

Picked up my new 2014 MINI Convertible S and wanted a little different look to it... so I designed a new bonnet/boot stripe I call the Victory Viper. I think it turned out pretty sweet



Say hello to the Salsa Jedi!

 

Picked up my new 2014 MINI Convertible S and wanted a little different look to it... so I designed a new bonnet/boot stripe I call the Victory Viper. I think it turned out pretty sweet



Say hello to the Salsa Jedi!

 

Had the installation of my Intregal Audio subwoofer fixed. Wow it sounds good with the H/K system.

 

Ordered LED license plate bulbs via ECS. : )

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

That looks great, Topgunner. I gave Blue Meanie a wash, and for some reason, after gassing up, adding some coolant, and cleaning off the gas cap (after a P-0456 evap signal) it's good to go and service engine light went off.. Maybe she's just liking it above freezing for once in 2 weeks! Smoked a couple of hot dogs in their giant trucks who thought they could do...something...?? The truck rednecks out here **** me off. They think they own the road...Tail me when just going speed limit. so, I thought. F-Off. and they got the message!

BTW: I want to get a couple window decals with a Beattle's Blue Meanie. Where do I shop?

 

35% Tint. Wish I could have gone darker.

 

Yesterday, Tackleberry received a new timing chain tensioner courtesy of MINI. The timing chain was fine. It does run a bit smoother as a result of the new tensioner. There is also less noise at start up.

 

So i got news today regarding my MINI, shop thinks its totaled. All engine mounts was broken, engine cradle was bent, all sensors were cracked, tranny is partially bent and the engine hasnt event been looked at yet. So they say they at 17k$ repair cost so far

 

I think if it were me, knowing all this, I would just push them to total it.