EDIT:
You can cut to the chase in post #7 for the final solution
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Well the title may say it all.
Perhaps a stupid question...but here ' goes: "Do airbags have a shelf life?". I've read that, no - They don't.

My center cap/emblem on the airbag is starting to show some age on my R53. I have read that the steering wheel center cap/emblem is non removable...but I haven't tried yet.
Once in a while when doing a little shopping at the local Pull-'Em-Apart yard, I sometimes come across some fairly nice R50s & R53s with "like new" condition steering wheels/airbag.
Since I am not interested in aftermarket vinyl overlays/decals; I'm tempted to swap mine out with a good, non deployed salvage yard find. .

Although the salvage yard clearly state: "we don't sell airbags" - I've seen quite a few "scrap rats" (like myself), going through check out with steering wheels + columns which, (obvious to me), still have the airbags installed.
Albeit, airbags are expensive to replace - However, I'm really more interested in:
#1: A salvage yard replacement airbag will still deploy.
#2: Aesthetics
#3: Any reprogramming involved if swapping a non deployed airbag from the same gen?

Thanks.

 

Airbags do not have a shelf life, however they should never have been wet and EXTREME caution if you are installing it yourself. They can be very dangerous if an unplanned and uncontained deployment occurs

 

I would also echo DFH1's comment and take heed.

I went out to the "used grocery" store today (aka: salvage yard), and pulled an airbag from an '02 R50.
The center steering wheel/airbag emblem was in rough shape and not worth salvaging, so I tried a few things before prying out the center indicia cap.
This center cap is all that I'm looking for:


The silver surround is painted and part of the PU airbag cover. Don't bother trying to pop it off...


But the center emblem is attached by nothing more than a ring of barbs that plug into slots within the surrounding (painted) silver circle/surround.

There were no other Minis in the yard so I'll have to come back another day in hopes to source an emblem in good condition.
The next time; I will also be sure to bring my computer repair spudgers to avoid damaging/bending the thin metal center emblem.

BTW: If you are like me; only interested in replacing your steering wheel center indicia cap - DON'T let the stealership convince you that the entire airbag module has to be replaced to remedy the poor aesthetics!

 

I need one of those as well, and I have no pick and pulls up here. My winds are all cracked and crappy looking. I wish there was a replacement part for just the cover. At least I know now that it can be done! Great work in solving one of my personal mysteries!

 

I can't help but feel rather foolish that what I had read; lead me to believe that those center cap emblems could not be removed.
In the past year or so, ' scrounging around the vestige of Mini's at the Pull-A-Parts - I had come across a handful of gems and had to pass due to ignorance. Or at the very least - not even trying....when I felt I knew better.
The 2nd gen models are a different story: The chrome metal emblems (wings), in the center are press molded into the rubber airbag cover. I found a 2008 this afternoon with an airbag that had deployed and managed to cut the
rubber surround out, revealing the backside of how the chrome emblem was press molded into place. It was a pain to cut out the chrome emblem with just a retractable blade on hand. I almost got it before I inadvertently, irreparably bent it.

To your point @jcolletteiii , To be sure - I will not be passing up anymore good, center wing emblems in the future. To the point of salvaging as many as I can

 

Well, ok...
As I had previously emphasized -
The center steering wheel caps themselves cannot be replaced (at this point in time), without cutting and tearing apart (destroying) the PUR/rubber center of the airbag they are embedded in.
Therefore, (the best to my knowledge), it probably goes without saying; the entire steering wheel airbag has to be replaced just to quell the desire to have a fresh looking "Wings" emblem as it had once looked when your Mini was new.
However, that hasn't deterred me from removing the ones that still look fairly decent from salvage yard finds.
Don't ask me as to why I still find the need to waste my time doing so....


I learned a few tricks since having destroyed the first couple during my initial attempts.
The upper Right emblem was one of my first attempts. The Wings indicia wasn't in too bad of condition but I had later used it as test subject since it was already, irreparably dented.
The upper Left emblem wasn't too badly damaged after I figured out how they were secured to the airbag. The lower Center - I had discovered using the right tools and methods, with a little more patience,
I managed to remove a near perfect center cap emblem without damage.


Success = Fifth time's a charm.



If you've ever wondered...
You can see from the back side: The Wings Logo indicia is stamped/embossed into a sheer, polished, die cut disc with prongs that are then pressed into the center of the PUR airbag cover...
On some post face-lift models the prongs are secured to a plastic disc that is subsequently press fitted into the PUR and has a lanyard attached to the inside center of the airbag itself.

On a side note:
While the center cap is highly polished stamped tin, with the Wings indicia embossed from the back - The high gloss black face of the actual center cap is achieved in paint and clear coat via stencil/"silk screen"(?) around the logo
allowing the pronounced polished indicia to exaggerate the bas relief appearance.

Again, why does this post exist?...
Or - Better yet, why do I care?

I have no answer. Other than sheer curiosity...

 

Ok- So call me a tenacious PITA for continuing this thread...
Maybe you'll cut me some slack if you read to the end?


Having successfully extracted a near perfect center steering wheel/airbag emblem from a salvage yard Mini (as seen in my previous post ) - Here is what I started off doing.
#1_turn the emblem cap upside-down...


#2_Using a Dremel with a cut-off wheel; Sheer/ cutoff the 8 little barbs. You'll want to do this from the back side as not to chip the paint on the face of the emblem.
Then gently de-burr any remaining sharp edges with a drum sander attachment...


#3_ Beautiful. Now you have a nice button...


Pictured here is my original fading center cap still mounted on the steering wheel/airbag cover of my Mini...


#4_Now just pop that perfectly new/used cap right over your existing old one. No need to remove your old tired looking one -
The cap simply pops right on with no discernible protrusion what so ever.

The cap, by itself, fits perfectly snug but I recommend affixing it in place with a couple of small pieces of sheer clear double sided tape.
is what I had on hand an worked very nicely.