So I got my battery replaced at my local garage, but when they replaced it, the airbag light came on. At first they tried to reset all the lights and functions with the computer doohicky (yeah I'm not a car mechanic so I know next to nothing), and they checked everything with the car. In fact they checked it 3 different times with 2 or 3 different machines. One of which said that the airbag was faulty.

The airbag has never been deployed and this was my first battery change (I think? at least outside of warranty). I brought it to my MINI dealer for an oil change and those guys said it'd cost me $650 for it, the same it'd cost their collision center to fix the airbag.

So my question is,... is this common? I tried looking on some threads but they all talk about water in their battery compartment (which I have none) or wires, but not sure about it. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

PS it's a 2005 MINI COOPER S. I'm the sole owner.