I have a 2011 Cooper R56 Hardtop and my passenger side airbag error light is on. I paid the dealer $208.00 for their computer diagnose and they said... they need to replace the sensor in the seat. They said the whole seat needs to be ordered from the factory in Germany (2 week shipping), and it will cost $1400 for everything to correct the problem. They said it is every bit of a 4 1/2 hour job.

I asked if I could buy a whole seat from a Salvage yard and if they could do the rest to correct it, and they said No... because the seat is "VIN specific"? They said it needs to come from the factory and is programmed to my VIN? Is this correct?

So... my question here is... has anyone tried to purchase a whole seat from another of the same for an easy fix? I know where one is right now in my area. Does it really need to be re-programmed? Why are they saying that it is "VIN Specific" and another used seat will NOT work? Is this correct to all of what the Mini mechanic is recommending?

I don't think I would want to purchase the module from ebay to bypass the unit. I need to know 120% that the airbag will deploy in case of an accident. I wouldn't want to gamble on it doing what a guy on Ebay says, so that is not an option for me..A life is worth more than $1400 but if it could be corrected for less or by purchasing another used seat and then re-checked... than I would chance going that route.
Thanks!
Please message me or post!

 

I'm afraid I can't advise on what to do, but here are excerpts from BMW's instructions on how to replace sensor mat (OC3 mat) for passenger seat occupancy detector (quote):

Warning!
US/CDN front passenger seat (with OC3 mat) only:
A defective OC3 mat can only be replaced together with the padding and the seat cover. New OC3 mat is supplied with padding, seat cover and if necessary seat heating. After fitting, the OC3 mat must be enabled with the diagnosis system. Individual parts not available.

Operation for replacing the OC3 mat in conjunction with padding and seat cover is described in "Remove padding for passenger seat"

Enabling seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):
- connect BMW programming system
- code airbag control unit
- clear fault memory if necessary
(end quote).

I see nothing in there about the entire seat needed to be replaced, nor that parts come pre-coded from factory. I would confront the dealer with this and if they don't read up on their manuals, I'd go elsewhere.

 

Thank you George.
Giving the benefit of the doubt to the Mini mechanic to what you told me that the manual says... could the cost be the same or more, for performing what the manual is recommending, that it would make sense to just order the whole seat, as the dealer is recommending? They may say this. Mine does have the heated seats as well. Not sure how I can determine that before bring this all back to them.

Any idea or info in the manual, to how many hours it should take to perform the work (minus part cost), according to the manual?

Thank you again.
Nashville Tn. USA

 

A quick search reveals that there are no entire seats in the parts list for my Mini Model (SU31) on Mini's official server (in German):
https://shop.mini.de/mini-de/de_DE/m...ll_or_TID_SU31

Similar list in English on a non-BMW site:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...i-Cooper&mg=52

You can enter your Mini's information on both sites to see its specific parts lists. I doubt you will find complete seats being offered. This raises the question where your dealer intends to source an entire seat.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to manhours required for individual tasks. However, I wonder why replacing an entire seat should take 4 1/2 hours. The steps are:
- switch off ignition
- disconnect battery
- slide seat fully forward
- release two screws
- slide seat fully backward
- release two further screws
- unlock plug connections and disconnect plug
- cover entrance for protecting against scratches
- lift out seat

Re-installation is done in reverse order using new screws applied with loctite. There is no mentioning of any coding (unlike when replacing an OC3 mat which requires that it is activated after being fitted).

 

This may be of interest:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...anty-info.html
I'm scheduled at my dealer to have mine replaced under warranty

 

Thanks George,
Well... I did speak with an independent shop that works on a lot of Mini Coopers that came highly recommended to me, and they said it is NOT the whole seat, but everything you earlier posted, as far as parts and service listed in the manual. They said the last one they did, cost the owner between $1100 and $1400 (US $), by the time they were done with it. They said there was no other option if I wanted it done right. Then, a friend sent me a youtube video of someone that was performing the repair as the manual stated and it looked like a real pain in the neck! I called back the dealer and asked them about the whole seat replacement and they said No... it was not made clear to me that it was only the sensor in the seat cushion, but the 4.5 hours was because there was going to be programming and testing done as well as taking the seat apart and putting it back together again as well as a 2yr warranty. So... because I really need to know that it will save a life if the airbag needed to deploy... I told them to order the parts and I would agree to pay the $1400 minus a $100 coupon they offered = $1300 total.

 

Thanks Tom.
Yes, my extended warranty just happened to run out only 2 months ago, while it was in the dealer for 2 weeks after an accident that resulted in my driver side door not being able to un-lock while I was in the car.. When I asked if the warranty would have covered this issue I am now having with the passenger seat air bag they said... YES it would have been covered. However, I did read your article and it mentioned that they would NOT have replaced it unless... I was having a problem with it, in which I wasn't until lately and after the warranty expired. So... my bad luck, I guess? I love my car and I don't have much into it as far as price because I bought it after it had been totaled only because of it's age and the price to replace the driver side door when it was in an accident when it only had 22k miles on it. I only paid $6200 for it and had the dealer check it out prior to buying it. I rarely have any issues with the vehicle other than the price of it's routine maintenance.

 

My 2012 Cooper convertible is 2 months past the “in service date” when the problem was discovered. Has anyone had any luck with getting a good will repair from Mini or a dealer? The car only has 57,000 miles on it. Mini told me 100% no, they will not cover the cost since it is past the 10 year extended warranty and the dealer wants $1500 to fix it.

 

I just went through this same thing but mine is a hardtop 2011 model R56. This is for you if mine was also about two months Polo extended 10 year warranty and actually was in their shop when it expired or something else. They said when they would not cover it. I had heard that the convertible models (...Vin specific), were covered, but my hardtop wasn't. Same with water pumps. I also spoke to a local Mini Cooper shop... they said that BMW will not give in to anyting past the date after the extended 10 yr. warranty. For me to feel 100% sure that the bag would deploy, I had the dealer install the new sensor that included re-programming. They offered me a $100 coupon off the price of a total of $1,400 to help. When the work was completed the total came to just under $1,200 after the coupon was applied.

 

steps are correct, but it’s a 30 minute job.

 

This has all the info on the seats, you will not find info on the ETK or any other parts diagrams.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...anty-info.html