R50/53 keep side curtain airbag, or not
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
There are few MINI technicians on this forum because, undoubtedly, they're just as frustrated with people who don't know how to work on cars as I am.
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6th Gear
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and to clarify, the remaining airbags CAN be deployed with the light on. the light is just showing that theres a problem with the system, but remaining working airbags will deploy.
if im wrong, id like to be corrected, and have proof to back your explanation please.
if im wrong, id like to be corrected, and have proof to back your explanation please.
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6th Gear
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I hate to frustrate you, and I hear what you're saying. You're not tracking the car. Okay. But it's just senseless. I can understand removing the airbags for making a competitive race car, since they aren't necessary for the track. But federal law mandates cars have airbags. The airbags are what protect you most in a crash. MINIs are not half as safe without them. Why you'd want to disable them at all (for stereo equipment of all things!) is beyond me.
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6th Gear
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The connectors at the gas cylinders are the only connections to the system. ANY time you work with or around SRS systems, you have to disconnect the battery and wait at least two minutes for the charge remaining in buffer capacitors in the controller to dissipate.
The side curtain bag systems have a long pipe that comes from the gas generator and run along the inside roofline all the way to the front pillars. You have to remove the headliner to take these out.
Why do you want to remove these? If you are installing a huge sub box, you can engineer it so that it clears the system. Now, if you are completely gutting everything behind the B pillars, I can see the need.
As for the resistors, most likely they would have to be around 3 ohm, much the same as the seat airbag. I'm not absolutely sure about this, but it seems to be a typical resistance for just about every airbag gas generator I've encountered.
The side curtain bag systems have a long pipe that comes from the gas generator and run along the inside roofline all the way to the front pillars. You have to remove the headliner to take these out.
Why do you want to remove these? If you are installing a huge sub box, you can engineer it so that it clears the system. Now, if you are completely gutting everything behind the B pillars, I can see the need.
As for the resistors, most likely they would have to be around 3 ohm, much the same as the seat airbag. I'm not absolutely sure about this, but it seems to be a typical resistance for just about every airbag gas generator I've encountered.
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2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
and to clarify, the remaining airbags CAN be deployed with the light on. the light is just showing that theres a problem with the system, but remaining working airbags will deploy.
if im wrong, id like to be corrected, and have proof to back your explanation please.
if im wrong, id like to be corrected, and have proof to back your explanation please.
I went to automotive school to learn this. I really doubt that the MINIs are any different than any of the other second-gen stuff I've worked on.
Last edited by s.mini.madness; Mar 13, 2008 at 09:54 AM.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
I agree with GreatBear, by the way, in saying that you should engineer the sub box to WORK AROUND the side curtain airbags. Note that he essentially confirmed what I said about the proper procedure for disarming the airbags.
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6th Gear
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no possible way to build a wall that wont interfere with those side airbags along the entire side of the headliner.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
So you're saying he blew up the other airbags in his car...just to make sure they worked with the light on.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
You need to take your car to a MINI certified mechanic. Talk to your dealership or find out who in the independent community is good at working on Coopers, because odds are there's no way the dealer will risk committing a Federal offense by disabling or otherwise modifying your airbags. Don't attempt it on your own.
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6th Gear
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what im saying, is i dont see what the difference is on this, than all the other MINI owners that buy and install their own racing seats, and use 4 ohm resistors to trick the seat airbag wiring harness.
the side airbag harness is just another harness, just not for the seats, its for the side ones. see what im saying? all the racing seat owners disabled the seat airbags them selves.
the side airbag harness is just another harness, just not for the seats, its for the side ones. see what im saying? all the racing seat owners disabled the seat airbags them selves.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
I'm getting a headache from arguing with you. Now I know why MINI technicians on this forum are scarce.
6th Gear
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From: Inside the DC Beltway
Just becasue someone is a technician or went to school doesn't mean they have the answers for everything. Dont get me wrong, im sure you know your share about Mini's but don't discredit other people when you don't know what they are capable of.
Ive known alot of car guys, some who went to school, some who didnt. IMO the guys who didnt go to school and learned it through trial and error rather then reading book know alot more.
Ive taken out many airbags in my life, on new and older car, and I think they should come out.
Ive known alot of car guys, some who went to school, some who didnt. IMO the guys who didnt go to school and learned it through trial and error rather then reading book know alot more.
Ive taken out many airbags in my life, on new and older car, and I think they should come out.
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6th Gear
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ok new info here from glen aka "glnr13"
he says that he thinks the side airbag is seperated into 2 chambers so to speak. rear, for the rear passengers, and then up front, for me.
dont know if thats true or not.
he says that he thinks the side airbag is seperated into 2 chambers so to speak. rear, for the rear passengers, and then up front, for me.
dont know if thats true or not.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
I'm not condemning anyone who didn't go to school. It was just obvious to me by the original question and the replies received that no one knew the correct answer.
Yes, I get that's why he was asking the question. I simply had a problem with the flippant talk about removing airbags, etc. and all the BS about different ways to solve the problem. 97 was receiving incorrect information that could get him seriously hurt or cost him thousands of dollars in airbag damage or personal injury. The fact that 97 asked the question SHOWS ME that he does not have the ability to work with the SRS SYSTEM, not that he is not competent in other areas, because had he the prior knowledge of the system and the service manual, he would have not come here.
No, you don't have to go to school to get this training. But the fact is that NO ONE was giving correct information before I threw in my two cents.
Yes, I get that's why he was asking the question. I simply had a problem with the flippant talk about removing airbags, etc. and all the BS about different ways to solve the problem. 97 was receiving incorrect information that could get him seriously hurt or cost him thousands of dollars in airbag damage or personal injury. The fact that 97 asked the question SHOWS ME that he does not have the ability to work with the SRS SYSTEM, not that he is not competent in other areas, because had he the prior knowledge of the system and the service manual, he would have not come here.
No, you don't have to go to school to get this training. But the fact is that NO ONE was giving correct information before I threw in my two cents.
Last edited by s.mini.madness; Mar 13, 2008 at 12:04 PM.
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
I get that. Thank you. That's what I was trying to point out.
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6th Gear
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is the side airbag divided into 2 parts, rear and front? i heard the back part (behind the B pillar) when deployed, it wraps under the trim and drops down, covering the rear side glass (like a curtain)
2nd Gear
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From: Pacific Northwest
Quoted almost verbatim from the Bentley MINI service manual, Airbag system components:
1. Passenger airbag in dashboard
2. Driver airbag in steering wheel
3. MRS controle module between front seats, under carpet
4. Upper body airbag in each front seat
5. Head protection airbags along sides of roof
6. Side impact crash sensors under rear seat
Replacement of a head protection airbag is an extensive operation, including removal of the *Complete headliner, *A pillar trim, *B pillar trim, *C pillar trim, and *Rear side panels.
MINI provides no information about airbag module resistance. And yes, it does wrap down. The side curtain airbag is all one unit and deploys to cover the front and rear side windows in the event of a significant crash (or user error).
1. Passenger airbag in dashboard
2. Driver airbag in steering wheel
3. MRS controle module between front seats, under carpet
4. Upper body airbag in each front seat
5. Head protection airbags along sides of roof
6. Side impact crash sensors under rear seat
Replacement of a head protection airbag is an extensive operation, including removal of the *Complete headliner, *A pillar trim, *B pillar trim, *C pillar trim, and *Rear side panels.
MINI provides no information about airbag module resistance. And yes, it does wrap down. The side curtain airbag is all one unit and deploys to cover the front and rear side windows in the event of a significant crash (or user error).
Last edited by s.mini.madness; Mar 13, 2008 at 12:14 PM.