I'm asking this question because I'm considering of replacing factory seats with aftermarket sport seats (i.e. Sparco, Katskin, etc...). Although I like the looks of those seats, I don't want to compromise safety. Does anyone have experience with side airbag? Suggestions? :smile:

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04 IB/W JCW MCS

 

i am sure they help in the long run, but if you have a race like seat and are running a 4 point harness that keeps you pined to the seat then i do not think it will matter much. i have been for drives with people that have the harness's on there stock seat and you do not move when the belt is tight. hope that helps.

 

>>I'm asking this question because I'm considering of replacing factory seats with aftermarket sport seats (i.e. Sparco, Katskin, etc...). Although I like the looks of those seats, I don't want to compromise safety. Does anyone have experience with side airbag? Suggestions? :smile:

From a pure safety standpoint for the average driver on the street- the side airbag is an integral part of the passive restraint and safety design of the MINI. When in an accident -driver and passengers are protected from more serious injury and this has been documented based on posts on this site.

If your replacement seat is used in autocross or on the track and gives you added comfort and fit for you in your car which allows you to AVOID an accident then it becomes part of the safety equiptment.

For street or road use I would keep the stock seats with airbag, especially for the front passenger.

 

It would be nice to upgrade the stock seats, but I won't. Why lose even a shred of safety when there are so many Excursions around driven by twits on cell phones?

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck whatever you do.

Regards,
Red

 

I'll also vote for keeping the side airbags. There's not a lot of crush space between you and the outside, and being belted in tightly won't help much in a side impact collision (seat belts mostly help in a front crash, to keep you off the dash, or in any crash from being ejected).

Eric

 

I never trust a green light. That's where a lot of people are killed due to people running red lights. If you don't look before crossing a green light, no airbag's gonna save you.

Airbags are mandated to compensate for the idiots who don't wear seat belts. If they were so useful, why don't racing cars and aircrafts use them?? humm, hummm?



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well Sid, most applications would yield too much weight added for airbag suppliments. The airplane would never take off if it had 300 airbag modules built-in!

Well, the side bags definitely saved me from injury when I crashed Mr.Motor, however with the implimentation of Schroth 4-point harneses in MM2, I'd say that the usefulness of the seat airbag is reduced. I would never take out the head bag in a road-going car!

Good luck,
Ryan

 

I saw a piece on the news the other day about an SUV, I think the Explorer, where the side impact airbags had a built in 3 second delay to protect in a rollover accident. Anyone know if this is the case in the MINI?

 

>>well Sid, most applications would yield too much weight added for airbag suppliments. The airplane would never take off if it had 300 airbag modules built-in!
>>
>>Well, the side bags definitely saved me from injury when I crashed Mr.Motor, however with the implimentation of Schroth 4-point harneses in MM2, I'd say that the usefulness of the seat airbag is reduced. I would never take out the head bag in a road-going car!
>>
>>Good luck,
>>Ryan

I'd agree with you completely regarding the head bag. No helmet, no way I'd want to touch that door frame

300lbs?? Dang...I'm going back to the garage to loose some weight

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---> minintrigue: The MINI's head curtain airbags stay inflated for an extended period of time to protect in the case of rollover or repeated collisions.

 

Thanks...just curious

 

normally i am a anti-air bag person. i look both ways before starting a take off from a green light and i keep out of other peoples way. i guess i have a fear fo the bag going off in my face. i would always opt for the good seat and 4 point harness. but that is just me. good luck

 

>>It would be nice to upgrade the stock seats, but I won't. Why lose even a shred of safety when there are so many Excursions around driven by twits on cell phones?
>>
>>Just my 2 cents.
>>
>>Good luck whatever you do.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Red


yea, i'm with u dawg.