I bought 2003 seats for a 2005 mini S, three of the four wiring connectors are the same but one is different. I plugged in the three connectors in my 2005 that fit into the 2003 seats (one of them was blue, one yellow and one of the two black connectors). the Mini went crazy, with the brake lights stuck on, and none of the interior lights or turn signal working and the air bag light on. I unplugged the seat and restored normal operation to the MINI (with the air bag light on of course) Is there any way of retrofitting the 2003 seat to work with my 2005 Mini? most of the connectors are the same, can U just hard wire the wires that have different connectors? Even better is there some kind of adapter?

 

I just restored my 2003 seat I can tell you what they do
The connectors are for

one for seat belt light
one for seat belt explosive tensioner
one for airbag.

later mini 2005 -2006 had a weight sensor on the passenger.

from what I have researched and learned all the seats will retrofit to each other except the 2003 and earlier seats do not have the weight sensor in them. That may be why your car went crazy. Do some research on how to trick the car so it thinks it has that sensor. usually it is a resistor. 2nd gen cars have a different plug because the first gen seat plugs would go bad. maybe you have bad plugs. You can replace them with a different plug. something many have done to get their seat sensors to work again without getting robbed by the dealer. There is also a airbag clearing tool you can order from overseas for close to 50 bucks and clear your own light. if you can wait for the slow boat to deliver it. I couldn't and had to pay the 1 hr min of $125 to have my car plugged into a computer for 5 minutes. I suggest you get the tool. especially if messing with the seats so you can clear your own.

 

Thanks so much for the reply gpwpat. I am happy to do the research on retrofitting the seat, but other than searching this forum and Mini 2 forum, and google searches (which I have done with no results) where would I start to find such info. Thanks again.