Exactly what happens to MINI door locks when the car determines an accident is imminent? I know that various things happen when an accident is happening: things regarding the seat belts, airbags, DSC, etc.

My specific question is: Does a MINI automatically unlock the driver and passenger doors when the computer system decides that the car has stopped and the accident is "over"?

 

Well, I would assume so.

We also have a 2003 Landrover Discovery. I was reading the manual and came accross something similar. It says that when the car detects that you have been in an accedent, it automatically unlocks all the doors AND cuts off the fuel pump. It can be turned back on, but is a difficult process. I would think that the MINI is very similar.

(Well, I hope so. )

 

Good info from a car with similar bloodlines. I've found a partial answer to the question on page 24 of the 2005 owner's manual. It says that in a sufficiently-severe accident, the doors unlock and the hazard and interior lamps turn on. I'm interested in exactly WHEN the doors are unlocked. For example, if the car is still in motion, sliding, spinning, or rolling, I'd expect the doors to STAY locked until the car stops.

Part of the reason for my interest is that I saw a clip on Motoring File of a violent multi-rollover incident at the Nurburgring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSxfP1-8c-M&eurl=

The car rolled several times, very violently, but during the incident the driver's door stayed shut. When the car did its final roll and sort of settled back onto its wheels, the front door flew open.