Anybody having trouble with the air bag warning light above the mirror. It doesn't happen every time, but when my wife sits in the passenger seat the warning light will stay illuminated. The dealer has not been able to find a fault code, and has said not to worry about it. (They indicated that they cannot investigate the malfunction without a fault code. Really!) The owner's manual says if the light is illuminated, the air bags are shut off. Personally, I think this is something to worry about. We have tried every combination of buckling seat belts, engine starting, seat adjustments, and radio station changes to no effect.

 

Yeah, I've been having that problem. I've been in several times for it, but like you, I never get a fault code. The dealer said that if it happens again they'll replace the airbag sensor (which actually requires replacing the whole bottom of the seat). I even called MINI of North America to complain about the dealership not doing anything about it, and they told me the same thing you and I were told by the dealership.

 

I had an 2008 r56 with this same problem. Never a fault code. It would happen sporadicly. Once it happened, I took pictures of my adult passenger in seat with the light on (which became important as proof) and once when I was near my dealership and drove to the service dept while it was occurring. So they tried and tried to fix it, replace sensors, replace some wiring harness, but never fixed it. It spent over 30 days in the shop which qualified it to be turned in under the lemon law in California. In CA, there are three requirements and my car met two of them: 1. if it's a life-safety problem they have three tries to fix it; and 2. stay 30 days in the shop for the same repair. I don't remember what the 3rd criteria was but it only had to meet one of the three.

Anyway, MINI ended up buying my car back for the full price plus tax and license. I ended up ordering almost the same vehicle but a different color.

Bottom line, it's a life-safety issue. It needs to be fixed or replaced.

 

If you look back thru the threads here you will see a bunch of complaints about this.

Under US Law the seat must detect certain criteria. And unfortunately not all humans will meet the criteria to have the air bag on. If your wife is under a certain weight and size the air bag MUST be turned off.

I dont currently have access to the exact specs but i can tell you this the passanger seat sensor pad has over 10 sensors that depending on each ones active state and some with pounds of pressure willl make a decision as to whether the air bag should be on or off.

Not to be insensitive here but is your wife on the small side?

I am not saying that there is NOT something wrong with your car but you might want to head to the dealer and test drive her in a number of other cars (not just one). If the airbag light does not come on in any of the other cars make sure the dealer works on yours.