Firehawk618 did a superb job in a prior forum explaining how to reprogram the computer to disable the seat occupancy sensors in >05 minis so that the airbag/SRS warning lights would not appear in the event of a failed passenger-side occupancy sensor mat.

What I would like to know is if anyone knows for sure what the airbag behavior is in the event of a collision with these sensors disabled.

Will the passenger air bag still fire? Will it fire at full or reduced force?

Thanks in advance.

 

I too would be interested in finding this out. Just dropped my MC at the dealership and before checking it they already told me that they would not cover it. >:-(

 

I have talked to mechanics, MINI USA, mini techs, and nobody knows. i think you would have to hunt down the engineer that designed it and personally ask him, to find out for sure.

and if anyone does, after his response you should kick him square in nuts.

 

The designer was some one at BMW trying to accomodate new USA regulations. They had the same problems OC3 sensor mat issues in the BMW models. The frustration of it all is that they fixed the BMW models under a warranty/recall effort and left the few MINI owners affected to shell out for it.

 

BMW USA returned my call and said they would not cover it, despite recognizing that the price was outrageous and it is also a safety hazard.

Guess I won't be fixing it! Will have to live with the red light. As MadisonKobalt said, makes me mad that BMW took care of the BMWs that had this issue but not the MINIs.