I have a 2006 R53, where the passenger airbag weight mat has failed. This seems to be a common problem with not only Minis, but other BMWs that use this dual-stage airbag deployment system.

History: I got the main airbag light on the speedo cluster about a week ago, and scanned with INPA. Got this result for the ZAE2 ECU: "113 Unknown error location; Error frequency: 12; leak resistor or short circuit to ground". I can usually do my own diagnosis, but that error was unhelpful so I took it to my local shop, and paid them $90 for a diagnosis. They confirmed that the weight mat was failing, and as expected, $1050 to replace the entire seat bottom, as the mat itself is not separately available.

Question for the forum is this. I have no need for a dual stage airbag system - I am past the point in my life where I will have little kids in the front seat, so a single stage deploy is fine for me. Some research led me to find devices that will bypass the mat and thus reenable the airbag system. I put this search in eBay "r53 passenger sensor bypass", and found this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bypass-For-Mini-Cooper-R50-R52-R53-R54-Seat-Occupancy-Mat-Sensor-Airbag-Emulator-/161292351640?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item258dc5f898&vxp=mtr
Has anyone utilized something like this to solve this problem?

Thanks everyone.

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P.S. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that there is not a recall on these, given the criticality of the safety issue here. Reference for lots of other complaints on this issue: http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2006/...s/problem.aspx

 

this is my problem too right now. anyone tried that emulator?

 

That emulator has worked for some but not for others. Read this thread (it is mentioned occasionally in the long thread):

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-no-more.html

 

Great link, thanks rkw. Somehow I missed that in my original searching.

There appear to be three choices then:
1. Bend over and pay the $1000-$1200 for a new seat bottom
2. Disable the OC3 mat with NCS Expert
3. Give the emulator a try.

I'm comfortable using both INPA and NCS Expert, but I am still weighing the options right now. I'll post anything else I come up with in the thread you linked.

Can a mod lock this thread, please?

 

A minor rant... Many BMW's have been having this problem for a while - and a narrow subset were even recalled for it - I replaced the sensor mat on a 2001 X5 for example that was not recalled, while newer X5's with the same problem were. BMW sells the sensor mats separately for those cars, which is about $80-$100. It takes 2-3 hours and some minor DIY skills to remove the seat cover and replace the mat and put it all back together. I still don't understand why the mats aren't available individually for the MINI...

 

I bought the emulator back in April and it worked fine. I skipped the part for the seat belt chime and chose to just latch the seat belt all the time even if the seat was empty to make the chime go away.

Although it worked, I suspect it was responsible for a bunch of electrical gremlins I had, brake lights stuck on, ignition beeping after removing key, interior lighting staying on, key fob not working...all sporadic.

I finally got a dead battery presumably from stuck brake lights. Removed the emulator module, jumped, gremlins seem to have disappeared (though the airbag light of course is back on).

SO it works, but maybe causes some electrical issues (you know how sensitive these cars are). Perhaps it would have been OK had I not skipped the belt chime part though.

 

Old thread but:

Recall out, mine done under recall. 2006 R52

 

Mine done under recall also.

 

I had my 06 mat recall completed two days ago, and I pick up my 05 in an hour from having its mat done.

 

08 r52 done in Novemberish.

 

Great to have no more airbag light. The only thing is you have a new seat cushion so its like the passenger is in a new car

 

Had mine done and no more light!

 

Mine was done back in Oct. or Nov. at the dealer after my vehicle was traded in by the previous owner. I believe under recall. 2006 R52S