front seat belts and aibags

front seat belts and aibags

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Discussion

911nutter

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

252 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
dunno if anyone can help me... i need to get the airbag on my wifes mini disabled due to impending arrival of sprog. the deler has told me this will mean i need to change the seatbelt as well. the new seat belt will cost £26 and talk 1.5 hours to fit. they charge £99 per hour + vat to do this. ie this job will cost £200. this sux. has anyone else had this issue and how did they resolve it? the dealer has offered to pay half the labour costs as they feel it is unreasonably high. bmw are being EXTREMELY arrogant saying that's what it is. I know of no other car where the seatbelt needs changing when you disable the airbag. any ideas how i can resolve this situation?

miniman

25,018 posts

263 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Is this a Rover Mini or BMW Mini?

Every reasonably new car I've ever been in has a simple ignition-key-operated switch to disable the pax airbag.

911nutter

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

252 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
this is a new mini. 2 years old. i know exactly what you mean on the key front.
"that's not how we do things at bmw sir" was the response when i said that... arrogant sods....

rich-uk

1,431 posts

257 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Have a look here: www.mini2.com

But I think you may be stuffed

Plotloss

67,280 posts

271 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Stop!

Do not go anywhere near BMW. They will sting you for the switching off of the airbag, the replacement of the seatbelt pretensioner with a normal one and something else.

Then, in about 8 months when your child goes in a forward facing one you have to have it all converted back again for resale.

The cost of this? £750 to you sir. Shisters.

However, the Maxi Cosi Citi (along with MANY other car seats) goes in the back, rearward facing not a trouble in the world.

Hope this helps.

>> Edited by Plotloss on Monday 8th March 14:57

911nutter

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

252 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Plotloss said:



However, the Maxi Cosi Citi (along with MANY other car seats) goes in the back, rearward facing not a trouble in the world.

Hope this helps.

>> Edited by Plotloss on Monday 8th March 14:57


not sure i fully understand... are you saying i can put the baby seat in the back seat (rear facing) without messing around with seat belts? what about the side airbag though?

sounds like you may have hada similar problem. you didn't buy it from altwood maidenhead did you? they've been quite good. they have offered 1/2 price labour costs. it's bmw head office in bracknell that are being complete

Plotloss

67,280 posts

271 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Yep, the rear seatbelts fit around the rear facing seats in the back no worries at all. The side airbags are in the front seats so that shouldnt be an issue I dont think, if I actually have them. My daughter is 8 months old, we have the Maxi Cosi Citi and its perfect and has been for about 3 months now.

I dealt with Altwood Taplow and I have never dealt with a bigger bunch of in my life until I dealt with BMW GB. If you are truly incensed try writing to Jim O'Donnell as he responds to his correspondance personally and is the MD of BMW GB.

My Cooper S is currently in the process of being rejected after the steering failed on the M4. I will be glad to see the back of the heap of shit all things considered.

911nutter

Original Poster:

1,916 posts

252 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
this is unreal. i've been looking at the mini2 website (their forum is hopelessly laid out - no way as good as the PH one - there are some smart cookies working at PH ) .it seems this is not uncommon, lots have complained about it and yet nothing is being done. appreciate your comments. it's interesting as i have been complaining hard to bmw and they claim to to have come across this 'problem'. my wife is upset by this whole episode, and i intend to make bmw's life miserable over this until they do free conversions for all. bad design should not be tolerated by the punters....

Plotloss

67,280 posts

271 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
The updated MINI is going to have the key affair like the Alfa Romeo's apparently.

Its not aimed at the punters with kids as a car, not an excuse though.

Try your car seat in the back, it should be fine. I have had 7 Classic Mini's and Rover could control the MINI brand 10 times better than that shower at BMW ever will be able to.

Fatboy

7,985 posts

273 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
My Cooper S is currently in the process of being rejected after the steering failed on the M4. I will be glad to see the back of the heap of shit all things considered.

Bloody hell mate! When did that happen?