Replacing standard steering wheel with one without an airbag

[Mowog01]

Hello

I have some airbag related questions. I've been thinking of swapping the slightly worse-for-wear but airbag-equipped wheel in my car for one that has no airbag. I picked up a nice Nardi wheel from an early MX5 on a bootsale for a fiver, and I think it would be rather nicer to hold than the standard wheel.

But in real life how dangerous would that be? I mean, I get that an airbag can be extremely beneficial in an accident, but I also get the impression that their benefit is determined somewhat by age, design and how close you sit to the wheel (i.e. how likely it is that your head will reach it before the seatbelt pulls you up). I'm tallish, and have the seat as far back as it will go, arms outstretched.

Also, my car was built 22 years ago - would the airbag even still work in the event of an accident? If they expire after x years then I might be risking nothing, of course.

(N.B I'm aware I'd have to add a resistor to handle the warning light, and it would put the old insurance up.)

Thanks in advance!

:-)

[paintman]

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

7.1.5 Airbags
This inspection is for all airbags fitted as original equipment other than on Class 3 vehicles.

A passenger airbag that is switched off isn’t a defect.

Defect Category
a) An airbag fitted as original equipment obviously missing Major
b) Not in use N/A
c) An airbag obviously inoperative Major

I believe b) 'Not in use' refers to that section, not an airbag not in use but I stand to be corrected!

[Dave.]

Probably won't increase your insurance, depending on who you're with. Most modified policies only increase with increases in power...

It will probably fail an mot, if the testers knows/thinks it had airbags from the factory.

There was a case a few weeks ago of someone who but a mk2 dash in a mk1, the mk2 dash has the word "airbag" embossed on it, the car itself never have passenger airbag from the factory, tester failed it...

[Mowog01]

I guess that would require the MOT tester to know that my car was one of the ones that came with a drivers airbag as standard. Earlier cars did not, as far as I am aware.

[Mowog01]

Both very good points, but if that was the only issue I guess I could be dodgy and just swap the wheel every time it went for a test. Would probably feel a bit wrong, but not the worst thing in the world.

My main queries are still: how dangerous is it likely to be for me specifically, and how likely is it that the 22 year old airbag still works in any case?

[Dave.]

I wouldn't drive like a tt expecting the airbag to save me, but not sure I'd want to remove one from an old tin can like an mx5, as the crash rating isn't exactly good, just in case.

In a newer car with a good crash rating, I'd be more tempted.