17 replies to this topic

[R1minimagic]

I have only just thought about this today....

I have broken about 5 MPi Coopers for spares, all with severe front end damage, to the extent that the toeboard is pushed back, subframes bent, dash rails twisted etc etc and not a single one of them had the airbag go off.

The SRS light on the dashboard came on as usual with ignition and went off after a few seconds as normal with ALL these cars so suggests the system is operational.


So....why have the airbags not deployed on ALL these cars??!!

Seems a bit worrying now i think about it

What does it take to set one off??!!

[se_juggles]

i feel a braniac exsperiment coming on.... all we need is a crain, some tnt, a caravan and a dart board... can anyone help???

Edited by se_juggles, 24 February 2012 - 10:45 AM.

[Jamie_hail]

I removed my airbag and tried to set it off with a twelve volt battery, I had to leave it connected to the battery for over 8 seconds before it detonated. Airbags should be replaced after ten years anyway, so maybe they just don't work after expiry date?

[se_juggles]

I removed my airbag and tried to set it off with a twelve volt battery, I had to leave it connected to the battery for over 8 seconds before it detonated. Airbags should be replaced after ten years anyway, so maybe they just don't work after expiry date?

the 12volt battery sounds just as fun but the tnt has to be worth a try doesnt it???

[R1minimagic]

A day in the life of a Mini airbag

Day 1 - Nothing happened
Day 2 - Nothing happened
Day 3 - Nothing happened
.
.
.
.
Day 4956 - Mini crashed into a lamp post, nothing happened.

[R1minimagic]

I removed my airbag and tried to set it off with a twelve volt battery, I had to leave it connected to the battery for over 8 seconds before it detonated. Airbags should be replaced after ten years anyway, so maybe they just don't work after expiry date?

That's true but i cant imagine they just stop working after 10 years.

I was just reading an article where they got a load of airbags on a tv show which were all around 20 yrs old. They tested them and every single one worked fine, so why are these Mini airbags not going off?

[se_juggles]

A day in the life of a Mini airbag

Day 1 - Nothing happened
Day 2 - Nothing happened
Day 3 - Nothing happened
.
.
.
.
Day 4956 - Mini crashed into a lamp post, nothing happened.

more realisticly your looking at
A day in the life of a Mini airbag

Day 1 - Nothing happened
Day 2 - Nothing happened
Day 3 - Nothing happened
.
.
Day 300 - airbag smacks you in the face because a fly hit the window
.
Day 4956 - Mini crashed into a lamp post, spins out, rolls over,hits a fence, wobbles on the edge of a hill, falls down the hill, hits an old man and his dog--- nothing happened.

[R1minimagic]

http://www.streetfir...test_178551.htm

[se_juggles]

lol that cloud of dust just made me wet myself!!!

[bcjames]

There's a thread on the mini copper register, in the mpi section, discussing the shelf life of the air bags. I dont know where the info on there is derived from, but it conflicts the ten year rule. I think it also mentions the circumstances under which the srs deploys the air bag.

I'm on my phone at the moment, so a bit awkward to link, but I'll pop it up when I get home.

[Juju]

Has anybody had their airbags deploy in an impact?

[R1minimagic]

I found this on the Cooper Register

http://forum.minicoo...ight=mpi airbag

[R1minimagic]

Has anybody had their airbags deploy in an impact?

That was my next question!


Juju - can i join the antisocial club, promise i wont talk to you....

[bcjames]

I've seen a couple of mpi accidents where the air bags have deployed. That said, as per Dale, lots seem to still be intact after a crash.

[Juju]

Juju - can i join the antisocial club, promise i wont talk to you....

Don't be ridiculous. It would no longer be an antisocial club. It would be more like a cats' club.

I've seen a couple of mpi accidents where the air bags have deployed. That said, as per Dale, lots seem to still be intact after a crash.

So rover's inclusion of the way-too-hefty MGF steering wheels was just a futile attempt at lip-service. We still have to keep them in place & intact in order to pass the MOT nowadays too.....Poops.