Most liked posts in thread: Has anyone replaced their seats? (Airbag question)

Nobody thinks it is funny that Matt has a mat issue???

 

So the black tape on the back of the gauge face method to block the light is not sufficient?

 

Hi, I registered do I could post a response to this, more pertaining to the seat mat issue. I ordered an emulator phone after paying mini the 70 to diagnose the issue which was solely a bad seat mat. The sensor worked right away, I didn't even need a computer to reset the airbag system. I think it was a great alternative to paying the 1200 for the mat. The emulator tells the system that the seat is occupied so the airbag will fire in an accident. We tested to make sure it was working by driving around with seatbelt off. Soon enough the chime went off, which never went off before with the faulty mat. I also got a seatbelt override so I don't have to have the seatbelt plugged in when no one is on the seat.

Here is the one I got for my 2006 s

[ame=http://m.ebay.com/itm/161292351640?cmd=VIDESC]Bypass for Mini Cooper R50 R52 R53 R54 Seat Occupancy Mat Sensor Airbag Emulator | eBay[/ame]

Its from srsdrive on ebay if the link doesn't work

 

I use Chimex (Link Below) to override the seatbelts. $20.00 each and I red Plastidiped over the part where you hold it and cut off the wires.

Chimex - CravenSpeed Online

 

If you have access to NCS Expert, it is possible to disable the mat via programming. This would essentially make the airbag system operate like a Euro model without sensor mat.

Passenger seat occupancy sensor SRS light? No more!!!! - North American Motoring

 

Thanks it look like you can plug this is for $70 bucks.
[ame=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&fits=Make%3AMini%7CModel%3ACooper&hash=item258dc5f898&vxp=mtr#viTabs_0]Bypass for Mini Cooper R50 R52 R53 R54 Seat Occupancy Mat Sensor Airbag Emulator | eBay[/ame]

 

^^ I'll probably try that emulator when mine fails completely. Sometimes the warning light will go on, but it still turns off by itself after awhile.

When that emulator first appeared on eBay, some buyers were reporting that it didn't work and returned it, but more recent feedback has been positive.

 

Suggestion....
Grayraven on NAM (make as much fun of him as you want, he gets good ratings for sales in the marketplace) sells the right resistors for $5 if I recall right....you insert them in the seat airbag harness plugs...
Then get the inpa/ncis expert with a cable for $38 on eBay from the guy in Romania and set the mat to euro mode to disable that....then install any seat you want...cost to get rid of the light....less than $50 and car will still pass safety inspection if your area does it....

 

Nice! What did you use for the seatbelt override?

 

Mine came with a plugin to put in the seatbelt wiring. You can also just get a belt buckle clasp off eBay to plug in to the seat belt when no one is in the seat. I got one for a dollar.

 

Resistors for the R53 seat air bags works and depending on the year you may also need to transfer the passenger occupant seat sensor.

I am not going to crash my car to test it though. My light was off for years then my Occ seat sensor went bad and I did not replace it I just used 3 M black tape to cover the light.

FYI - I know it's just a bad occ mat from scanning it with my BAVTech tool.

 

Yes if its just that Mat I just ignore it.

To be 100 % sure you need to first scan your car with a tool that has BMW software and see what the fault is.

If it's an OC3 error its the Passenger seat mat.

 

Little far for me....

 

A few more thoughts....
What is the PRODUCTION DATE of your 2005....
Mine was built in 2004...so no seat mat/weight sensor....
If you have a 2005 built in 2004....all you need is the .02$ resistor....
But if you have the mat....you either need the $70 emulator or need to mess with it in ncs expert AND the resistor....

 

I put the resistors on the airbag wires under the OEM seats also for about $5 then swapped my seats and moved the OEM Passenger Mat and installed it in my Recaro seats. I had no problems with the light for years then one day it came on and I scanned it to find out the OC3 was shot.

A little piece of 3M Black tape on the back of the display to cover the light was cheaper then any fix at the time.

My buddy does my inspection & emissions so he knows my car. I pass every year. :ihih:
He knows I take care of my car because I either use a lift in his garage to work on my car. For all the MINI Specific stuff he knows it only gets worked on at Helix.

 

First questions should be.....what is the build date and do you have the seat mat sensor?