1st Gen R53 Cooper S Resurrecting a salvaged 2002 R53

Ok, I need some help... Back in February I bought a salvaged 2002 R53 for $2800 that was in a front end fender bender where both the driver and passenger airbags deployed. Since then I have fixed just about most of what is damaged in it. The car drives perfectly fine. I have new, parted out airbags installed - did the work myself. But I'm hesitant to plug the airbags back in just yet without knowing more first. I have heard that since they deployed, I need a new sensor and airbag ecu. Is this true? Or can I just plug them back in and be done with it? I hate to plug them in and they go off again as it would be another $400+ to fix that again if I'm overlooking something. I've searched the forums and can't find anything about replacing the airbags.

 

Thank you for your insight. That is good to know. I'm also thinking of replacing both front seats with some nice Carbon Black Punch Lounge Leather seats I found for a good price from a parted out R56. Not much of a fan of the Panther Black (more Gray) Gravity Leather seats in there now. Think they take away from the classic styling I am going after inside my R53. Would it be possible to install some matching Carbon Black belts also from an R56? Will they fit and also work in another collision? God forbid that should happen.

 

Nice find as well! Wondering who would abandon it?? She's a beauT! People get so scared of buying salvage. I don't see why if you look it over well and have an idea what costs you are possibly in for. This is my daily driver and I've been fortunate enough that I could still drive it while I've been working on it for the last 6 months. I don't plan on reselling it anytime soon (if ever) and getting it cheap lets me save up for and justify tasteful mods for her. I call this reverse car payments. lol Eventually I will get it to look how I want it to. I've never been a car guy until I found this Mini and am having fun learning how to do the work myself. Guess you could say I caught the Mini spirit. Within the next few weeks I will be fixing the CV axle myself. Something I would have never attempted before this car. All it takes is a willing to learn, forums like MA, and watching tons of awesome DIY Youtube videos and I'm ready to give it a go. And if I run into trouble or in over my head, Way Motor Works is just 15 minutes away for piece of mind. They already have bailed me out of trouble when I didn't have a spare on board when I'm not running run flats. Learned that lesson the hard way. Was spending $ getting her maintenance up to speed since I had no history and thought I'd have time since I just put on new tires the month before. Didn't account for hitting a deep pothole and destroying a rim. Luckily Way was only 3 miles away when it happened.