20 replies to this topic

[Tamworthbay]

So no. The mini is tough and sturdy. It's not a car that requires airbags.

 
A tough sturdy car actually transmits all the impact forces and energy to the drivers and passengers body and internal organs during an impact which is what often kills and is why modern cars tend to be larger to include crush zones to absorb and disipate some of this energy to safer levels.

 
It's also why Formula 1 Cars are designed to fall apart quite spectacularly upon impact with a wall or similar. It's also why a little Suzuki Swift is safer in a crash than a big old swedish tank. Still, a Mini does not require airbags.

so a rusting mini will become safer as it gets older and begins fall apart of its own accord

[surfblue]

 

You CANNOT retrofit airbags.
The airbag on an MPI is designed to work with pre tensioning seats belts and side impact bars and even if you had all these bits I still think it'd be safer not to put them in a car that wasn't designed for them.
Remember an airbag is a small explosive.

 

A small explosive which is now at it's youngest 13 years old.

 

I completely agree with the above

 

I remember reading the handbook for our 1998 Sportspack when it was new and the service schedule requiring airbag replacement at 10 year intervals. Wonder if anyone ever bothered to do so and indeed where you could source a Rover air bag now to do so even if you wanted to?

 

I remember hearing an anecdote that instead of fitting airbags to steering wheels they should fit large spikes that are deployed in the event of a collision - the theory being that you'd drive a damn sight more carefully if you thought that would happen!

[FlyingScot]

Pretty sure it's the same as the MGF, the rest of the SRS system is.
Rimmer Bros still have them listed under MGF

FS

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

All MG/Rover group air bags are the same right from the MPI Mini, Rover 100, MGF, MGZR, Rover 45, Rover 400 etc. You can still buy them brand new but what's the difference between it sitting in a car for 10 years and sitting in a warehouse for ten years?

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 14 November 2014 - 04:28 PM.

[dprac1ng]

 

 

 

So no. The mini is tough and sturdy. It's not a car that requires airbags.

 
A tough sturdy car actually transmits all the impact forces and energy to the drivers and passengers body and internal organs during an impact which is what often kills and is why modern cars tend to be larger to include crush zones to absorb and disipate some of this energy to safer levels.

 
It's also why Formula 1 Cars are designed to fall apart quite spectacularly upon impact with a wall or similar. It's also why a little Suzuki Swift is safer in a crash than a big old swedish tank. Still, a Mini does not require airbags.

so a rusting mini will become safer as it gets older and begins fall apart of its own accord

 

Yes, as long as it only falls apart on impact, a rusted mini is safer in a crash, if the rust is in the right place and you hit the object at the right angle etc.