15 year airbag replacement

black olive · 14th November 2007, 07:52

Just browsing a service schedule for the 260, although the question will apply to any car.

at 15 years, airbag modules, seat pre-tensioner, and rotary coupler are to be changed.

given my car is a 2004 module, this will be in 2029. are these parts still likely to be available, and are some of these parts not lifed ( Im thinking of pre tensioner and rotary couplers), and worth buying to have in stock in the next year or so ?

What are the legal obligations on changing these parts, would a vehcile fail the MOT if they werent changed ?

thoughts please ?

JohnDotCom · 14th November 2007, 08:22

You do not Fail the MOT for not changing the Airbags at the required 10 or 15 Years.
Purchasing new Air Bags to store is no good, as the Date of start of Life is Manufacturer date, not fitted date, as I found out when changing mine on Rover 620.

Tom Collins · 14th November 2007, 08:56

I cant imagine anybody spending that kind of money on a fifteen year old car.

SteveWaller · 14th November 2007, 09:03

I think this is just a liability issue and a way of the manufacturers saying that they are no longer responsible for the correct operation of the airbags after a certain age. My old Rover 600 and my wifes Volvo both state in the service manual that the airbags should be replaced after ten years. I am sure it is not an issue for the legal use of the car though.

CMPQS · 14th November 2007, 10:27

I think it was 5th gear did a piece on airbag life as a number of the early airbag cars were then at the age when they need to be replaced. They visited a manufacturer or testing centre i think. I seem to remember that they also crashed an early rover 400 to see if the air bags went off. The testing was done to ensure that the airbags lifespan would exceed the change dates recommended by the car manufacturer. The air bags did indeed go off correctly.

There might be some more info on thier web site.

EnEnGee · 15th November 2007, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMPQS

I think it was 5th gear did a piece on airbag life as a number of the early airbag cars were then at the age when they need to be replaced. They visited a manufacturer or testing centre i think. I seem to remember that they also crashed an early rover 400 to see if the air bags went off. The testing was done to ensure that the airbags lifespan would exceed the change dates recommended by the car manufacturer. The air bags did indeed go off correctly.

There might be some more info on thier web site.

I remember the piece well. They showed a manufacturer making the things (in Sweden I think) The car used in their test was actually a Rover 600 bought from an auction and completely as seen with no mods or attention. It was driven into a concrete wall at 30mph by their stuntman, who appeared very uneasy about what he was doing. He emerged, shaken with his ears ringing but the air bag deployed as designed.

tigerchubs · 15th November 2007, 13:56

It's like a lot of things, automotive manufacturers state dates that are usually on the safe side. Take tyres manufacturers, they state a 6 years life span, when In reality they can last a damn site longer if not abused.

JohnDotCom · 15th November 2007, 14:26

I wish my tyres would last just one year,
Now that would be an achievement!

tigerchubs · 15th November 2007, 14:31

I know exactly what you mean.

Mind you using Eagle F1s you'll be lucky to get 6 months if she's used regular.

JohnDotCom · 15th November 2007, 14:35

I do use them and change about 2 - 3 times a year!

14th November 2007, 07:52	#1
black olive I really should get out more....... 260 SE vin 214 ( last mark 1 260 ) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	15 year airbag replacement Just browsing a service schedule for the 260, although the question will apply to any car. at 15 years, airbag modules, seat pre-tensioner, and rotary coupler are to be changed. given my car is a 2004 module, this will be in 2029. are these parts still likely to be available, and are some of these parts not lifed ( Im thinking of pre tensioner and rotary couplers), and worth buying to have in stock in the next year or so ? What are the legal obligations on changing these parts, would a vehcile fail the MOT if they werent changed ? thoughts please ? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

14th November 2007, 08:56	#3
Tom Collins Posted a thing or two Mondeo 2.0 cdti Ghia Auto Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Leicester Posts: 1,731 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I cant imagine anybody spending that kind of money on a fifteen year old car. __________________ In vino veritas [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?

15th November 2007, 13:56	#7
tigerchubs Gets stuck in Rover 75 CDT+ in Yorkshire Gold Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 975 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's like a lot of things, automotive manufacturers state dates that are usually on the safe side. Take tyres manufacturers, they state a 6 years life span, when In reality they can last a damn site longer if not abused. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

15th November 2007, 14:31	#9
tigerchubs Gets stuck in Rover 75 CDT+ in Yorkshire Gold Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 975 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know exactly what you mean. Mind you using Eagle F1s you'll be lucky to get 6 months if she's used regular. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

14th November 2007, 08:22	#2
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	You do not Fail the MOT for not changing the Airbags at the required 10 or 15 Years. Purchasing new Air Bags to store is no good, as the Date of start of Life is Manufacturer date, not fitted date, as I found out when changing mine on Rover 620.

14th November 2007, 09:03	#4
SteveWaller Avid contributor Rover 75 cdti Contemporary SE Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 199 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think this is just a liability issue and a way of the manufacturers saying that they are no longer responsible for the correct operation of the airbags after a certain age. My old Rover 600 and my wifes Volvo both state in the service manual that the airbags should be replaced after ten years. I am sure it is not an issue for the legal use of the car though.

14th November 2007, 10:27	#5
CMPQS Avid contributor MG ZT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 152 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think it was 5th gear did a piece on airbag life as a number of the early airbag cars were then at the age when they need to be replaced. They visited a manufacturer or testing centre i think. I seem to remember that they also crashed an early rover 400 to see if the air bags went off. The testing was done to ensure that the airbags lifespan would exceed the change dates recommended by the car manufacturer. The air bags did indeed go off correctly. There might be some more info on thier web site.

15th November 2007, 14:26	#8
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I wish my tyres would last just one year, Now that would be an achievement!

15th November 2007, 14:35	#10
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I do use them and change about 2 - 3 times a year!