[Evlkarl]

I discovered yesterday that the chrome ring around the airbag starts to split.

First let me say this is not the original airbag that came from the factory mine got replaced about 6 month ago by my Dealer because the Mini Logo started too peel just like this one now

Well my Chrome Ring around the Steering Wheel Airbag starts to slowly crack in the 3 o clock position ( as you can see in the pictures) what bothers me is that that the crack is exactly in line (vertical) with the 2 plastic flaps that should break so the airbag can do it,s job. As of Saturday Morning when I parked the car in the garage was not there ( I would have seen it when I cleaned the interior) I found the split yesterday when I pulled the car out of the garage for the 1st time all weekend. I also checked the front of the car and there is no damage. I guess I will book a service call with the dealer.

Sorry some of the pics did not come out as clear because of the flash. Anybody else got that problem?

My thought was that the dealer put too much pressure on the screw when he/she installed it but I am a little concerned because I had one airbag going off on me driving down the road in the past. Yes it was a Fiat.

 

[Koryak]

My guess the crack is caused by heat expansion of brittle plastic under the plated bright material. Maybe a new ring will do better

As for unintended airbag inflation that's much more likely from sensors & control module gremlins external to the steering wheel. Just be glad the FIAT or Mini's were not made by Takata - I hope!!

 

[Evlkarl]

Koryak, will be going to the Dealer next Monday. Sadly the ring does not have a Part Number so they say. I will have the Airbag replaced once again.

The last time they replaced the airbag because of the peeling Mini Logo. Kinda silly that you have to replace the bag for a $ 5.00 logo no wonder them Mini,s got so expensive.

 

[brandonbardsley]

How has the MINI logo started to peal?! Do you use you horn 24/7?

 

[KYDan]

Thanks, I will check my today, I haven't noticed any issues, but an ounce of prevention applies!

 

[teeninvader]

Chances are they broke the ring when they changed the airbag

As i believe the ring is seperate from airbag as u get the chrome ring if u pickedthe chrome line intereor option


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Evlkarl]

Brandon, the Mini Logo peels under the plastic cover the layer of chrome film that they apply during production just starts to flake in the corner of the wings and than it gets bigger. That was the reason in the 1st place why my Airbag has been exchanged under warranty.

The Dealer looked at the ring and had no explanation other than a production problem or heat that is the same with the Logo. A new airbag has been ordered and will be installed again next week under warranty.

 

[Evlkarl]

Brandon, here is a picture (#3 that I posted) see how the chrome film just bubbles up and goes away. We have the same problem on our used 2007 R56 so maybe it is the heat. When you look in the pic to the right on the inside of the ring there are shinny tiny flakes I wonder if they came from the Logo?

 

[Davyboy]

Better check mine but not noticed anything ..

 

[Desert Rat]

Checked mine EK and it doesn't have the bubbles or the crack. Our heat is on par with yours so I've got no idea how that would have happened. Hopefully they fix it for you.