Four problems related to side/window air bag have been reported for the 2005 Mini Cooper S. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Mini Cooper S based on all problems reported for the 2005 Cooper S.
The passenger air bag weight sensor stop working. As a result my vehicle displays a warning that the passenger side air bags are off. My driver side fog light housing melted and crack apart. I used stock 55w halogen bulbs. My passenger side fog light housing has also begun to melt. My power steering is not leaking now. But it has been replaced 3 times.
I have a 2005 Mini Cooper S with 60,000 miles on it and about 55,000 miles the airbag warning lamp and passenger airbag off lamp illuminated intermittently. At 58,000 miles it has stayed on constantly. After researching the issue I took the car to a trusted mechanic and he diagnosed that the weight sensor pad in the seat cushion is defective and would require the car to go to the dealer to be replaced. I feel that this is a safety issue and the dealer should issue a recall on the vehicle since it is a well known problem. I have attempted to contact Miniusa by email and have been waiting over a week for a response.
The red airbag warning light in the speedometer area came on at approximately 99,450 miles. It came on after driving across a city railroad crossing at low speed. I took the vehicle to the dealer and asked about the light, and they indicated that it would require additional investigation but could be a faulty seat sensor which would cost approximately $1250 to replace. They also indicated that they were not sure whether or not the airbags would deploy properly in the event of an accident. Further research indicates that this model and year may also have problems with the wiring harnesses and connections, and that only the dealer can reset the warning light. As of December 2 2010 the vehicle has 113,000 miles on it and the warning light is still on. I believe this is a safety related issue that should be addressed by the dealer as a warranty issue as I am not comfortable with the current situation but do not want to pay for an expensive safety related defect. I am the original owner of the vehicle and still have it. Thanks.
Passenger side airbag is disabled when passenger is in seat. If passenger shifts in seat, the airbag may or may not enable. Have been told the fault lies with the airbag sensor mat under the seat. This is a common issue for several BMW models and an extended warranty has been offered. For several Mini models, the issue has been reported and an extended warranty has been offered. So far, the 2005 model has not been included.