Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2007 Mini Cooper S Convertible

The passenger air bag disabled light came on while there was an adult male (198 lbs) in the passenger seat. The light remained lit whether someone was in the passenger seat or not indicating the system was disabled at all times. The proper functioning of the seatbelt tensioning system is controlled via this safety system which meant that it was disabled as well. The problem was diagnosed by a Mini service provider (dealer where car was purchased as new) as a faulty passenger occupancy sensor located in the seat base and was repaired as vehicle was still under warranty. Exactly two years and 3 months later the same problem has reoccured but because the replacement sensor is warrantied for only two years from installation I was informed the cost to fix the same problem would be $1400. 00. This same problem occurred with the BMW 3,4 & 5 series and was handled by a recall but BMW (Mini parent company) has not addressed the same fault with their Mini cooper line.

Passenger air bag disabled lights (dash and above rear view mirror) are on indicating no passenger is present (thus disabling the passenger air bag system) even when an individual is occupying the seat. I purchased the car new and bought the supplemental BMW warranty which I was told extended the supplied warranty from 4 years/50,000 miles to to 6 years/100,000 miles and covered the entire vehicle but when the problem was diagnosed I was told it was not covered by the warranty. And the prior year model of Mini (2006) did have the same problem addressed and the warranty extended to 10 years relating to the same sensor failing.