Legalities of passenger airbag removal
Discussion
Long story short, I'm planning to do a tablet install on my NBFL and will need to move my aftermarket head unit to the glove-box. Another (remote) possibly would be to delete the passenger airbag and house the HU in the cavity, along with the wiring.
I'm assuming it will fail an MOT with an airbag warning light, so will probably need to wire in a resistor to trick the ECU. Aside from the MOT, are there any legal issues with removing a passenger bag? I know people remove the driver's bag all the time when doing a steering wheel swap, so don't see how the passenger side would be any different.
I'm assuming it will fail an MOT with an airbag warning light, so will probably need to wire in a resistor to trick the ECU. Aside from the MOT, are there any legal issues with removing a passenger bag? I know people remove the driver's bag all the time when doing a steering wheel swap, so don't see how the passenger side would be any different.
In the event of an accident the injuries to your passenger would possibly be more serious due to the lack of an airbag. The insurance company will absolve themselves of responsibility to pay the compensation (or try to anyway) since you deliberately removed a safety device so you would be liable personally.
I'd say the big difference is if you remove the driver's airbag you're responsible for your own care and you made a choice. Your passenger didn't get that choice.
I'd say the big difference is if you remove the driver's airbag you're responsible for your own care and you made a choice. Your passenger didn't get that choice.
Removing airbags isn't illegal, it can be a bit of a battle now at MOT time if they have been visibly removed and the car hasn't been obviously built for motorsport (in other words you get through no problem if it's a full caged track car that needs an mot, but it's a battle if it's a road car you have just taken the airbags out of, that said many mot stations don't seem to care so you may be fine).
That said what your suggesting doing is what I've wanted to do which is to hinge the original airbag lid and create a second glove box, so it won't be obvious as long as the airbag light isn't on and the lid doesn't pop up half way through the test.
I would echo the insurance point though, in the event of an accident and you being discovered the insurance may well pay out as no NB was produced without a passenger airbag so it should be there or be declared as a modification (which they really won't like) you will also run the risk of driving without insurance if the Police catch on as it's technically a modified car.
Weigh up the risks. Seems a big risk for a tablet install.
That said what your suggesting doing is what I've wanted to do which is to hinge the original airbag lid and create a second glove box, so it won't be obvious as long as the airbag light isn't on and the lid doesn't pop up half way through the test.
I would echo the insurance point though, in the event of an accident and you being discovered the insurance may well pay out as no NB was produced without a passenger airbag so it should be there or be declared as a modification (which they really won't like) you will also run the risk of driving without insurance if the Police catch on as it's technically a modified car.
Weigh up the risks. Seems a big risk for a tablet install.
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