NB Airbags - How expensive to replace?

Mooro · Postby **Mooro** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:37 am

Hello, I've done a search and couldn't find much.

Basically I'm wondering if anyone has had to replace airbags (drive/passenger) on an NB MX5 before and if so how much did it end up costing?

I have heard horror stories that basically most cars are financial write offs as soon as the airbag goes off cos they are so expensive to replace which would be a real shame.

Are they the sort of thing that come up on the second hand market everynow and then? Say if soemone is building an NB track car I presume they would remove airbags and sell them...if so how hard are they to fit?

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:12 am

Just ring Mazda spare parts.

If both airbags go off I reckon there might have been an accident. Plus it might have been big = write-off.

Postby **Boyracer** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:38 pm

Depends which model a second hand set of air bags and modules will cost you between $2000-$2500...NB8B needs seats belts replaced as well..

You have to pull the whole dash out to replace the passenger bag and the module.

New from Mazda they are about $6k...

Yes cars are written off because of the air bags... it would probably cost about $8000 to replace with labour...insurance companies won't use second hand air bags...

Mooro · Postby **Mooro** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:15 pm

Bloody hell that is expensive!

It is a 97 NB, so NB8A. I look on ebay internationally and there are some driver side ones for about $100 US and passenger for $350US, but I think they maybe for late model NA rather than NB.

If it is going to be $2,000 plus it is not really worth it (buying the car as a project)

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:36 pm

Air-freight would be prohibited for such items too.

Mooro · Postby **Mooro** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:40 pm

yeh I wondered if that owuld be an issue. Oh well it is looking like this particular car is nto so "cheap" after all once you add up repairs.

rxmx · Postby **rxmx** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:05 pm

bruce wrote:Air-freight would be prohibited for such items too.

Not really,

I purchased one from the States earlier in the year, drivers side. Arrived at my front door no probs.

Postby **mx5racing** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:38 am

Keep in mind those from the States may be different in the rate of deployment as they are a primary restraint system (PRS) not supplementary (SRS). Additionally the passenger one is not interchangeable on the NB as the covers go the opposite direction because of L/H/D. The NA came with a driverside airbag in some models in Japan although we didnt see them here until the NB.

As for postage or freight, if they are correctly declared as explosives (which is what they are) then having them sent to you WILL be a problem. If you don't delcare and there is a problem you could find yourself in hot water.

As Lou said insurance companies will only replace with NEW OEM units and this is why a lot of cars that are just a few years old get written off when the bags deploy. With bags, belts, sensors, dashboard/crashpad (as in the NC) it doesnt take much to add up to big $$$.

There may also be different requirements when you present a repaired car at the registration department in your State. I understand in SA you must only use new SRS components. In NSW you must provide a VIN from the donor car to cut down on the rate of stolen bags being used.

As with buying any damaged car, do your homework 1st to reduce the risk of being bitten