Airbags for an Audi A3 - where are they located and where can you buy them?

By Stuart Johnston

The previous generation Audi A3  is fitted with between four and  six airbags depending on the model. These are located in the steering wheel centre, on the passenger-side of the dashboard,  in the side of each front seat, and in the roof lining on each side of the car above the B Pillar.

Whereas replacement airbags in some other countries can be bought by individuals, in South Africa the norm is to source the airbags and associated components through dealer networks.

The cost of airbag replacement is huge

One of the biggest costs faced in repairing serious accident damage to modern motor cars is that of airbag replacement, and the associated mechanisms that come with an airbag installation.

When an airbag “pops” a few milliseconds after a serious collision, it also activates various control units, detonators and seat-belt tensioners. All these normally have to be replaced when repairing accident damage, as well as the materials on the dashboard and roof linings that are burst open when the airbag deploys. The collision sensors on the car also have to be replaced.

Airbag replacement can cause a car to be ”written off” prematurely

Airbag replacement in an accident-damaged car has been a major consideration in terms of whether the repair of such a car is financially viable. Often, in the case of more expensive models, a car may be written off as not viably repairable because the cost of replacing all the airbag systems is too high. This can occur on a car that is otherwise not too badly damaged in terms of bodywork  and suspension damage. Of course, this reflects on higher insurance premiums too, throughout the repair industry.

Most airbag repairs use OEM parts

Most airbag system repairs are carried out by repair outlets in conjunction with dealerships, using OEM (original equipment manufacturer ) parts. These are expensive, and they also include replacing all the associated electronic control units that are used to deploy airbags.

Just over  five years ago a Pretoria West firm called Airbag Concepts set up business to replace airbags that had been deployed in accidents for vehicles that are out of manufacturer warranty. Airbag Concepts  sources its replacement airbags and activators  from Europe and Japan, as well as parts for the associated airbags systems as need be.

Control units and dashboards can be repaired  locally

But because of the knowledge they have gained about airbag systems, they can in fact repair airbag control units locally, as well as the safety-belt tensioners that work in conjunction with airbag deployment. Airbag Concepts also source dashboard materials from Europe or Japan or Korea,  for the cars they repair. This material is identical to that used by the manufacturers, and their staff is trained to repair dashboards, steering wheel centres, seat coverings and roof linings so that the repair is indistinguishable from the factory part.

An airbag repair for an Audi A3 costs R21 500 from Airbag Concepts

“As an example of the saving we can offer, we can do an airbag replacement package for a seven -year-old  Audi A3  for R21 500, “ says Airbag Concepts founder Adrian Pretorius.

“This replacement  includes  a complete set of airbags for passenger and driver and two curtain airbags, the seat-belt tensioner replacements,  the control unit re-programming, as well as the steering wheel centre and dashboard re-covering with new skin.

“This compares to a cost of approximately R60 000 for the same job, if you were to use the manufacturer components and their associated repair outlets.”