Warning light fact or fiction?

[Fixit Rod]

I know that warning lights are critical. Given On our 99 328i conv the airbag light came on. Service writer says it could be the seatbelt latch sensor or seat bottom sensor. They ask 120 to scan and possible 350-1000 to R/R respectively. They also say it could render the passive restraint system inoperative. This says fixit to me.
1.T or F
2. Is the scan tool used for this system available aftermarket and is it worth getting one(Service writer indicates it is a different scan tool than the one in the engine bay.
3. This sounds like a complicated repair...is it really?

I wanted to do a trnsmission service but dealer says it has a lifetime fluid and requires no service. T or F On one of the sites I visited about wanting to do this service I got conflicting info.Please advise

[dannyb]

Theres a airbag scan/reset tool available for about the same price as the scan.
BMW E36 Tools - Page 8

[Fixit Rod]

Thanks for the quick reply. So this airbag scan/reset tool, does it indicate the need for repair? I don't want to make the mistake of just resetting it without addressing real problems

[dannyb]

Its going to give you a code and with that code you can fix what ever failed. Ive had the airbag light on for a year.

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

^ mines still on..... came on 2 weeks after getting the car.... not Nessasary fix.... As long as you feel lucky.... just dont hit anything or get hit....

[dannyb]

apparently they still work even if the light is on

[whosyadadie01]

mine comes on when i start the car and normally takes about 5-10 mins to go off.

the scan tool will give you a code which will tell you what is wrong so you can replace it.

[dvmotorsports]

Originally Posted by dannyb

apparently they still work even if the light is on

not necessarily, depends on the fault.

Find out what the fault is and i'll tell you how difficult it is to fix. If it is the seat mat sensor, you don't wanna do it. It's a pain in the ass. But there is a loop hole. So like I said, LMK.

[Fixit Rod]

Esprecially Dannyb...I could learn to love this light but this car is my wifes' daily driver and she will NTFOOM until I get it turned off. So I will buy this scan tool for SRS and get the service resettool to. Wish I was just getting the service tool only but..to be continued

[bimmerguy82]

hey fixit rod- don't listen to bmw when they say "lifetime fluid" it's BS. You should change your tranny fluid every 60,000- 80,000 miles.

[Teh Prof]

The most common failure causing the airbag light to come on in the E36 is a module mounted underneath the front passenger seat. It is very easily replaced as a DIY.

[Fixit Rod]

Ouch and we just ordered the code reader. I guess we will be confirming this most common error if what you are saying pans out. ZDo you have some more info on this part. Name or code, actual location and what is involvrd in it?

[Fixit Rod]

I have read/heard that the transmission must be at a certAIN temperature to change the oil?

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by Fixit Rod

I have read/heard that the transmission must be at a certAIN temperature to change the oil?

Yup.

[saltshaker185]

Originally Posted by Fixit Rod

I have read/heard that the transmission must be at a certAIN temperature to change the oil?

manual tranny, get her up to running temp,

auto tranny dont run the engine before it... if you run it all the oil will be stuck up in the tranny and not in the oil pans....