Air bag light is on- What to do? - BMW Forum

mikejames015 · 02-23-2006, 06:43 PM

My air bag light has come on...what does this mean?
Other than the obvious that there is an issue with the airbag system, what is mostly likely the cause. My 328i, shes got 177 k on er' still rides like a dream.

all posts welcome.

Thanks.

Mike:

Teh Prof · 02-23-2006, 08:07 PM

Could be as minor as the sensor in your passenger seat that figures out whether anyone is sitting in it. You'll have to get the codes run to know for sure what it is.

97alpineM3 · 02-23-2006, 08:15 PM

You can get it checked out at the dealer... that is really the only way I know how to remedy this fault... unless you start replacing random associated parts.

Les

storme · 02-24-2006, 10:10 AM

this WILL be the passenger seat sensor has finally gone

mine went at 47000 miles

to replace it,,you need to take out the seat and replace the senosr

cost me £55 for the sensor
and £100 for the labour

there is only one seat pad and that is in the passenger seat

mikejames015 · 02-24-2006, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the tips guys and sweet rides!

I guess I will have to take it into the dealer. Hopefully they will not try to bend me over.

I guess I could search for the part @ a wreckers.

Mike

storme · 02-25-2006, 01:54 AM

u cant search for the part at the wreckers,,unless u have the diagnostic equipment to test it with??? its not something u can look at and say "its broken"

it wont look anything....it just either works or it dont

taylor · 03-04-2006, 07:17 AM

Get the diagnostic part. Once that thing goes off, it will keep going off, and you will have to keep going to the stealership. It's about 100 bucks at Bavarian Auto, but it will cost you at least that much EACH time you go to the stealers.

Once you have the part, you can at least have some info, and then be armed with some knowledge so that the stealership can't rip you off. I had them go through and check my system, and it was OK, from the seat to the sensor to the airbag (I would recommend this for safety) but the light keeps going off. Having the part will allow you to know what's going on, stay safe, and avoid going broke. I do NOT recommend ignoring this, just get the part and know what's going on.

PMB · 03-07-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejames015

Thanks for the tips guys and sweet rides!

I guess I will have to take it into the dealer. Hopefully they will not try to bend me over.

I guess I could search for the part @ a wreckers.

Mike

This is a very common problem and 9 times out of 10 there is actually nothing wrong! I had this problem last year and went to a non franchise BMW repair shop and apparently under each seat the sensors are attached using small plugs. When the seat is moved back and forward the plug can actually rub on the carpet, stretch etc. causing the circuit to temporarily fail. In other words the plug is at fault not the system and not the sensor. The quick fix that the guy did was to use a zip tie around the two wires to stop the plug from straining. Reset the air bag light and hey presto problem solved. Total cost £10. Above someone suggested just resetting the light. This is fine until next time you move the seat back and forth.

A BMW dealer will replace the sensor at a cost of £100-£150 per seat.

winters97E39 · 04-29-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMB

This is a very common problem and 9 times out of 10 there is actually nothing wrong! I had this problem last year and went to a non franchise BMW repair shop and apparently under each seat the sensors are attached using small plugs. When the seat is moved back and forward the plug can actually rub on the carpet, stretch etc. causing the circuit to temporarily fail. In other words the plug is at fault not the system and not the sensor. The quick fix that the guy did was to use a zip tie around the two wires to stop the plug from straining. Reset the air bag light and hey presto problem solved. Total cost £10. Above someone suggested just resetting the light. This is fine until next time you move the seat back and forth.

A BMW dealer will replace the sensor at a cost of £100-£150 per seat.

sweet, that is what I have going on with mine. My buddy who runs a shop ran the code for me, and sure enough it was "driver's seat switch" or something like that. I noticed it came on after my wife drove the car, who is 5'4", and I am 6'3". So undoubtedly the extreme movement of the seat back and forth has most likely tugged on those wires. Gonna go zip tie that plug and have my friend reset the code.

saltshaker185 · 04-29-2006, 10:03 PM

check the plugs underneath the seat and makesure they are all tight... a looser plug will set off the sensor...