How is the air bag light still on?

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gas guzzler
Joined: Sat 26 Jan, 2013 17:01
Posts: 143

  Z3 roadster 2.8

How is the air bag light still on?

Post by gas guzzler »

Before anybody says anything I know its not ideal but I need the car to get through the MOT, it's not being sold on. Okay I've had a BMW mechanic check the fault and it's saying fault with side air bag somewhere, an expensive repair. Any way went to the MOT station and asked if it would fail with the light on, YES but if the light doesn't come on it's an advisory. So took the instrument pod out, removed the bulb put it all back, guess what the light still glows, just a bit fainter. HOW?
Andy

1999 Z3 2.8 RED, back with me
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by bertiejaffa »

gas guzzler wrote:Before anybody says anything I know its not ideal but I need the car to get through the MOT, it's not being sold on. Okay I've had a BMW mechanic check the fault and it's saying fault with side air bag somewhere, an expensive repair. Any way went to the MOT station and asked if it would fail with the light on, YES but if the light doesn't come on it's an advisory. So took the instrument pod out, removed the bulb put it all back, guess what the light still glows, just a bit fainter. HOW?
There is a backup LED installed to stop you doing exactly this. Im not saying to do it but others have found paper stuffed in the hole to hide the LED.
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gas guzzler
Joined: Sat 26 Jan, 2013 17:01
Posts: 143

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by gas guzzler »

Cheers, thought I was seeing things, bloody German engineering. Shame they couldn't have made the rest of the circuit more reliable.
Andy

1999 Z3 2.8 RED, back with me
spurs fan in a coupe
Joined: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 19:24
Posts: 1446

  Z3 coupe 2.8
Location: woking

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

I had an airbag light problem that wouldn't go away, in the end swapped the airbag ECU for an identical part number 2nd hand one, works perfectly.
we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
beerbelly
Joined: Fri 07 Feb, 2014 20:12
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Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by beerbelly »

would have thought the only option was to fix the problem not how to get around it :?
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g8jka
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Joined: Sun 18 Apr, 2010 21:16
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Telford

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by g8jka »

spurs fan in a coupe wrote:I had an airbag light problem that wouldn't go away, in the end swapped the airbag ECU for an identical part number 2nd hand one, works perfectly.
I also had the airbag light on permanently when I purchased my zed, but no code readers would read the ecu. Swapped this for an identical part and not had a problem since.
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list :-D :drive
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gas guzzler
Joined: Sat 26 Jan, 2013 17:01
Posts: 143

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by gas guzzler »

I will fix the problem but at the moment I need to get the car MOT'd and checked over for any other problems to make sure it's a viable proposition. It can be one of three things, as it's not the contacts, have already gone through those several times. The ecu unit behind the console (not sure how much they are), the side air bag sensor attached to the cross member under the seat £107(no correct ones on ebay) or the air bag unit in the door £534 from BMW (again no correct ones on ebay). The Bmw guy said the side air bags are an integrated unit and that's why it's expensive, must admit though I've got the door panel off at the moment and it doesn't look integrated to me. Have already tried the by pass thing that didn't work.
Andy

1999 Z3 2.8 RED, back with me
beerbelly
Joined: Fri 07 Feb, 2014 20:12
Posts: 177

  blank

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by beerbelly »

has it been in an accident and any of the seatbelt pre tensioners been deployed not always obvious
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by pingu »

There's nothing wrong with using salvage parts (as long as they haven't been out in the rain). That will cut the price down.
Pingu
gas guzzler
Joined: Sat 26 Jan, 2013 17:01
Posts: 143

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by gas guzzler »

Don't have a problem with salvage parts, normally try and use them, but no correct units on ebay at the moment. Already ordered a sensor unit that was supposedly the correct one for a Z3, listed to fit my car, but it was the wrong one, fortunately didn't pay much.
Andy

1999 Z3 2.8 RED, back with me
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by bertiejaffa »

spurs fan in a coupe wrote:I had an airbag light problem that wouldn't go away, in the end swapped the airbag ECU for an identical part number 2nd hand one, works perfectly.
Do you have anymore for him?
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spurs fan in a coupe
Joined: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 19:24
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  Z3 coupe 2.8
Location: woking

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

Yep I've got a few, I'll check when I get home.
we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
spurs fan in a coupe
Joined: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 19:24
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  Z3 coupe 2.8
Location: woking

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

bertiejaffa wrote:
spurs fan in a coupe wrote:I had an airbag light problem that wouldn't go away, in the end swapped the airbag ECU for an identical part number 2nd hand one, works perfectly.
Do you have anymore for him?

Got these 2 off cars, also have 1 from a 2.8 1997 and one from a 1.9 2002 reg.

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we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
swappy
Joined: Sun 14 Dec, 2014 18:28
Posts: 28

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by swappy »

Any tips on changing over the control module ? Just got one off ebay, same part number. Had a couple of fault codes using a B600 reader/reset tool it gave me a couple of fault codes but wouldn't reset them. One of the codes was F0 which according to the booklet that came with the reader was an error that meant the control module had an internal error hope swopping it sorts it out. Although my local mot station said if the dashboard light isn't working its an advisory, but i really would like it to work properly just for peace of mind and safety.
spurs fan in a coupe
Joined: Fri 18 Apr, 2008 19:24
Posts: 1446

  Z3 coupe 2.8
Location: woking

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

swappy wrote:Any tips on changing over the control module ? Just got one off ebay, same part number. Had a couple of fault codes using a B600 reader/reset tool it gave me a couple of fault codes but wouldn't reset them. One of the codes was F0 which according to the booklet that came with the reader was an error that meant the control module had an internal error hope swopping it sorts it out. Although my local mot station said if the dashboard light isn't working its an advisory, but i really would like it to work properly just for peace of mind and safety.

Mine was just plug and play.

I think a faulty air bag light (one that doesn't come on wen ignition is switched on and then go out shortly afterwards) will fail the MOT
we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
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  M roadster S50

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by pingu »

spurs fan in a coupe wrote:I think a faulty air bag light (one that doesn't come on wen ignition is switched on and then go out shortly afterwards) will fail the MOT
No light at all = Advisory
Light on permanently = Fail
Pingu
gas guzzler
Joined: Sat 26 Jan, 2013 17:01
Posts: 143

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by gas guzzler »

Well finally got it MOT'd today after the speedo packed up last time I went to take it in. So it passed with an advisory on air bag light 'not illuminating' , the wonders of a bit of paper stuffed down a hole. Hopefully be able to get it sorted by next year.
Andy
Andy

1999 Z3 2.8 RED, back with me
peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by peter2b »

My air bag was on, the seat sensor had a thingy pluged into it but i replaced it with another one off ebay , light still would not go out, fortunely Robert T poped down with his lap top and sorted it out in seconds, but my R800 reader would not clear the light
peter2b
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stevov
Joined: Sun 21 Dec, 2014 15:56
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  Z3 roadster 2.0
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Re: How is the air bag light still on?

Post by stevov »

Readers often do not have the ability to clear airbag and other safety codes. If they were so capable it would negate the reason for myself and other mechs from spending thousands on diagnostic equipment.
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