[GenePoole]

I was driving to work this morning and running a little late. I usually put my laptop bag in the trunk, but in my rush out the door, I threw it in the passenger seat. I've gotten seat belt warnings before when the laptop is in the seat, but this morning, after traveling a bumpy stretch of road, the SRS warning came across my iDrive screen and the airbag light on the cluster came on.

Searches indicate that there is no combination of button presses, etc. that will clear this and that I need to take it to a dealer, but some posts mentioned the Bavarian Technic tool (http://www.bavariantechnic.com/) but nothing I read at the site indicates for sure whether it will clear SRS codes. I assume it will, but would like confirmation.

I'd also like to know a few things:

Is there any other options for SRS codes (I had a $80 Peake tool for my E36)?

Is it "normal" for a laptop bag (about 20 lbs. with all my junk in it) to confuse the seat sensor, or may it really be bad?

[JuppiOne]

did that still happening after you remove the laptop from the passenger seat?

[GenePoole]

As soon as the warning appeared, I removed my laptop bag and threw it into the foot area of the passenger side. Noting changed. The code is set and my understanding from reading this forum and other sources is that once set, it's locked-in. I fiddled with some iDrive menus and the service reset menu once I got to work, and turned the car off and on a few times, but it's firmly set.

[2kaccordocoupe]

That's really odd, I know this error will come up if you un-plug the connector under the seat.

I put stuff on my seat all the time and a few warning come up now and then but then I move it to the floor and they are gone.

Very strange, maybe the harness came loose or the sensor crapped out.

[JuppiOne]

try start the car and sit on it, may be enough weight will reset everything

[fdsasdasdf]

It very well could be the seat sensor. I sat down in my friend's E90 passenger seat and got up; airbag light came on. When I sat down in it again it went away. It kind of randomly came on and off when I got in and out of it throughout the day.

[allin]

Search passenger side airbag in forum. There is a recall in 2006 3 series for a defective srs sensor mat in the passenger seat. BMW extends warranty on this part if your vehicle's vin is listed. Check with a dealer.

[mike3000fl]

that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back.

if the dash lights are on and not just the yellow overhead, then the sensor mat is most likely damaged, they are known to fail over time with repeated use. kneeling on the seats and throwing stuff on them can be enough to cause it to fail.

you might be lucky and a reset might fix it.

if you are under warranty you are all good, dealer will fix it.

if you are not under warranty then you need to call bmwna at 800 831 1117 or 800 578 5000, hit extension for customer relations, ask for Doug (he authorized mine), have him look up your VIN and tell you if you are covered under a recall for known models or the extended warranty for the issues with these airbag occupancy sensors.

someone else said look up the thread in the other forum, it does have good info.

[GenePoole]

Thanks for the info, Mike. I'm well out of warranty. I called BMWNA and they say that there are no open recalls for my VIN. Bummer. I guess I'll get the BavTechnic tool (still cheaper than having the dealer look at it) and reset it. If it comes back, I guess I'll have to replace it. Anyone know what group that part is in? I couldn't find it at RealOEM.com under seats or airbag electrical.

[mike3000fl]

i have an 06 330i and BMWNA covered it even though i wasn't under the recall, there is a warranty extension that i fell under.

do you have sport seats or standard?

[GenePoole]

Did I ask the wrong question? I asked it there was an open recall for the seat occupancy sensor. The support person (LeeAnn) told me there were no open recalls at all. We exchanged some pleasantries and she recorded some missing information in my file (they had my name and address already associated with the vehicle which surprised me).

I have the sports seats.

[mike3000fl]

At realoem.com go to seats, then basic seat, there are a couple different sensors in their diagrams, it's a flat mat between the leather or leatherette and the foam cushion. It is referred to as OC3 sensor. Some seats are heated too so look out for that.

It looks like you have to order the whole cushion but i'm pretty sure you can get the sensor by itself because my dealer didn't replace my whole cushion, just the sensor.


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...29&hg=52&fg=10

just so you know i have seen some OC3 emulators for $20, its a black box that tricks the car into thinking the sensor is good. You would still have to reset the light though with a tool or dealer. if you get an emulator be aware that if you place a small child in the front under the weight that the airbag will not deactivate as designed, it will be in an always on configuration.

[mike3000fl]

helpful link, some in there says he got one for $65 and further down has part numbers.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=358892

edited to mention that the $65 part is probably not the seat sensor but a impact sensor. still some good info on that thread though.

[GenePoole]

Great info. Thanks. Yeah, I didn't think that was the right sensor either.

According to the NHTSA information, mine is in the right range (prior to Dec. 2005). I'll call BMWNA back and see if I can leverage them a bit more (and try to get Doug).

[mike3000fl]

http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.go...8V384-5007.pdf

halfway down... you should be covered under sensor extended warranty

[GenePoole]

Just got off the phone again. This time it was Adrian (forgot to ask for Doug). She said that the recall would definitely show up given my VIN unless the recall service had already been performed by the previous owner. I tried to get some information on how to verify that it had been performed, but she said I'd have to take it to the dealer.

[mike3000fl]

i think in your case it's more of an extended warranty as needed (if the part fails) versus a recall. i would call and bug the shit out of them till they fix it. the memo in the post above that i put up has your model year and hopefully your date of manufacture. you should be good. important to note date of manufacture is different to model year.

[GenePoole]

Many thanks for your help on this Mike.

I found this right on their "contact us" page:

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...aryRecall.aspx

Back to the phones.

[GenePoole]

Followup.

It turns out that the problem was with my battery clamp (the pyro linked to the SRS that blows the cable off in case of an accident). Dealer replaced it and cleared the code but just today, the light came on again. Hopefully the repair is still covered as I'd hate to fork out the $400 or so it cost the first time (assuming that actually did anything but clear the code).

I never did learn if my car had the recall performed or not. Nor why the message on the iDrive screen seems to indicate something completely different:

[GenePoole]

Follow up.

For what it's worth, I believe this turned out to be a loose battery. Sometime in the service history of this car (or perhaps since it left the assembly line) the battery hold-down bracket was left off and the battery was basically just sitting in its tray with nothing but gravity holding it in. Going over bumpy roads would cause it to jump up and down in its space. This, possibly combined with a looser than normal connection to the SRS enabled cable clamp would cause an intermittent open in the circuit thus flagging the code. I secured the battery and bent the pins in the connector ever-so-slightly to ensure solid contact and all is well.

[Vitalität]

Originally Posted by GenePoole

Follow up.

For what it's worth, I believe this turned out to be a loose battery. Sometime in the service history of this car (or perhaps since it left the assembly line) the battery hold-down bracket was left off and the battery was basically just sitting in its tray with nothing but gravity holding it in. Going over bumpy roads would cause it to jump up and down in its space. This, possibly combined with a looser than normal connection to the SRS enabled cable clamp would cause an intermittent open in the circuit thus flagging the code. I secured the battery and bent the pins in the connector ever-so-slightly to ensure solid contact and all is well.

I know this is an old thread but the loose battery was really the culprit? We have the same car and model.

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

Originally Posted by Vitalität

I know this is an old thread but the loose battery was really the culprit? We have the same car and model.

Sounds funky to me, but there is a recall out for the passenger seat occupancy mat on most 330s. I had it taken care of along with the Battery Safety Terminal recall free of charge.

Not sure when the recall came out, but it may have well been that and blamed on the battery but who knows for sure.

You can check for open recalls on your car here:
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...eoverride=true