Air bag warning light, DIY method to reset ?

[Ralf*]

2001 E39 530d

for the "ump-teenth" time the light has come on and its been mentioned to me by BMW Isando that its caused by the connector under the drivers seat, that has a loose conection, and disruptions of moving the seat, or vacumming under the seat etc causes it to trigger a momentary fault ie it allows 10 or so activations before the light comes on and doesn't extinguish.

Its damm annoying esspecially at night.

I don't want to go to BMW Isando and all the papaerwork hassle just to connect the diagonstic computor in order to "Clear the fault".

Its happened 3 times already in the past so I know how "minor" this issue is, I really now just want to avoid the annoyance of going to the agent, and am hoping someone has an easier method of clearing the airbag fault light.

thanks

 

[rick540]

Nope., unfortunatley it needs the correct equipment

You could buy one of the Carsoft clones off ebay, that will do the trick

 

[e46_325i]

I have had the same problem before and its apparently a common problem, you say you in Isando, visit Peformax Tuning in Edenvale (Sebenza - Ingwe Rd), and ask them to help you with the airbag problem. Tell Peter there Jan from 082CARWASH sent you. The story is that static builds up in the plug connector under the seat, due to the frequency of this problem, they took out my connector and soldered the wires together and reset the fault. Connector only there for seat removal purposes. Problem solved! Obviously not advisable if your car is under motorplan. Peter has a ex BMW mechanic there. Probably looking at an hours labour charge :thumbsup:

 

[Ralf*]

E46 325i...thanks

I actually live in K/Park
I have been told about the fix of the connector as well, but been too lazy to action it.
It is a 2001 model so motorplan is long deceased

question...would any local service station that has a diagnostic computor be able to "clear" the snag and thus extuinguish the light ?

I just want the light to be out...thats all

 

[e46_325i]

as far as i know if its just a temp fault then it can be cancelled by anyone who has the diagnostic equipment to do it! Before we ended up removing the connector on my car i had the fault cleared twice succesfully, but on the third try, it would cancel the fault and within seconds come on again... hence its now removed and all fine so far (5 months)... :thumbsup:

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as far as i know if its just a temp fault then it can be cancelled by anyone who has the diagnostic equipment to do it! Before we ended up removing the connector on my car i had the fault cleared twice succesfully, but on the third try, it would cancel the fault and within seconds come on again... hence its now removed and all fine so far (5 months)... :thumbsup: