New E46 drivers airbag problem

[zippy320]

Hi Guys!

So got my car back from BMW today after its holiday check and Drivers airbag replacement .

This afternoon while driving back I noticed a small problem that my other airbag did not have . the airbag seems to sit a little off , Is there a way of adjusting this ?
I took the airbag off , refitted it and im getting the same result , Im not sure what could be the problem , My old airbag sat perfectly .

On one side the gap seems smaller and on the other it seems bigger . I have attached pictures below .

It looks like they did replace the wiring harness behind the steering as well as the hooter button as well .

The left has a smaller gap on the side then the right .

Love the new airbag though hehe

 

[Gizmo]

Check they didn't bend or force the bracket that holds the airbag on. It's rather easy to bend it if the guy working on it is incompetant or hasn't done it before.

 

[Coisman]

Check they didn't bend or force the bracket that holds the airbag on. It's rather easy to bend it if the guy working on it is incompetant or hasn't done it before.

What he said

 

[Blue Shirt]

The inner bracket (just a metal plate really) usually bends because the oaf trying to remove the airbag just pulls on it with all his might. The plate then bends outwards and the airbag sits like in your pictures.

If you can remove the airbag yourself, just take it off and use a big screwdriver or something to give you leverage to bend the metal plate back inwards.

If you have some torx wrenches, you could take the plate off to go straighten it out on the bench.

 

[Ashiel]

Hi Guys!

So got my car back from BMW today after its holiday check and Drivers airbag replacement .

This afternoon while driving back I noticed a small problem that my other airbag did not have . the airbag seems to sit a little off , Is there a way of adjusting this ?
I took the airbag off , refitted it and im getting the same result , Im not sure what could be the problem , My old airbag sat perfectly .

On one side the gap seems smaller and on the other it seems bigger . I have attached pictures below .

It looks like they did replace the wiring harness behind the steering as well as the hooter button as well .

The left has a smaller gap on the side then the right .

Love the new airbag though hehe

Sorry off topic!

What model is your car? SMG PMB has told me so many times that there is no stock in the country to do my airbags so just wondering if there are different types of airbags for the E46?

 

[JohnLod]

Hi Guys!

So got my car back from BMW today after its holiday check and Drivers airbag replacement .

This afternoon while driving back I noticed a small problem that my other airbag did not have . the airbag seems to sit a little off , Is there a way of adjusting this ?
I took the airbag off , refitted it and im getting the same result , Im not sure what could be the problem , My old airbag sat perfectly .

On one side the gap seems smaller and on the other it seems bigger . I have attached pictures below .

It looks like they did replace the wiring harness behind the steering as well as the hooter button as well .

The left has a smaller gap on the side then the right .

Love the new airbag though hehe

Sorry off topic!

What model is your car? SMG PMB has told me so many times that there is no stock in the country to do my airbags so just wondering if there are different types of airbags for the E46?

Hi, there are 4 different types of drivers side air bags, the stock does fluctuate a lot as more and more people are going to dealers to check. Not all drivers side air bags need to be replaced. Have they at least checked to see if yours must be replaced? The two most replaced drivers side air bags BMW shows STOCK.
The passenger side air bag which does get changed, there are 600 + in stock at BMW. Send/PM me your vin and I can check which one your vehicle may require and see if there is stock.

Cheers

 

[Tinuva]

Sorry off topic!

What model is your car? SMG PMB has told me so many times that there is no stock in the country to do my airbags so just wondering if there are different types of airbags for the E46?

What John said, there are 4 different types and the stock fluctuate. The square like multifuction steering wheel is the most popular type, if your E46 has this one, it is the one that goes the fastest out of stock at the dealers, which then need to order new ones from BMW.

SMG Tygervalley was out of stock of the square like mf steering wheel one, when I wanted to take my 318i facelift, but they had stock of the one in the pictures in this thread which my 330i pre-facelift has.

Thad said, SMG PMB must have ordered again, you should just check back with them regularly, at least monthly or weekly.

 

[Bernard///M3]

Did mine today. All good

 

[zippy320]

Thanks so much guys for all the responses Im going to check on that bracket soon !! Sorry for the late response .

@Ashiel My cars a 2002 318i LCI , I have the sports steering wheel with the little wood sort of insert , , I believe this airbag is the same as the Motorsport steering . When I booked my car in for its holiday check and was told about the airbag replacement , SMG Durban had ordered one of these airbags so had it in stock , they kept it for my car .

My car has had its Passenger airbag replaced some time last year , and now its drivers airbag . Its so nice and new! , but in actual fact my old airbag was in very good condition as well , I hope this one stays that way .

Is there a procedure for removing the airbag ? Do I disconnect the the battery terminal , let the car sit for a few minutes to discharge , then disconnect the bag?

I know how to remove the air bag from the steering ( Its just an absolute pain to do as I can never get to the spring clips properly )

Thanks guys!

 

[Tinuva]

Thanks so much guys for all the responses Im going to check on that bracket soon !! Sorry for the late response .

@Ashiel My cars a 2002 318i LCI , I have the sports steering wheel with the little wood sort of insert , , I believe this airbag is the same as the Motorsport steering . When I booked my car in for its holiday check and was told about the airbag replacement , SMG Durban had ordered one of these airbags so had it in stock , they kept it for my car .

My car has had its Passenger airbag replaced some time last year , and now its drivers airbag . Its so nice and new! , but in actual fact my old airbag was in very good condition as well , I hope this one stays that way .

Is there a procedure for removing the airbag ? Do I disconnect the the battery terminal , let the car sit for a few minutes to discharge , then disconnect the bag?

I know how to remove the air bag from the steering ( Its just an absolute pain to do as I can never get to the spring clips properly )

Thanks guys!

If it makes you feel better, after looking at mine after reading this thread, I have the exact same issue. Will look at mine eventually.

 

[Bernard///M3]

Did mine on Thursday, all good with mine

 

[ZaynM]

Thanks so much guys for all the responses Im going to check on that bracket soon !! Sorry for the...

Is there a procedure for removing the airbag ? Do I disconnect the the battery terminal , let the car sit for a few minutes to discharge , then disconnect the bag?

I know how to remove the air bag from the steering ( Its just an absolute pain to do as I can never get to the spring clips properly )

Thanks guys!

Hope this helps!

[video=youtube]