Air Bag Light

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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JustJane
Joined: Mon 27 Nov, 2006 16:28
Posts: 26

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Irthlingborough

Air Bag Light

Post by JustJane »

Hi,
The Air Bag Light on my Z3 has decided to stay on! Someone said it might be wires under the seats! Can you help please :?:
JJ.
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Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Post by Robert T »

Hi Jane,

This is a well known problem with the Z3, and it is usually caused by a brief interruption in the connections under the seats. Most often it is simply because someone moved the seat - which is a bit rubbish I know.

Unfortunately it is no good just fixing the wiring - you actually need a reset tool in order to reset the airbag light (this is the point at which Mike F will probably tell me you can use a special piece of wire :wink:). Whilst the light is on, you will have no airbags.

I don't know how other people have fixed theirs, but mine came on when it had gone into the $tealers for something else, so they simply changed part of the wiring loom under the seat and reset the light. It cost me £67.35. I think that the replacement loom has been redesigned to be a little more robust (though I may be confusing this with another part of the loom entirely!).

I'm sure someone on here will be able to tell you what to look for and hopefully how to fix it without a trip to the $tealer.

Cheers R
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Deano1712
Z Register organiser
Joined: Sat 05 Aug, 2006 12:56
Posts: 1396

  M roadster S50
Location: Leeds

Post by Deano1712 »

I would be interested to know whether there is an easy way to reset the light. Mine is on at the moment after I messed about with some fuses. The reset tool is about £80 and I may buy one but it wouldnt surprise me if its just a case of shorting 2 pins on the connector.

Any clever people out there??
Z3M with a few mods...and a little bit more power
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T48 TRE
Joined: Mon 10 Nov, 2003 07:22
Posts: 359

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Coventry

Airbag light.

Post by T48 TRE »

When I went to veiw the car I noticed the airbag light stayed on and the dealers did fix it, however this morning it decided to come back, for what reason I do not know. However as it is under the BMW approved warrenty it will be going back to them to sort it out.
JustJane
Joined: Mon 27 Nov, 2006 16:28
Posts: 26

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Irthlingborough

Air Bag Warning Light

Post by JustJane »

Hi,

My airbag light was finally extinguised today by a very capable indy. The wires somehow had been pulled out of the passenger seat occupancy pad
connectors.

Thanks for your wiring diagrams!

JJ.
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jhb1
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2004 10:28
Posts: 222

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Air Bag Warning Light

Post by jhb1 »

JustJane wrote: The wires somehow had been pulled out of the passenger seat occupancy pad
connectors.
JJ.
Had the same problem with mine not long after I got it. Turned out there was too much stuff like cd cases etc stuffed behind the seat !
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Geoff H
Joined: Sat 08 Nov, 2003 12:03
Posts: 713

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Wellingborough

Re: Air Bag Warning Light

Post by Geoff H »

JustJane wrote:Hi,

My airbag light was finally extinguised today by a very capable indy. The wires somehow had been pulled out of the passenger seat occupancy pad
connectors.

Thanks for your wiring diagrams!

JJ.
Did you use Alan Cowland at Finedon Sidings Trading Estate ? I was going to try them rather than Wollaston Motors
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c_w
Joined: Thu 19 Aug, 2004 16:50
Posts: 4032

  M roadster S50

Post by c_w »

Deano1712 wrote:I would be interested to know whether there is an easy way to reset the light. Mine is on at the moment after I messed about with some fuses. The reset tool is about £80 and I may buy one but it wouldnt surprise me if its just a case of shorting 2 pins on the connector.

Any clever people out there??
I think it's more than that since the regular BMW service indicator reset tool is only about £10 (that can be done by shorting the pins). To reset an airbag you have to check/reset each circuit I think, I watched the BMW specilaist place do mine and he had to scroll through a few different options to reset it.
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oakley6691
Joined: Tue 25 Apr, 2006 13:33
Posts: 257

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Abercrave

Post by oakley6691 »

c_w wrote:
I think it's more than that since the regular BMW service indicator reset tool is only about £10 (that can be done by shorting the pins). To reset an airbag you have to check/reset each circuit I think, I watched the BMW specialist place do mine and he had to scroll through a few different options to reset it.
We have the facilities in work to reset the air bag light on BMW cars and other most makes, it takes about 20 mins and will check for the reason why it came on and then after the fix we then reset the light. Most non BMW garages will have the equipment to do this, it all depends on the software and the knowledge they have on whether they can do it or not.
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Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Post by Robert T »

oakley, I note that you have a later model car. How do you connect to the car to reset the airbag light? Is it via the OBDII connector? If so, can you also handle the BMW specific connector on the earlier models with the same tool? Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Big Red
Joined: Wed 28 Apr, 2004 20:22
Posts: 106

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Kirkcaldy
Contact:

Post by Big Red »

Robert T wrote:oakley, I note that you have a later model car. How do you connect to the car to reset the airbag light? Is it via the OBDII connector? If so, can you also handle the BMW specific connector on the earlier models with the same tool? Cheers R.
The connection for all the diagnostics , engine management, abs and airbag is through the 16 pin connector.

The earlier connector is used on the earlier models, same scan tool but just a case of connecting the proper lead.

Gordon
If it isn't broken, Don't try to fix it.
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