BMW airbag warning light

gam3r · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:18

Hiya,

All of a sudden my airbag warning light has come on in my 2003 E46, how much would it cost to reset if there was no actual problem with the airbag?

I think i might have been the culprit, i removed the BMW Business RDS and replaced it with my own HU(could this have caused it?).

Thanks

Wicksta · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:25

Removing the headunit shouldn't cause it, did you remove a seat to run a cable to the boot or anything? It won't cost much to reset, if you post on a bmw forum then you might even get someone with carsoft to reset it for you for free.

Tom|Nbk · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:28

You will need the system reset. Carsoft cable and software will do it and it's a good investment in anycase for your E46 for fault reading. So look into getting one.

Do it asap though as in a crash I don't think the airbags will go off if the light is already illuminated.

PMKeates · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:28

How close are you to London? I have Carsoft and will travel.. short distances, lol.

Tom|Nbk · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:29

PMKeates said:
How close are you to London? I have Carsoft and will travel.. short distances, lol.

Good of you

gam3r · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:32

Thanks for the replies guys. Nope i haven't removed the seat or anything, actually the car is just recently MOT'd(last monday)...

PMKeates said:
How close are you to London? I have Carsoft and will travel.. short distances, lol.

I am in south london, norbury area to be precise, would be great if you could help

Thanks!

Django x2 · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:54

Even moving the seat can be enough to disturb the connectors. Was a fairly common issue with the E46 era BM's

gam3r · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:55

If i took it to a dealer to reset/test, providing there is no major fault how much should i expect to pay for a reset?

thanks

Tom|Nbk · 28 Feb 2009 at 23:57

gam3r said:
If i took it to a dealer to reset/test, providing there is no major fault how much should i expect to pay for a reset?

thanks

Probably £30-50.

You can buy a carsoft cable for about £40 coupled with a laptop with a serial port and Windows XP you have full diagnostics on your car to keep

Duke · 1 Mar 2009 at 08:36

Had mine reset the other week whilst in for a service.

thepharcyde · 1 Mar 2009 at 08:59

gam3r said:
Hiya,

All of a sudden my airbag warning light has come on in my 2003 E46, how much would it cost to reset if there was no actual problem with the airbag?

I think i might have been the culprit, i removed the BMW Business RDS and replaced it with my own HU(could this have caused it?).

Thanks

Ask BMW to check it's got one too

Mine had been cut out

gam3r · 1 Mar 2009 at 11:54

Thanks, rang the dealer he says he will reset it for free but now i have come across another problem - when starting the car(Turning the key) you hear a grinding noise for a second and then it goes away?

PMKeates · 1 Mar 2009 at 11:58

gam3r said:
Thanks, rang the dealer he says he will reset it for free but now i have come across another problem - when starting the car(Turning the key) you hear a grinding noise for a second and then it goes away?

Erm, you holding the key in the ignition position for too long?

gam3r · 1 Mar 2009 at 12:00

It never used to, i don't think i hold it in for too long..:S

PMKeates · 1 Mar 2009 at 12:01

It could be anything really.. can you record the noise and post it?

gam3r · 1 Mar 2009 at 12:02

I'll give it a try, the noise is quite loud i could hear it from the otherside of a window looking at someone else starting the car..

Joe T · 1 Mar 2009 at 13:11

My airbag warning light has come on three times in my time of ownership

. First and second time it cost me at least £200 each. I havent had the third instance checked out yet. First was a new passnger seat mat - not an easy part to replace as the seat has to be taken apart. Second was a new drivers airbag. I got a used one from airbagsforsale.com for £200.

gam3r · 1 Mar 2009 at 13:58

There is a trick i have read about where by basically you have a dummy occupancy sensor fitted in, fooling the system into thinking there is someone sitting in the passenger seat at all times. This means that the airbag system is online, but will mean that all the airbags will be deployed if anything happends.

Here is a recording of that screeching sound:

http://www.gam3r.co.uk/recording4.mp3

edit: just spoke to a friend he rekons its the fan belt. This link also made me think that as well:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/carcough.html

if you go down to the bit where it says " slipping alternator drive belt" pretty much describes what im hearing

cdcopyman · 1 Mar 2009 at 14:10

gam3r said:
Thanks, rang the dealer he says he will reset it for free but now i have come across another problem - when starting the car(Turning the key) you hear a grinding noise for a second and then it goes away?

are you sure its not your petrol pump working ..and you just have noticed before?

gam3r · 1 Mar 2009 at 14:22

never noticed it before, was fine when i drove the car on friday, only actually came about today.