BMW E36 Forum

Hi all

I'm sure it's been discussed before but I was just wondering if anyone knows why my airbag light stays on?

I removed the wheel to get to the instrument cluster and I'm positive the wiring is connected back as it should be...

cheers

alan

It has nothing to do with the cluster or wiring--there are numerous sensors on/in the seats and seat belts and none of them are worth replacing to get the airbag light to go off--it's a complete waste of money---- an independent BMW shop can tell you exactly what sensors by plugging
in the OBD and getting the codes---but please stop wasting your time and move onto the next
project----every E36 has the airbag light on--

wasting my time...? well its sorted now but thanks anyway. Needed resetting which a mechanic with the right computer did in about a minute. Not all e36's have an airbag light on

my bad you got lucky--but if it were sensors and such like mine--it's a waste of time/money--

With people modifying e36s it more often than not just a sensor being unplugged rather than failing. Unless you take the battery out and let the car sit for a while, the SRS system still has power and will throw a code if any sensors are unplugged and it won't go back out by itself, it has to be reset with a computer.

There is a way to fool the system into thinking that a passenger is sat in the seat. There is an 'occupancy sensor' embedded in the passenger seat and if this goes bad, then the airbag light will always be lit. The way to fool the system is to effectively bypass this sensor. I did this and it worked fine for me - at least I know that the airbags will deploy in the event of an accident. More info is available on this website who sell the bypass units...

http://bmwairbagsensor.com/ProductInformation.aspx

When I bought mine, they were selling for only 14.99 +p&p. Fitting was a peice of cake.

I don't know about englands MOT but in NZ for a warrant of fitness the airbag light has to be working and go out as it should most of the time it is just needing resetting by mr BMW and his computer

Is there anyway to reset the Drivers Side Airbag light without spending money at the dealership? Does anyone know the code for the diagnostic plug box? I was able to reset the Service Light with a paperclip.