Airbag Warning Light

[dkrace67]

Hi, I'm new to the board but a friend told me it is a great way to share knowledge and maybe get some information on my vehicle. I have a 1998 323is (E36), I consider myself a pretty capable mechanic, so when I purchased the vehicle (used) I promptly purchased a Bentley manual and Peake scan tool (for reseting oil and service lights etc.). Recently my airbag warning light came on and my scan tool does not reset it or tell me any info regarding what the problem may be. Is this something that I have to go directly to BMW for (@ $110 an hour) or does anyone have anything I could check.

Any help is appreciated, thank you very much

 

[Kenny2g]

Have the same problem on my 92 352I brotha. I Acutall opened my cluster to find the bulb and take it out. Guess what? i did see anybulb in that particular spot. I don't know what tha hell the blinking means but i know its anoying. I was told to go and check it out but you know what? am not going to pay the dealer that much to tell me what that hell i can do to it. I think i'll rely on my seat beat if the thing didn't deploy during acdident.

 

[Racer23]

I have talked with experts in the air bag department. Just because the light is on does not mean that it won't go off in an accident. There have been cases reported where the airbag deploys without warning and can cause injury


At all costs have it looked at before you are driving down the road and the thing goes off CAUSING an accident.

 

[Abdoman]

The most common problem on the E36 airbag is the seat belt latch. The dealer can replace it for about $250 - they told me the front seat has to come out.

 

[dkrace67]

Hi again,
Here's an update for those interested. I am purchasing a SRS Reset tool from Peake Research for $129 US. My theory is this, since I like to work on my own stuff, at least I'll have the tool and maybe be able to fix the prob myself. If I brought the car in, I would most likely pay around $100 to have someone tell me what's wrong anyway AND I wouldn't have the tool. I already have the R5/FCX Scan Tool from Peake and am happy with it's performance, so another product from them does not frighten me. I'll post an update once I have the tool in hand and have found out what the prob is. Sorry for the delay in this response, since I am new it took me a while to figure out how to navigate the site.

 

[frolf]

welcome to the site friend, yeah my airbag light comes on for about 3 minutes every time i start my car ('96 328iS) and then goes off. I don't really care about it though. Airbags don't make a car fast.

 

[Wadula]

an air bag doe not make it fast but wasting the probable benefits of having one is somehow weird. i think it is a great life saver and only because of some money i would not want to miss it. hell with airbags it is with insurance:

air bag okay / insurance full coverage = nothing happens
air bag off / insurance changed to basic (as nothing happens) = totaled.

murphy's law friends...

 

[carcus]

Personally, I would not mess with anything in the SRS system. Would get it checked out and fixed at the dealer with that one. Worst case scenario......you get in an accident, it does not deploy, or if you are just driving having a good time, then it deploys for no reason on the highway.......that would be the definition of "THIS SUCKS!" in the dictionary....you get the picture.

 

[97-328is]

My light is permanently on.
Dealer told me it was a short in the seat belt latch on the passenger side, doesn't matter of the seat is occupied/belted or not - always on.
Spilled some pop in there a while ago, must be gummed up in there.