Activating rear airbags

[craigowens]

When I got my car, the rear side airbags were deactivated. I asked the dealer to activate them and I was told it would be $350! Can anyone tell me how they are activated. Do the doors need to be opened up to flip a switch, or do I need the dealer's computer? Either answer doesn't seen to justify the high price? Is this something I can do myself?

[Lanc3r]

How do you know they are deactivated?

[craigowens]

The previous owner told me so. Also, there's a sticker on the door jamb that says so.

[Lanc3r]

The previous owner told me so. Also, there's a sticker on the door jamb that says so.


Gotcha :thumbup:

My guess would be unless you feel safe to work on an airbag system take it to a mechanic.
Dont feel resricted to a dealer for this. Shop around for a specialist or Independent. Does th sticker indicate the method of disconnection or who performed the disconnection?

[craigowens]

The previous owner had them deactivated at no charge according to the service records. The sticker is from the dealer. The dealer said they would do it for free if it was under warranty, which it is not.

[E39spd]

From what I have read, they have to change the programing of the computer, do a search, there was a post from someone else that had this done (activating them), as a hint, I did post in that thread.

[SRFast]

The previous owner told me so. Also, there's a sticker on the door jamb that says so.

The rear airbags are deactivated by default from the factory. A BMW wavier must be signed by the owner before the airbags are activated relieving BMW of all liability if the deployed airbags causes any injuries. The car's computer must the reprogrammed to activate the rear airbags and can only be done by a dealer's service center.

Hope this helps...JL

[chivas]

The rear airbags are deactivated by default from the factory. A BMW wavier must be signed by the owner before the airbags are activated relieving BMW of all liability if the deployed airbags causes any injuries. The car's computer must the reprogrammed to activate the rear airbags and can only be done by a dealer's service center.

Hope this helps...JL

so you're telling me all rear door airbags are disabled until the owner goes to a dealer and gets them enabled? that's wacked.

[Ågent99]

No, they can come activated.

Here is the deal:

You order rear airbags (~$400 option). You now have the choice of whether or not to have the rear airbags turned on or kept off. That is part of ordering them on the car in the first place. When I ordered my car, I had them turned off. (In hindsight, I probably should have skipped the option althogether....). As of today, they are still off.

If you have small children who are a certain age or a certain size (height/weight), you may wish to have them off and then activate them later on when they are older/bigger.

If you want them turned on, the door panels must be removed and the airbags physically plugged in. Then it must be coded via the computer. This no big deal if done when you order the car but there is some labor involved if you do it post-production.

Also, you can probably get it done for free if you are buying a CPO'ed car with the rear airbag option.