Airbag Deactivated with Passenger

Happy owner of 545 - 2 months so far, but patience is running thin. Passenger airbag is deactivated with passenger sitting on it (120 lbs +/-). Took car to dealer last Tuesday. They kept it for 4 days, replaced cushion, sensor, etc. Problem back over the weekend airbag gets DEACTIVATED and the light comes on with passenger on seat. Back to dealer - 3 days without my 545. Dealer has yet to remedy this. Has anybody else experience this? Was this issue resolved for you?

Originally Posted by Miami545

Happy owner of 545 - 2 months so far, but patience is running thin. Passenger airbag is deactivated with passenger sitting on it (120 lbs +/-). Took car to dealer last Tuesday. They kept it for 4 days, replaced cushion, sensor, etc. Problem back over the weekend airbag gets DEACTIVATED and the light comes on with passenger on seat. Back to dealer - 3 days without my 545. Dealer has yet to remedy this. Has anybody else experience this? Was this issue resolved for you?

My 525 has the same exact problem. Took it to the dealer three days ago and they are still trying to figure it out.....hopefully its done today. I'll post the information I find out if it's finished.

Originally Posted by jstredw

My 525 has the same exact problem. Took it to the dealer three days ago and they are still trying to figure it out.....hopefully its done today. I'll post the information I find out if it's finished.

Showed up at the dealer today too check on progress. Asst. Service Manager took me to see the car plugged into the computer. BMW N.A. Tech Dept. instructed dealer to RE-PROGRAM the car. Yikes!!!! I hope technician does not "screw up" something else. I'll post BMW's description of problem from the work order when I get the car tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Miami545

Showed up at the dealer today too check on progress. Asst. Service Manager took me to see the car plugged into the computer. BMW N.A. Tech Dept. instructed dealer to RE-PROGRAM the car. Yikes!!!! I hope technician does not "screw up" something else. I'll post BMW's description of problem from the work order when I get the car tomorrow.

Thats about what the service advisor I was working with said when I called him today. They reprogrammed it today and wanted to "leave it overnight" and then test drive it in the morning. He told me it "should" be ready for pickup tomorrow morning. So we will see.

Got the car back from the dealer today but they said that the problem was normal. They updated the software to 11.3 since 12 isnt supposedly suppose to be there till next week. "(Shop Foreman) Spoke with Tech Support due to not being able to verify complaint/ Normal if light stays on with a light person." So the problem stays unresolved I guess.

Originally Posted by jstredw

Got the car back from the dealer today but they said that the problem was normal. They updated the software to 11.3 since 12 isnt supposedly suppose to be there till next week. "(Shop Foreman) Spoke with Tech Support due to not being able to verify complaint/ Normal if light stays on with a light person." So the problem stays unresolved I guess.

How could they say that having that airbag deactivated when someone is sitting in the seat is normal? I wouldnt accept that as an answer, and would definitely escalate the matter.

Originally Posted by Mr Hyde

How could they say that having that airbag deactivated when someone is sitting in the seat is normal? I wouldnt accept that as an answer, and would definitely escalate the matter.

They checked three other cars and found it to be "normal" operation. I guess any passenger that is right at the threshold (I'm assuming +-120 lbs) is prone to this, which I find incredibly unacceptable. I stated this to the service manager over and over and he said they would look further into it and give me a definite answer by Monday.

Got my 545 back late Friday afternoon.

BMW dealer completed system reprogram, and replaced the passenger seat/sensor cushion. Mechanic test drove it once with a 115 lb passenger and another time with an 80 lb passenger. They say it was OK to release to owner. Drove it over weekend and seems to respond properly.

To the other owners with similar symptoms - Do not accept flimsy answers from a dealer that says this problem is “normal”. Demand resolution. If BMW felt this airbag system was ready for production then they have to stand behind it. This is not a cheap car… it’s the ultimate driving machine and we paid for it! Proper operation of the car’s includes the airbag system. Hold the line with the BMW dealers – no cutting corners.

This will probably be resolved with future software upgrades.

I took my car in for the service engine light, and it was more of a hassle than it was worth. I was out of the car for the weekend, had a hard time getting a loaner car and had new problems upon reciept of the car.

I say just hold on to the car as is if it doesn't bother that much and let the dealer experiment on someone else's car. Once they have a tried and true method to fix things, bring the car in then.

I took the following from the US users manual (~ page 85). I thought I had read that the threshold was supposed to be 50 pounds but I couldn't find that reference. They are saying that if you want the airbag and the light is on, move the person to the back set where you hopefully have the side airbag option! 120 pounds is way too much to deactvate the airbag. I can't believe they are saying that's normal. I'd be pretty peeved if I was transporting anyone I cared about. Good luck.

Sam

Although not desired, it can occur in
the case of heavier children that the
front passenger airbags remain active or in
the case of very light adults or young persons
that the front passenger airbags are
deactivated.
The state of the front passenger airbags is
shown with the telltale lamp, refer to Indicator
lamps in the following. In this case
transport the corresponding persons on
the rear seat.

I've had the exact same problem...my car is at the dealer right now! Second time for the same problem. I've had this problem since October 03 when I took delivery. Dealer states software issue. We shall see...

Interesting that BMW stays mum about problems like this, and Hyundai (apparently having a similar problem) at least makes it problems known...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Busin..._040623-1.html

Originally Posted by Salvator

Interesting that BMW stays mum about problems like this, and Hyundai (apparently having a similar problem) at least makes it problems known...

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Busin..._040623-1.html

I saw that article too, and after I read it I sent abcnews.com a news tip about this and gave them a link to this thread. Hopefully it will catch one of the editors' eyes.

I have a similar problem with my 2005 X3. I did an ED and while driving with my wife in the passenger seat, the light seems to intermittently come on. Sometimes, if my wife shifts around, the light will temporarily go off.

She weighs about 112 lbs, and should be plenty heavy to keep the bag activated. Is there any official number on the weight requirement? Seems kind of crazy to drive around and not have that airbag work in case it is needed.

I had (have ?) the same problem. Since a reprogram it hasn't happened again. Or maybe my wife put on a couple of pounds (probably not).