Airbag Light & Telltale Lamp Coming On (UPDATE)

[BigO1120]

WHAT'S UP PEEPS!!??!!??

Hope all of you are doing well. I got an update for you all about my airbag sensor issue. Here it is...

I got back from Maryland on Labor Day weekend. The airbag light came on twice while on the trip. I didn't bring my X3 into the dealership until the Tuesday after Labor Day. They gave me an '06 325i (which was pretty hot) as loaner while they fixed my truck. 2 days later my dealer called me stating that the work has been completed and my truck was ready to be picked up.

I picked up my truck that Saturday...I figured I could save the mileage on my truck and play around with the 325i. That Sunday, while driving home from my parents house the airbag sensor came on again while my wife was in the passenger seat. It lit up for about 2 - 3 seconds and then turned off. The other thing I noticed also is that when no one is sitting on the passenger seat...the airbag sensor remains off. It's as if I were to get into an accident (heaven forbid) both my airbag and the passenger side airbag would deploy...even though no one is sitting in the passenger seat. The airbag sensor came on again earlier this week.

I'm not upset at the dealership...the service I receive from them is phenomenal. I just can't take the airbag sensor anymore. I've taken my truck for service 3 times and it hasn't resolved the problem. So I called BMW North America again. They have on record my previous call to them and they told me that they will have to come in contact with the dealership again about this problem.

At this point...I'm not sure what can be done because I don't want to keep bringing my truck in for service when the problem is not going to be resolved.

As always...I'll keep you guys posted on this issue.

Take care!

[BigO1120]

Okay, I just got a call no more then 15 minutes ago from BMWNA. They told me that they had an engineer and a number of technicians work on my issue and they could find nothing wrong with the airbag sensors. BUT THE TELLTALE LAMP CONTINUES TO GO ON!!!! I HAVE PICTURES WHEN IT'S ON WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT!!!

They asked me if my wife was a bit on the petite side and I told them ‘Yes’. But then they told me that there’s nothing else that they can do to fix the problem. “So now what,” I tell them. “Does my wife have to gain 50lbs in order for the airbag sensors to recognize that she’s on it?!?!?”

BMWNA’s response was that they’ve done all they could but nothing more can be done. So now I have to drive around in a car where the sensors don’t work because my wife weighs lest then 125lbs?

Before I call the dealer…what can I do?!?! Please HELP!

[blondboinsd]

Thats disgusting, I'd DEMAND they buy it back, when my dad's E class (2003) had an airbag issue the dealer was an ass about it so one day He took it in, threw the keyes at the desk and said call my lawyor and (after much fighting) it was bought back, contact a lawyor would def be my recomendation, you didn't spend ALL THAT money for no airbags lol

[BigO1120]

Originally Posted by blondboinsd

Thats disgusting, I'd DEMAND they buy it back, when my dad's E class (2003) had an airbag issue the dealer was an ass about it so one day He took it in, threw the keyes at the desk and said call my lawyor and (after much fighting) it was bought back, contact a lawyor

I'm thinking of doing that but it shouldn't have to resolve to that. How can they tell me that nothing more can be done?!?!?

Do I have to force feed my wife to gain weight just so that the F#%$&*@ sensors are activating?!?!?

That's my last resort...the lawyer thing!

[BigO1120]

Just got a call back from the manager at my dealership (who is awesome!). He explained to me that he is dropping the ball on BMWNA becaus the dealership pretty much followed all the recommendations and instructions on dealing with these problems. He's waiting for a response from BMWNA to see what the next course of action is.

The last resort would be them getting me out of the truck but he told me that if I opt to go for another X3 I might run into the same problem with the first one I had.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[05Boxster]

Ok, how about suggesting that the dealer loan you a NEW X3 for a period of at least a week, and keep your eye on the light. If it doesn't come on, you're good to go. If it does come on then you know you've got a problem. But I don't believe the weight thing because many teens and adults weigh less than 125 pounds, there would have to be some type of warning sticker or something about a weight limit, wouldn't there?

[AzNMpower32]

There is a TSB on this issue, even when no faults are stored. The solution on the X3 is to replace the seat mat.

[BigO1120]

I've taken the truck into the dealership 4 times already and each time the problem has not been resolved. I think for a car company as big as BMW the fact that they came to me telling me that there is nothing more that can be done with my problem is just unacceptable.

I'm going to wait to hear back from the manager at the dealership in regards to this issue. If he says that nothing can be done and they have to buy me out of the truck...then I think I'm going to go for a 328xi. My wife has a RAV4 and I figured we're perfectly fine with 1 truck.

As always...I'll keep you all posted on my situation.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions!!!!

[AzNMpower32]

Here ya go: print this out as a last resort and ask if they have done this.

http://www.alldata.com/tsb/BMW/11544...5/7202051.html

[BigO1120]

Look...I'm to the point in where I no longer care about what they've done. Just this past weekend I took a video while I was driving my X3 with my wife in the passenger seat and the light on.

I'm to the point now in where I don't want to drive the X3 anymore. I'm contacting my dealer and demanding that something be done immediately.