TSB for Front Passenger Air bag seat Occupancy sensor mat

[E53fan16]

Hi guys,

I picked up a 2006 x5 over the weekend and the air bag off light is on when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat.

I'm trying to verify if there is a TSB out for the front passenger air bag seat occupancy seat mat.

I did some research online and found documentation on a recall for: 2006/X5 SAV production year: Sep 1, 2005 - Nov 30, 2005. The vehicle in question is a 2006 x5 production year Nov 1, 2005. I called one dealer and gave them the vin, and they said there is no open campaign on the front passenger air bag seat occupancy seat mat.

Can you please provide some more insight on this? I'm just trying to verify the accuracy of the information I found online.

Thanks

[Qsilver7]

Click the link below for more information (and more contact info) for the correct NHTSA Campaign ID Number(13V564) which affected "some" e53 X5s (specific seats) : | Safercar | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Here's another downloadable PDF from BMW that dealt with the front seat occupancy mat sensor: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs...V564-8482P.pdf

You may want to all call BMW USA (BMW NA) directly using their toll free number (should be able to find it by googling for it). Have your VIN ready to give to them to see if your X5 has not had the recall done...or even falls under the recall.

[E53fan16]

Thanks for information. The vehicle is not equipped with the sport seats, just the regular 10-way seats plus the 4-way lumbar option.

[white46]

So if there is no passenger, SRS light remains off? or is it on all the time regardless passenger?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by white46

So if there is no passenger, SRS light remains off? or is it on all the time regardless passenger?

If no front passenger is sitting in the seat...the light only illuminates briefly upon start (to indicate it works)...then it should turn itself off.

The only time it should remain illuminated is if a front passenger is sitting in the front seat and doesn't buckle up.

[E53fan16]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

If no front passenger is sitting in the seat...the light only illuminates briefly upon start (to indicate it works)...then it should turn itself off.

The only time it should remain illuminated is if a front passenger is sitting in the front seat and doesn't buckle up.

Thanks for further expounding on this.

The quirky thing I found out that's going on with mines is If I start the vehicle without someone in the front seat, and once they come in and buckle up the light still remains on. If I shut off the vehicle and then restart the light flashes then goes off. If no is in the seat at all the light remains on. Right now I'm doing the imaginary passenger by buckling the passenger seat belt to prevent the gong from going off.

I called BMW N/A america yesterday, and they said the warranty on that recall was effective for ten years and since it expired in December of 2015 they cannot honor the recall. I have to pay fix it myself. Sounds like BS to me.

[white46]

You need to get the SRS code read.
It could be either occupancy mat or seat belt tensioner.

[E53fan16]

Update:

So I took the x5 to the indy last week Saturday to try and diagnose the airbag off problem. So it turns out the passenger occupancy mat sensor is working fine. He found one fault code, which he told me was related to the battery being low at some point, so certain components were not communicating properly with each other. I asked him why the airbag off light stays on when a passenger is not in front seat. I told him in my M3, the light flashes a few notifying that the airbag is deactivated and then goes off. He explained the X5 setup is different from the M3. He said in the X5 the passenger airbag off is always illuminated once the factory default weight setting is not detected in the front seat.

In addition, I do have another problem with passenger seat belt gong going off when no passenger is in the passenger seat. I have to buckle the seat belt to the stop gong. Yes, the invisible passenger business. This only happens once no one is in the front passenger seat and the belt is not buckled. The Indy shop mechanic said he was not seeing any fault codes in the system, so they might have take the seat buckle apart and then seat. The mechanic seemed perplexed with this issues. To me, it almost seems as if this vehicle has some kind of bypass, where it expects a passenger in the front seat all the time. Can you guys provide some insight to help with a diagnosis????

Side note: Upgrades needed.

Even though this is my wife's vehicle and I will drive it mainly when we are going out together, the mod bug has bitten me and I can't help it, so the modding shall commence. Mainly, brought on by seeing some of you guys sweet X's.


1) Headlights are yellow and hazed over, what do you recommend?
2) Angel eyes upgrade, what brand? The amber look I'm not a fan. I don't need any dash codes ether.
3) For wheels, I would like to go with some 18 or 19's, where do you suggest I look? The vehicle will be driven in snow, however, I would prefer not to have a winter and summer setup. I already have enough wheels from the M3 hanging around house.

Concerns: It was brought to my attention that the side mirrors on these vehicle are the target of theft. My neighborhood is pretty safe, but my wife and I do venture into the city and street park for date nights or just meeting up with friends. I don't like the way the anti theft side view brackets looks. Any issues experienced by you guys?

lastly, some quick pics of the x5 and my m3 while stopped by our old neighbor's house. Sorry about the crappy iPhone pics.

[Qsilver7]

Why would anyone want the e53 oe side view mirrors...they suck & you can't see worth s _ _ t ?

Now, if you had the aspherical wide angle heated auto dimming side view mirrors...then give me your address.

[E53fan16]

Lol. Why you may feel the mirrors suck, here in NYC these low life scums will steal just about any car parts they can and sell on Craigslist or to a Junk yard. Especially when it's highly popular vehicle. Not sure if you can relate to that being from Indiana.