New instrument cluster installed > airbag light on?

[vegasX5]

I went with the BMW NA offer to split the cost of the instrument cluster a couple weeks ago and had them do a few other things as well. The dealer actually cut me a pretty good deal on labor for it and a great price on the oil separator and associated hoses. I can say it was totally worth it to get all my pixels back as it had been driving me crazy for years.

I do have a problem/question however. A few days after I got the X back from the dealer, my airbag light came on. It was random and I figured it would probably just go back off after a couple of days, but it has stayed on. I called my SA, and he said that's not related to the cluster is likely a passenger max sensor whatever that is. I assume that's relating to weight load on the passenger seat but he didn't clarify. FWIW, I have passengers in my car maybe 10 times a year if that, and there is no way they could have damaged anything (and when the light came on I hadn't had a passenger for weeks) I thought that since it was just in for the work they would take a look at without charge, but he said they'd have to charge a diagnostic fee of around $70 to take a look.

- is it reasonable for them to assume it's not related to the cluster repair even though the code wasn't being thrown before the repair and thus charge me a diagnostic fee?

- is ~$70 a reasonable fee to look up the code to see what the issue is?

- is a "passenger max sensor" a common failure around 100k on these, or are there any other things I can inspect myself to avoid taking it in?

[Zulu95]

For $70 I would buy a Peake SRS reader/reset tool ($140) and let the $tealer whistle for it!
You can read the code, probably get the repair done yourself/locally for a lot less then the $tealer will do it and reset the light after the repair is completed.

[Jordo]

I say have them check it for $70. If it is something related to the work they just did, they cover the $70 AND what ever else broke.

If it is the seat sensor, or anything else, then your foot'en the bill.

My $.02

[Nik]

It could be your driver seat sensor that bad. Maybe wires got unconnected.(from under the seat) I just replaced my module, which was under the center console. came out of nowhere, anyway, until you read the codes you have no idea what it is. could be fixed with clearing it also.