Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor

[jgold47]

On my e36 I cut off the connector and wired in the bypass. Simple diode + resistor if I recall

[Cadesto]

Just turns off the chime...

[bmw_jeff_X5]

Originally Posted by e30mpower

EDIT: To the OP, since your car is within 10 years (and hopefully within 100k miles), assuming you're in the US, BMW NA should replace sensor at no cost other than labor as part of "goodwill repair." ESPECIALLY if it's part of a recall campaign, even though your particular VIN/model isn't listed. Keep going up the corporate ladder until you get a yes. If you can't get a yes, let me know and I'll reach out to my contact at Corporate and put you in touch with the right person. This is a safety issue that BMW doesn't want on their hands.

This has been an intermittent PIA issue since I got my 2006 3.0i back in April. The past three days or so the light on the dash and at the sunroof control area hasn't gone away. I stopped by the dealer where I purchased the car and pleaded my case related to the recall that occurred for 2006 X5's manufactured through 11/05 (Mine is a 5/06 manufact. date). They are going to call BMW NA to request a good will repair. Crossing my fingers.

[bmw_jeff_X5]

I heard back from the dealer. They indicated BMW NA is willing to pay for 50% of the diagnosis. Since the problem has not been diagnosed yet, I guess I'm looking at $50 of the $100 diagnosis (plugging the X up to the computer) and than half of taking the seat cushion out and peeling back the leather cover to look at the sensor. At $130/hr X 3 hours +/- Im looking at about $200 out of pocket for that. This is a total of $300 with no guarantees of much of anything other than formal diagnosis. The service manager indicated that BMW NA wants to know the color of a certain wire on the sensor. This shows some acknowledgement that there are problems beyond the 11/2005 manufacture date. The service manager says "At least they are talking". I need to take this thing to an indy to run the fault code to see what it shows. I'm also thinking about just installing the bypass which I think I think I was able to find yesterday on Ebay. Such BS for a safety issue that should be taken care of with no questions asked. My car only has 36K on her.

[admranger]

I had the intermittent passenger seat chime problem on my X5 for a while. Drove around with the seatbelt connected for a while until a buddy who owns a shop told me to bring it to him. His tech hooked up the laptop GT1 software, found some codes (he didn't write them down and I was jabbering with my buddy at the time so neither did I), and then cleared the codes. Magically, the random seat occupancy sensor fault went away. I don't think the mechanic disabled the chime only, as the seatbelt warning light doesn't come on randomly anymore, but does come on at startup or when I don't have mine on as the driver (backing out of the garage).

BTW: these were codes that my Peake code reader did not report, but were reported by the GT1 software.

Worth a try...

[Daka]

If someone could come up with the bypass adapter (or whoever sells it)r...I'd like to buy one....

[bmw_jeff_X5]

My car is a May 06 manufacture date. I understand the facelift E53's have a different setup than earlier vehicles with this occupancy sensor.
I believe this bypass works based on corresponding with the seller utilizing pictures I took of the 3-wire connectors underneath at the back of the seat.
BMW Seat Occupancy Mat Bypass Airbag Sensor Emulator E90e91e92e93e81e71e61x3x5z4 | eBay

[bmw_jeff_X5]

Update:
BMW NA indicates via my dealer they will pay 25% of the cost to replace even thought it is "out of warranty". Dealer quoted $1046 + tax. I will now start the emails to BMW NA customer relations stating my opinion that this should be covered 100%.

[bmw_jeff_X5]

BMW has expanded the recall to include all 2006 X5's!!

[upallnight]

Not to hijack a thread, but if swap a front seat such as a passenger side seat, in order for the airbag light not to light up, should you disconnect the battery before the swap? I know that when you disconnect the airbag on the door to work on a window carrier, you need to disconnect the battery to prevent the srs light from going on.