Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E70) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-04-2016, 12:04 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 47
golf4dj is on a distinguished road
Passenger Seat Sensor Mat Replacement

2008 x5 3.0si (120K miles - cold weather package with heated seats)

A couple months ago I got the dreaded Passenger Restraint System warning which would intermittently come on and then go off when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. Unfortunately, over time the warning would come on more frequently to the point that it is on full time now regardless as to whether someone is sitting in the seat or not.

Pulled the code using the BMW iCarly App which revealed code 93C3 which is a defective passenger seat sensor. I realize that the sensor is subject to a recall, unfortunately mine is not covered.

Fast forward - a few weeks ago I ordered the replacement part as identified by RealOEM (Part No. 65779171319 from ECS Tuning). Today I took the seat out and tore it down to get to the seat sensor (pretty straight forward does take some time).

To my surprise the existing seat sensor looks nothing like the new one I bought (electrical connections are not quite the same either). The part number from the existing sensor is 65779192246 and does not appear in the RealOEM catalog.

The first pic shows the original sensor which has a black cover, the second pic is the close up of the original part number and the third is the new sensor I ordered.

Anyone have any ideas - I am at a total loss.

Thanks in advance - DJ

BTW - I did post a similar question on another board.
Attached Images
   
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 09-09-2016, 11:49 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Washington
Posts: 33
wickedwyrm is on a distinguished road
I'm not 100% sure, but isn't the black mat the seat heating pads? The seat occupancy sensor isn't in the bolsters. I'm guessing the seat occupancy sensor is down more inside the seat, that's probably why the plug doesn't match.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-10-2016, 12:29 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 47
golf4dj is on a distinguished road
Talked to two sources over the last couple days, ECS tuning and my local dealer who both confirmed that on my vehicle which includes the sport seats that you cannot purchase the seat occupancy sensor mat only and that you must purchase the bottom seat cushion and sensor mat together. Cheapest I found was roughly $650 for the set with the dealer wanting over 8 bills.

The part number from the old sensor mat no longer shows up in the BMW catalog as available.

I believe that if you do not have the sport seats you could purchase the sensor mat as a standalone part for about $120 to $150. Lucky me and others that have the sport seat option. This is likely why we see posts with pretty wide ranging estimates for repair. I have seen several posts with estimates over $1500 and others less than $1000 which likely reflects the difference in being able to procure the mat on its own and the labor quoted at roughly 6 hours (didn't take me that long but that seems to be the hours quoted).

Anyway I will bite the bullet and purchase the sensor and bottom seat cushion and follow up here.

In response to the previous post the sensor on my seat includes the black felt as shown. The seat heating pad is actually attached to the underside of the leather seat cover and is clearly different from the occupancy sensor mat as shown.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-10-2016, 01:26 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Washington
Posts: 33
wickedwyrm is on a distinguished road
Well that sucks. Mine's broken also, but I'm looking into the bypass module from airbagdoc and hopefully that will fix the issue
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-18-2016, 08:24 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 47
golf4dj is on a distinguished road
Fixed - purchased the seat sensor and lower seat foam padding. Again, my research seemed to reveal that for vehicles with sport seats you can only purchase the seat occupancy sensor mat with the lower seat cushion.

Sourced the part (number 52-10-7-247-502 w/heated seats) for roughly $625 and installed. Everything was pretty straight forward. I used zip ties instead of hog clips to attach the leather seat material to the seat cushion. It was a bit tedious but nothing that could not be handled.

Reinstalled seat and the warnings disappeared.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-18-2016, 10:18 AM
brian5's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 2,939
brian5 is on a distinguished road
golf4dj,

You could have stopped the chiming with coding but I'm assuming that, it constantly showing up in the display, got to be pretty annoying.

I would have been tempted to just remove the sensor entirely but I guess that wasn't an option?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-18-2016, 10:40 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 47
golf4dj is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by brian5 View Post
golf4dj,

You could have stopped the chiming with coding but I'm assuming that, it constantly showing up in the display, got to be pretty annoying.

I would have been tempted to just remove the sensor entirely but I guess that wasn't an option?
Yea, was definitely annoying to have the passenger restraint system error message in the display constantly on. Based on my research only way to address that error message was to replace sensor mat or do the bypass module. I chose to replace the mat so I do not run the risk of trying to explain why the airbag deployed when it shouldnt have.

If I got it right the bypass module would make the airbag system operate as if the front seat is occupied by an adult making the airbag deployed in an accident.

Also, I felt that if I didn't fix it correctly I would run the risk of not being able to register the car passing a safety and emission inspection.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-27-2017, 11:15 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 12
desertoasis is on a distinguished road
Sequence to get seat cushion out

Could you possibly post a quick sequence to get the seat cushion out to start the process of replacing cushion/mat?

I'm just about to do this on my sport seat. Bought used seat bottom off eBay for $100.

Looking for something like:
Disconnect battery
Remove seat back panel
Remove belt
Remove headrest?
Remove bolts
Remove seat

Probably more detail than that. I'm quite capable just need the sequence of events.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-28-2017, 12:40 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 47
golf4dj is on a distinguished road
This should be a relatively straightforward teardown as I recall as it has been a few months.

You will definitely want to disconnect the battery first thing and then take the seat out. To do so you will need to remove some trim pieces so you can get to the bolts that secure the seat to the floor and the seatbelt. There is a wire clip or two that needs to be discounted. Once the seat is out continue removing trim pieces around the base of the seat so you can get to the leather seat material tabs.

One lesson learned - the power seat module comes out as a complete unit after the trim around it is removed. The seat control buttons don't come apart separately so don't try (I broke mine).

No need to take the seat back apart. Just recline the seat a bit and this will give you enough room.

Once the trim is removed you will see the tabs that the seat material is attached. The tabs are made of plastic and do not flex. Simply stretch the leather over the tabs and as you work the seat material off you will need to cut the hog ties that connect the seat material to the seat cushion.

Installation is the reverse except I used small plastic zip ties instead of hog ties.

As I mentioned, should be pretty straight forward.




Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-28-2017, 09:28 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 12
desertoasis is on a distinguished road
Thank you so much. I figured not too bad just time consuming. Helps to know the steps ahead.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:27 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.