I think the relationship with the manager is good. He is the one who told me about the "trade assist" and is starting the dialogue with BMW. He agrees the airbag is a safety issue and even said that if approved they will find an acceptable replacement or build one. He also said that BMW will want to resolve this quickly and that they have done trade assists before. Of course I am ready to pick out a replacement right now, but I know it will take some time. I am driving a 3.0 X5 now. The 8 is a lot faster.

Hmm, wouldn't it be an idea for you tell THEM what you want, rather than them telling you what you can have?

I want a new one. I have heard (read) that sometimes they find one with more features than you originally had and give the car to you at no extra cost. For me, the first step is for BMW to acknowledge it needs to be replaced.

If that is what you want, go for it.

That would be the tactic to follow then; I do not feel the family is as safe as they could be in this car and I want a new one, exact same spec or better.

As said above, make sure you document every single little bit of communication. Names, dates, times and contents.

Good luck to you.

ag i too got a 3.0 e70 for the wifee about 6 weeks ago and have had the same prob ! she was getting the airbag malf and the tensioner's were'nt working (shes prego aswell)

took it in once they fixed it up 4 days , they changed sensors ,then about 2 weeks later again they keep it 8 days changing everything from airbags to the seat cushion's , this time cause i was throwing the lemon word around , then they let the head tech take it home for a 50+ mile drive just to make sure it was corrected and now for 3 weeks its been good but believe me if it happenns again that truck will have the fruit on the title !!

as for the others wondering what happens in these types of cases , bmw buys the car back and fixes but the title must say buy back lemon , which diminishes the value of the car by some 30+% due to resale value !

Mine airbag sensor was reset morning after purchase. Brought back next day with airbag warning and seat calibration warning and adaptive headlight failure warning. Replaced seat control module which "fixed airbag warning" and replace driver's headlight. Then, computer told them to replace headlight control module. All's well for two weeks when airbag warning on again. Also noticed small stain on garage floor.

As of yesterday, even talking to BMW they can't get airbag fixed. And, leak is from bad front diff seal. Need to replace. That's where I am now.

I have got -98 E46 and -98 E39 and both had that same airbag problem. They were fixed by BMW by changing some wires under seats. Both cars had that issue several times. I have red these BMW forums in different countries and everywhere exists this same airbag thing no matter what model or modelyear. That is so sad they can't fix it. And now again. I am seriously rethinking what I am gonna buy. Really can't stand those BMW airbag problems anymore.

And yes, I asked this "lemon" thing and they thought I was crazy or something. They told that it is so sophisticated system that it can be different problem everytime :yikes:. And because both cars were few years old I should expect somekind of problems with the cars :yikes:. Well, not that kind of problems, I think.

For me it is a safety issue. How can I trust the passenger airbag to work correctly?

In "CAL E FORN UA" we actually have a very viable "Leomon Law". X number of documented trips to the dealer moves you into the qualify zone and the vehicle is replaced. As I recall in researching the law, the vehicle is then put back on the "open market" to some other unsupecting schumck. I did not read nor recall a "stipulater" i.e., a full disclosure document which had to accompany the "lemon". Had I read that..advanced age that I am, I am certain I would have remembered it. My "heart-gos-out-to-ya" and but for the grace of God...there go I. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck Ag4.8...you deserve a replacement