E39 Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat

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   I fitted a new seat occupancy mat for the air bag circuitary to the passenger seat of an E39 last weekend. I expected that it would be a difficult repair in that any mechanic I spoke to did not want to have anything to do with this repair. It turned out to be a fairly simple 4 hour job. I had access to diagnostic software to read the fault codes before ordering the mat. Got access to the diagnostic software again yesterday and air bag light is now turned off, hopefully for good. Total cost for repair 70 euro using genuine parts purchased from a BMW independent specialist. I was not tempted to fit the bypass resistor that is available on ebay especially after reading about the workshop foreman that lost his job in the UK after an air bag failed to deploy on a car in an accident that had been fitted with a bypass resistor at his place of work. 
If any of you out there is considering a diy repair to correct an air bag light problem that is the result of a faulty seat occupancy mat or seat belt tensioner PM me and I might be of help to you for the repair.       

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Mike Ryan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 17-February-2008 Location: Limerick Status: Offline Points: 120	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike Ryan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: E39 Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat Posted: 04-June-2010 at 10:15
	I fitted a new seat occupancy mat for the air bag circuitary to the passenger seat of an E39 last weekend. I expected that it would be a difficult repair in that any mechanic I spoke to did not want to have anything to do with this repair. It turned out to be a fairly simple 4 hour job. I had access to diagnostic software to read the fault codes before ordering the mat. Got access to the diagnostic software again yesterday and air bag light is now turned off, hopefully for good. Total cost for repair 70 euro using genuine parts purchased from a BMW independent specialist. I was not tempted to fit the bypass resistor that is available on ebay especially after reading about the workshop foreman that lost his job in the UK after an air bag failed to deploy on a car in an accident that had been fitted with a bypass resistor at his place of work. If any of you out there is considering a diy repair to correct an air bag light problem that is the result of a faulty seat occupancy mat or seat belt tensioner PM me and I might be of help to you for the repair.
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Dergside Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dergside Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04-June-2010 at 13:22
	Nice one Mike. I always cringe when I hear people talking about bypassing the occupancy sensor.
	Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93. Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.

Barry_Mc Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 27-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote Barry_Mc Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16-June-2010 at 13:58
	yeah i did that DIY myself, certainly is worth having a go yourself. Only thing i don't understand is the point in having an occupancy sensor other than the stealers benefit. Correct me if i'm wrong but the passenger airbag will not deploy if there is nobody in the seat at the time of the accident....and if it is faulty it can switch off all other airbags. If my car was badly damaged in an accident the last thing i would be worried about is the cost of the passenger airbag. rant over....