[twinship]

Just noticed the illuminated message on the overhead console (not on the dash) advising that the passenger air bag is deactivated. It lights up on start-up, then turns off.

Not sure how that happened... I didn't deactivate it, at least not intentionally.

Can someone tell me how to reactivate it?

TIA

[koh0886]

i think if no one is sitting in the seat it shuts off and turns back on when someone sits in the seat again. not sure, can anyone confirm?

[mike3000fl]

if someone under a certain weight sits in that sit, it deactivates the passenger airbag so it doesnt kill them.

it should light and stay lit if you have something light on the seat.

when you start the car it is probably lighting just so you know the lamp works, just like how the dash warning lights light up. self test.

as long as it goes back out the airbag is active.

if you get srs airbag lights on your dash that wont go out then you have bigger issues.

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by koh0886

i think if no one is sitting in the seat it shuts off and turns back on when someone sits in the seat again. not sure, can anyone confirm?

this is true too, to save from replacing the passenger airbag in a wreck with no passenger it won't fire it unless the occupant is over a certain weight. light should not stay on though if the seat is empty, just if someone is in it and underweight.

[twinship]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

when you start the car it is probably lighting just so you know the lamp works, just like how the dash warning lights light up. self test.

as long as it goes back out the airbag is active.

OK, it does go out after 10 seconds or so, so I guess it's just to confirm the lamp works.

Thx, I was concerned cuz I chauffer the GF and her daughter around alot and obviously want whoever is in the passenger seat protected in the event of a crash.

[nyknickfan]

A little off-topic but......Does anyone know the differences between the weight limit for the passenger airbag and passenger seat belt warnings?? I like to put my backpack flat on the passenger seat and the passenger airbag is off, but I constantly get the seat belt gong until I take the backpack off. My backpack only carries a laptop and a notebook or two. The gong is so annoying!!

[VTECaddict]

It probably uses the same sensor/threshold. When the airbag off light turns on, it means it thinks there is a person in the seat, but underweight. So since it thinks there's a person, it will keep telling you to buckle the seat belt. Just put your backpack somewhere else (floor, back seat, trunk) or buckle the seat belt.

[mike3000fl]

my wife floats between 98 and 104, depending on how she sits it activates and deactivates. so the threshold is somewhere just under that.

[Oulixes]

There was a recall related to the passenger seat air bag. Search for: "BMW recalling 200,000 vehicles - Autos- msnbc.com.htm." Also, see the attachment.

[mike3000fl]

pretty sure his is functioning within specs

[twinship]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

There was a recall related to the passenger seat air bag. Search for: "BMW recalling 200,000 vehicles - Autos- msnbc.com.htm." Also, see the attachment.

Thx, I read thru the document and it doesn't apply to MY 2008 cars, so I'm not affected (unless it was later extended to other years).

[Oulixes]

Originally Posted by twinship

Thx, I read thru the document and it doesn't apply to MY 2008 cars, so I'm not affected (unless it was later extended to other years).

I've looked some more and could not find anything on MY2008. My interest was in MY2006 because that is the production year of my 330xi. It is likely that BMW fixed the switch pad inserted in the seat cushion sometime during 2007. The only thing that might be of interest, which I've found, was a short information sheet issued by BMW AG, dated 03/09, describing "keyswitch for front passenger airbag." The keyswitch was supposed to manually disable the passenger airbag (presumably when the seat was used by a child), and then enable the bag again, but I am not sure if this function were implemented on North American cars. I've phoned several BMW dealers, and tried and failed to get information on the keyswitch. The disable/enable function might be of interest to people carrying children, regardless of the year of production.

[ABQ325i]

My airbag light came on when I put a jar of marmalade on my passenger seat. Obviously BMW haven't taken into consideration the mess a broken jar of marmalade would cause in an accident.

[twinship]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

I've looked some more and could not find anything on MY2008. My interest was in MY2006 because that is the production year of my 330xi. It is likely that BMW fixed the switch pad inserted in the seat cushion sometime during 2007. The only thing that might be of interest, which I've found, was a short information sheet issued by BMW AG, dated 03/09, describing "keyswitch for front passenger airbag." The keyswitch was supposed to manually disable the passenger airbag (presumably when the seat was used by a child), and then enable the bag again, but I am not sure if this function were implemented on North American cars. I've phoned several BMW dealers, and tried and failed to get information on the keyswitch. The disable/enable function might be of interest to people carrying children, regardless of the year of production.

I'd always assumed there was a way to disable the passenger side airbag, because of concerns I've heard raised about injuring infants in the event of a crash (suffocating them? I forget).

That's why I was worried that mine might have been deactivated...

[Oulixes]

Originally Posted by twinship

I'd always assumed there was a way to disable the passenger side airbag, because of concerns I've heard raised about injuring infants in the event of a crash (suffocating them? I forget).

That's why I was worried that mine might have been deactivated...

There was at least one case of a child or an infant killed by the passenger seat airbag. I recall reading about it, but I am not sure which car make was involved - it was not a BMW.

In any case, the passenger side airbags in some BMW cars can be controlled manually, according to the BMW document ("Keyswitch* for front passenger airbags"), the scan of which is enclosed. The scan is the first page of the document - the whole document consists of four pages, but the three that are not enclosed only repeat the English text that is on page one in other languages. The document confirms that the passenger airbags can be deactivated/reactivated, but the asterisk means that the "Keyswitch*" may or may not be installed. As I said, the dealers I phoned claimed they know nothing about the "Keyswitch*."

[twinship]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

There was at least one case of a child or an infant killed by the passenger seat airbag. I recall reading about it, but I am not sure which car make was involved - it was not a BMW.

In any case, the passenger side airbags in some BMW cars can be controlled manually, according to the BMW document ("Keyswitch* for front passenger airbags"), the scan of which is enclosed. The scan is the first page of the document - the whole document consists of four pages, but the three that are not enclosed only repeat the English text that is on page one in other languages. The document confirms that the passenger airbags can be deactivated/reactivated, but the asterisk means that the "Keyswitch*" may or may not be installed. As I said, the dealers I phoned claimed they know nothing about the "Keyswitch*."

Interesting, thx.

I'm not aware of any special key or switch in my car, so I would assume that the passenger airbag is simply enabled permanently.

[Oulixes]

I guessed that the manual "Keyswitch*" was a feature compulsory in some countries, but it is not a feature available in North America. The manual for my car recommends to use back seats for transporting children, but allows that passenger seat be used, claiming that "most child seats are detected, especially child seats required by NHTSA at the time of vehicle production." In my 335i, a signal light on the little panel above the rear view mirror indicates when the airbags are activated.

[shadowcoder]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

There was a recall related to the passenger seat air bag. Search for: "BMW recalling 200,000 vehicles - Autos- msnbc.com.htm." Also, see the attachment.

This is quite interesting - my E90 330i is a 2006 model but I haven't
received anything from BMW regarding a recall. If this was an official
recall or one mandated by NHTSA, I imagine I should have received
something in the mail.

I'm curious to see how my passenger airbag light behaves too - I'll
check it out tomorrow.

[Oulixes]

Originally Posted by shadowcoder

This is quite interesting - my E90 330i is a 2006 model but I haven't
received anything from BMW regarding a recall. If this was an official
recall or one mandated by NHTSA, I imagine I should have received
something in the mail.

I'm curious to see how my passenger airbag light behaves too - I'll
check it out tomorrow.

I have a 330xi MY2006, and have not received anything either about the recall. Apparently some of the seat cushion switches were failing. Mine has been working OK, I keep checking it.

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

I guessed that the manual "Keyswitch*" was a feature compulsory in some countries, but it is not a feature available in North America. The manual for my car recommends to use back seats for transporting children, but allows that passenger seat be used, claiming that "most child seats are detected, especially child seats required by NHTSA at the time of vehicle production." In my 335i, a signal light on the little panel above the rear view mirror indicates when the airbags are activated.

the sensor mat is supposed to be able to detect weight and distribution pattern, apparently knowing the difference between a person and the outline of a carseat.

not sure how this works but i do know that about 30 minutes ago it detected a 12 pack of budlight on the seat and deactivated the airbag, but knew enough not to beep at me to fasten the passenger seatbelt.

also does the light in the 335 act opposite to a 330? mine lights up when the airbag is deactivated

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

I have a 330xi MY2006, and have not received anything either about the recall. Apparently some of the seat cushion switches were failing. Mine has been working OK, I keep checking it.

some good links and info in this thread....http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=383433

if all you have is the yellow light on the headliner doing its thing you are good. if the dash lights up with a red airbag or srs warning then your sensor mat has likely failed.

the pdf's have the info on models and years. some are recalled, some have been given an extended warranty if a problem develops and will be repaired as needed.