Newbie Airbag traumas !!

domin8or

domin8or

Newbie
Joined
Jul 21, 2016
Points
3
Newbie here,looking at purchasing a Z3, as a Sunday car,have an X3 for my daily,which replaced my E46 330d,so like my BMW's. I have viewed 3 Z3's so far all 97-01 models,2 x 1.9 and one 2.8 model :happy:,all had airbag lights on continuously !! I've had a read through a few post re wiring issues etc. but 3 out of 3 cars seen seems as if this is a major issue,1 had tried to sort with some black silicon to cover bulb...muppet.
I have a C110 diagnostic tool which I use on the X3 (I know will need round adapter for Z3) but I'm a bit worried that all have had same problem,please convince me they aint all bad.
 
Welcome from Aylesbury just sounds like you have been unlucky

Some of the techy Zedders will be along shortly to help

I recommend the 2.2 pops and burbles sound awesome

Some for sale on here and always good to buy from a enthusiast
 
Many airbag lights are on due to a loose or dirty connection to the belt tensioner under the seat. They also come up due to taking the seat out and turning the key on. Need a scanner that can read the airbag computer to read the error code and reset the light.
 
Firstly welcome to the forum from me near Lincoln. It is relatively common to find airbag lights on and usually it's just simple wiring connection issues. You can buy airbag specific re-set tools off eBay for about £15 -£20. Another "possibility" would be the "squib" which is the part on the steering wheel which contains the airbag, but this is unlikely.

Tony.
 
Welcome from Ireland! The technical expertise will follow. Enjoy the Forum.
 
@domin8or i have tagged you in the Zeds for sale hope that helps with your search :thumbsup:
 
t-tony said:
Firstly welcome to the forum from me near Lincoln. It is relatively common to find airbag lights on and usually it's just simple wiring connection issues. You can buy airbag specific re-set tools off eBay for about £15 -£20. Another "possibility" would be the "squib" which is the part on the steering wheel which contains the airbag, but this is unlikely.

Tony.
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Thanks Tony,yeah my C110 scanner will reset,just a bit strange all the cars I've viewed have same issue,coincidence ? Bad enough getting issue when you have car never mind when buying one.
 
BMBabe said:
Welcome from Aylesbury just sounds like you have been unlucky

Some of the techy Zedders will be along shortly to help

I recommend the 2.2 pops and burbles sound awesome

Some for sale on here and always good to buy from a enthusiast
Click to expand...
Want a 2.8 Big Boy really,as I say just my Sunday toy.
 
domin8or said:
Thanks Tony,yeah my C110 scanner will reset,just a bit strange all the cars I've viewed have same issue,coincidence ? Bad enough getting issue when you have car never mind when buying one.
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True, but usually easy enough to cure with help from here and also a reason to offer a lower price?

Tony.
 
:welcome: to the forum from West Cumbria. No issue with my airbag light to date though aware it has happened elsewhere. 2.8 for me, no real big difference in grunt off the line but once you're over 50 it's a different story. The twisty bits are a good leveler across the range though as highlighted by @Mint on the Welsh Cruise in his 2.2 recently. A mixture of 2.2, 2.8, Z3 ///M, Z4 ///M and more powerful Chevvy based Z3 ///M. Nobody got embarrassed.
 
Andy McDonnell said:
:welcome: to the forum from West Cumbria. No issue with my airbag light to date though aware it has happened elsewhere. 2.8 for me, no real big difference in grunt off the line but once you're over 50 it's a different story. The twisty bits are a good leveler across the range though as highlighted by @Mint on the Welsh Cruise in his 2.2 recently. A mixture of 2.2, 2.8, Z3 ///M, Z4 ///M and more powerful Chevvy based Z3 ///M. Nobody got embarrassed.
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Sounds like my kind of day out,I really miss my old Reliant Scimitar noise,or my wee Triumph GT6 from back in the day,hence the 2.8 :thumbsup:
 
domin8or said:
Triumph GT6
Click to expand...

As a kid I got hooked on straight 6 engines early. We had an old Standard Vanguard saloon for thrashing round fields and it had the same engine as your GT6. Lovely sound.

Tony.
 
Hi and welcome from me in South West Scotland.
The 3 zeds you've looked at were they private sales or in garages ( if garage flat batteries can cause electrical gremlins ).
Seat bushes common problem like already said if ignition turned on with pre tensioner disconnected trigger airbag. Really need diag to see what the problem is .
( Maybe it's our quality weather =)) )
 
Welcome aboard, Airbag lights do not need to be a problem, as probably mentioned, seat belt pre-tensioner cable under the seats do get stuck sometimes causing a brief break in the airbag circuit, a reset tool usually sort out the problem. If you can get hold of a 20 pin connector you will be able to read the codes. Good luck with your search.
 
welcome from Worcestershire 2, there may not be anything actually wrong, once an error is recorded it wont go away by itself and the light will always stay on until the error has been cleared even if the fault has been rectified. maybe get the round adapter and take it with you, drive it round the corner (test drive) and clear it to see if it comes back on, dont mention it though as you can use it to bargain a lower price, i did. mine had bulb removed then the hole stuffed with paper, at some point the passenger seat had trapped the wire harness in its runners so the owner unplugged it (both seats) in an attempt to extinguish the light, but as already said it wont go out by itself.
 
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