BMW Active Hood Fault Triggers Airbag Warning Light

Had the same issue on my 2018 BMW 6 Series last month. The active hood system triggered unexpectedly, and I got those identical warning lights. My trusted mechanic found that moisture had gotten into one of the pedestrian protection sensors, causing a false trigger of the system. The hood actuators needed replacement since they can't be reset once deployed. They also had to recalibrate the entire system and clear the fault codes. It's not a life-threatening issue for the car itself, but it needs fixing since it affects the safety systems. The active hood is part of the pedestrian protection system, so you want it working properly. Make sure whoever works on it knows BMW safety systems well, it's not a typical repair that every shop handles regularly. On my car, they needed special diagnostic tools to properly reset everything. Worth finding a shop that specializes in BMW or at least European cars for this kind of work.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with this! Really helpful to know about the moisture issue and sensor problems. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much the whole repair ended up costing you? And has everything been working properly since they fixed it? Trying to get an idea of what I'm in for...

Hey again! Glad I could help earlier. Just wanted to update you, everything has been working perfectly since I got it fixed. Not a single warning light or error message since then. The total repair came to 315 € because it turned out to be a defective acceleration sensor that needed replacing. Actually cheaper than I initially feared it might be, considering it's a BMW repair! The mechanic explained that these sensors can sometimes act up and trigger the system without reason. It's way better to get it sorted right away though, these safety systems aren't something you want to leave malfunctioning. Trust me, it's worth getting it properly diagnosed and fixed by someone who knows what they're doing with BMW systems. Plus, having a working pedestrian protection system gives real peace of mind. Let me know if you need any other info about the repair process!

Thanks for all the detailed info! I actually got it fixed yesterday at a new mechanic I found who specializes in European cars. Such a relief to have it sorted! Like you said, it was a sensor issue, though mine was due to some debris that got caught in there. Cost me a bit more, around 450 € with parts and labor, but totally worth it for the peace of mind. The mechanic was super professional and walked me through everything they were doing. They even showed me the damaged sensor and explained how the system works. The car's running perfectly now, no warning lights, no error messages, nothing. Really glad I didn't put it off any longer. I know I was worried about finding a reliable mechanic after my last bad experience, but this new place really came through. Thanks again for helping me understand what I was dealing with. It made the whole process much less stressful knowing what to expect!