BMW X3 Airbag Warning: Safety System Alert

Had a similar issue with my BMW X5 2000 last month. The airbag warning light kept coming on. After inspection at the garage, they found it was just a loose connection in the wiring harness under the driver's seat. The sensor cable had developed a poor contact point due to seat movement over time. The fix wasn't too complex, they had to remove the seat, clean the connector pins, and secure the harness properly. Wasn't a serious safety concern in my case, but definitely needed fixing since it's a critical safety system. One thing I learned, make sure they use a proper diagnostic tool that can read BMW airbag codes specifically. A generic scanner won't tell you the whole story. My mechanic showed me the exact fault codes and explained that these issues are pretty common in older BMWs of that generation. Quick tip: If your mechanic suggests replacing the entire airbag module without checking connections first, might want to get a second opinion.

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's really helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with! Good thinking about checking the connections first, definitely gonna mention that when I take it in. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working fine since they fixed it, or have you had any other warning lights pop up?

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. After getting it fixed, my X5's airbag system has been working perfectly, not a single warning light since! The repair was actually pretty reasonable, came to just 95€ for fixing the faulty cable connection. My mechanic showed me that it was just like I mentioned before, a worn connection point under the seat that needed sorting out. Honestly, I'm really glad I didn't jump straight to replacing the whole module. The loose connection was such a simple fix in the end, and the car's been running like a charm. These older BMWs can be a bit finicky with their warning systems, but once you get the right diagnosis, the fixes aren't always as scary (or expensive) as you might think. Just make sure whoever looks at yours checks those connections thoroughly before suggesting any major replacements. Saved me a ton of money and headache in the long run!

Thanks a lot! You've really put my mind at ease. I actually took my X3 to a mechanic yesterday. Funny enough, it turned out to be almost identical to your situation, just a damaged wire under the seat that needed fixing. The repair cost was really reasonable, around 110 bucks including labor. The mechanic was great, showed me exactly what was wrong and fixed it while I waited. He even gave the rest of the wiring a quick check to make sure everything else was good. Been driving for a couple days now and no warning lights at all! Really glad I asked here first instead of panicking and replacing the whole system. These older BMWs definitely have their quirks, but at least this turned out to be a simple fix. Thanks again for steering me in the right direction!

Seat occupancy detection is faulty what to do?

(Translated from German)

Start by checking the connections under the passenger seat. Sometimes, the seat occupancy sensor can have loose or corroded connections. Make sure the connectors are secure and clean. If the issue persists, it might be necessary to have a diagnostic scan performed to identify any specific fault codes related to the occupancy sensor. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!