[ManImCool]

I just bought a 2006 330i over the weekend from a private seller. He told me the seat sensor was broken, and rather than spend $1000 for someone to fix it, his mechanic just said to keep driving around because it just means that the air bags will deploy even if the passenger seat is empty (in addition to the passenger seatbelt and airbag lights being constantly on).

After purchasing, I googled it and then found out about the recall, but it says that if not fixed, the passenger airbag will NOT deploy. This has me extremely worried. I called BMW USA and spoke to a nice lady in their recall department, told her I was the new owner and she took all my info down, and then based off my VIN said that yes my car had a recall on it for the seat sensor (as well as the more recent driver airbag rupture thing). She said a letter will be sent to my address soon, but also said that dealerships weren't going to be getting the seat sensor part until the end of 2016! She also said I could try going to a local dealership and getting a loaner car. Hmm.

My questions:
1. Which is it - is my car as is "safe" and the passenger air bag will deploy regardless, or is it unsafe and the passenger air bag will not deploy?
2. Is it true that while it's been on recall for a couple years now, the dealerships still don't have the part to fix it, so none of the 76 thousand cars or so affected by this recall have even been fixed yet?
3. If the dealerships can't fix it because they still don't have the part, is there a temporary workaround or bypass method that will force the passenger airbag to deploy regardless?
4. Can I really get a loaner car from the dealership starting nowish until when my car is fixed, which could be 9+ months? What happens to my car during those 9 months?

Thank you! This is stressing me out. Of course, so is the other driver side air bag recall as well, but that's a whole other thing.

[Kenneykickin]

I'm in he same boat..

[ManImCool]

Originally Posted by Kenneykickin

I'm in he same boat..

Same boat as in you drive around and it's unsafe? Safe? Workaround? Want to recall but no part to do so?

Actually, for me, the plot just thickened! I called a local BMW dealership, asked them about the part/repair, and after inputting my VIN number, they said that my car was already fixed back in 2009 for that seat mat sensor recall by the previous owner! That's good news - but I do still get the passenger airbag light, seatbelt light, and passenger airbag light OFF light in the ceiling. Any ideas on what else could be causing this? Maybe the sensor in the actual seatbelt mechanism? I'm hoping so since I've heard this is a much simpler, cheaper fix.

[Rocko123]

I just got my letter in the mail about the recall.. Alot of us are in the same boat..

[Three_thirty_I]

This is the first I am hearing about this. Is it a worldwide recall?

[xyaaeg234g234]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

This is the first I am hearing about this. Is it a worldwide recall?

Seems like it's from the end of 2013?

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/16/b...5-7-series-x5/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/au...lls.html?_r=2&

NHTSA link:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/...133J7YWUK43UZO

[Efthreeoh]

Op, is the passenger air bag light actually on? The seat sensor mat recall has been in effect for several years and BMW does have the parts for the sensor mat. BMW doesn't yet have the airbag parts for the recent driver's side airbag recall.

The sensor mat recall actually is BMW installs software to determine if the seat sensor is defective. If it is they replace the sensor mat. If not, you go on your way safe and sound.

[ManImCool]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Op, is the passenger air bag light actually on? The seat sensor mat recall has been in effect for several years and BMW does have the parts for the sensor mat. BMW doesn't yet have the airbag parts for the recent driver's side airbag recall.

The sensor mat recall actually is BMW installs software to determine if the seat sensor is defective. If it is they replace the sensor mat. If not, you go on your way safe and sound.

Yes, the red passenger seatbelt light and airbag lights on my instrument panel are always on, and the yellow airbag off light is always on (one in the ceiling above passenger seat)

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by ManImCool

Yes, the red passenger seatbelt light and airbag lights on my instrument panel are always on, and the yellow airbag off light is always on (one in the ceiling above passenger seat)

If the indicators are in on the gauge cluster and red, then that could mean there may be an additional failure in the system other than the seat mat sensor. What I would do is set up a recall service inspection for the seat mat sensor with the Dealer you want to deal with. That way you will get a free evaluation of the entire airbag system. The Takata faulty airbag recall is for the driver's side airbag in the steering wheel. The Takata airbag does not trigger any airbag system trouble codes.

Not flaming here, but the next time you decide to buy a car with faults in the airbag system, and the seller says he didn't want to get it fixed don't buy the car until the seller takes the car to a BMW dealer and gets a diagnosis of the problem and an estimate for repair, which of course you deduct from the sale price.

[jms112294]

I have this issue with mine and all the research I've done says it will Not deploy. I was quoted over 1400 to fix it mine is a 2011 bmw 328i . So I'm trying to locate a recall. But so far I have found recalls for the year and modle but according to my Vin my car isn't on the recall list so I'm trying to figure out a way to have it done under the recall because it isn't safe for a passanger in the event of an accident.

[JB20DGM]

Originally Posted by jms112294

I have this issue with mine and all the research I've done says it will Not deploy. I was quoted over 1400 to fix it mine is a 2011 bmw 328i . So I'm trying to locate a recall. But so far I have found recalls for the year and modle but according to my Vin my car isn't on the recall list so I'm trying to figure out a way to have it done under the recall because it isn't safe for a passanger in the event of an accident.

In addition to recall(s?), there were also warranty extensions for some models...they are/were 15 years/unlimited miles for the frt. pass. seat occupancy (oc3) mat...time is based off original vehicle in service date. SI B01 01 18 was one of them, it also references SI B65 75 06 and SI B01 09 14 for previous OC3 mat limited warranty extensions and applicable vehicles. So it may be covered under one of those even if it's not subject to a recall.