BMW Diagnostics

[seangee]

About a year ago the airbag on SWMBOs Z4 came on. Took it to the garage who got his mate to hook up a diagnostic computer and said it was a false alarm but his software couldn't reset it. Not to worry because its not an MOT failure.


And now from next year it is. Google says this happens often, and once the error is triggered you can only turn the light off by doing a manual reset. Drove around to all the local garages. Several could read the error and confirmed that they could see the code, and the system reported that the error no longer existed. Disconnecting battery overnight didn't clear. Found the tools on ebay, but... For models up to 03 they cost around 20 notes. From 04 onwards they are over 200. Its an 04 and thats a lot for a toll that only does that one thing.


Quick call to the stealer and it will cost £100 for the diagnostic and £20 to reset if there really was no problem. Well can't you just reset it! Sorry sir that won't be safe. Back on ebay and found a diagnostic cable for under 30 quid. It included a bunch of software for evaluation and education purposes only. (Very clear that you are only paying for the cable).


Loads of software, including 2 virtual machines of official BMW tools. PITA to install but the instructions were excellent. You don't actually need most of it (but it is cool  :rolleyes ).


Hooked laptop up to car - a couple of mouse clicks later and the light is off. Best 30 quid I ever spent.


BTW - BMW official software confirmed "ERROR CODE HAS BEEN TRIGGERED BUT ERROR CONDITION DOES NOT CURRENTLY EXIST"
WTF?!? - why doesn't it then turn its own bloody light off?


New MOT regs mean I should either buy shares in a stealership or set myself up as an indie light turner offer as this apparently happens on around 40% of beamers.

[martynR]

They charge £20 for pressing the button. Foccin amazing  :eek

[Tmation]

Have you tried any of the BMW owners forums, especially the Yank ones? I have a Nissan Armada and I get the airbag light coming on every few months (common problem with this car, caused by a loose connection). On the owners site it tells you how to manually reset the light (turn the ignition key on and off 5 times with a 5 second delay between each on and off), most cars have a manual reset for most computer code problems you just need to find them on the net.


I also have an OBD11 cable that plugs into my iPad with goLINK software that also reads and clears codes.

[seangee]

They charge £20 for pressing the button. Foccin amazing 

Actually the full diagnostic is also a button press and they charge £100 for that!

Have you tried any of the BMW owners forums, especially the Yank ones?

Yup - every one. That's how I know its such a common problem. No manual way that anyone has discovered so far, although loads of instructions on how to do it on other cars. Its designed that the only way to turn it off (whatever caused the problem) is by computer. Apparently for safety reasons.


In my case I caused it to come on by turning on the ignition with the headlight cluster disconnected - but it seems that it can come on if you insert the seat belt buckle at the wrong angle.

[goldfazer]

'They charge £20 for pressing the button. Foccin amazing'

And having the button to press....

[BIG MAC]

Imagine having safety devices operating on an explosive charge 18 inches from the drivers face...sounds like the kind of thing you would want to adjust using tandoori software

[seangee]

@GF: And now I have the button to press ...


@BM: Logic was if I turn it off and it comes back on anytime soon there probably is a problem and I will shell out the cash for proper investigation. Have discovered that the presence of the light will not prevent said explosive device from detonating. What it will do is cause the explosive device on the other side of the car to detonate irrespective of whether the car thinks there is a passenger or not, and thus potentially needlessly destroy the dash and passenger door pillar. Big deal - hit a car that age hard enough to fire the airbag(s) and its probably a write off anyway.

[BIG MAC]

I am thinking what an appropriate strap line :pokefun