Hi everyone,

[This issue - air bag light warning system coming on - was described elsewhere but as it is Australia-specific I thought it might be useful to bring my fellow drivers up to date here. In the USA this issue was resolved by extended warranty but BMW Australia had not declared this here and many customers were left to pay for the repair]

I just received a call from DOTARS - the Federal Department of Transportation (Australia) - which has been looking into my fault complaint with BMW Australia. Yesterday evening they left me a message that stated:

1. The fault with the light is usually associated with a bad seat cable connector associated with the seat belt pre-tensioner. The warning light only represents a problem with the seat belt pre-tensioner and DOES NOT DISABLE THE AIR BAGS!

2. BMW Australia has told DOTARS that their policy is to fix all of the affected cars WITHOUT CHARGE (charges have averaged $300 per seat) and are going out to "remind" the dealers.

I will be talking to DOTARS later today and seek more detail and hopefully something in writing from them or BMW Australia. However the message appears clear that all affected Minis (up to March 03) should be fixed FREE OF CHARGE in or out of warranty period. None of us should settle for any run-around and there should be grounds for refunds for anyone who have paid for work.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or issues.

Omar - "OzMini"

 

BMW Australia:

 

Hello All,

Hopefully the final word on this issue for Australian Mini owners.

BMW Australia states that they are re-issuing a dealer bulletin that states that the air bag warning light related to the seat sensor will be fixed free of charge (parts and labour) for 4 years or 100k km. The original bulletin was issued in March 2003 and is still in effect.

If you have had this problem you do have grounds for a refund. If you get this problem, insist on warranty coverage.

If you have not had this problem, I would strongly suggest that you get BMW to do the replacement/repair before your warranty period expires (the 02 Minis will be reaching this milestone). If they do not offer to do this (I think they should), get it in writing so you have a record of the request should it fail in the future. It should also cover the problem when/if you on-sell your Mini.

Contacts that you may want to refer to:
Paul Joseph - BMW Australia Technical Services Manager (Mulgrave, Vic)
Sean Sayer - BMW Australia Customer Support Executive (03 9264 4028)
Ross Paterson - DOTARS (Canberra)

Both Ross and Sean have been extremely helpful in my dealings with them.

All the best,
Omar "OzMini"

 

Greetings from California.

Glad to see you have resolution on this.

The light came on for a second time two weeks ago and I'm still trying to have it fixed.
So far 3 phone calls and 3 1/2 hours there with no luck other then saying they have to have it approved. Still no return phone call.

 

Hmmm... but you have a TSB (# 720103) in the USA that covers it!? Not sure what additional approval is needed by the dealer?

I do wonder about the quality and effectiveness of the fixes they are putting in. My theory is that they are often replacing one fault-prone cable/connector with another from the same batch. This is only an observation because the problem seems to fade for later models (not sure what year yours is?). My own dealer has modified the harness to resolve the recurring problem and claim a 100% success rate - which is not what they were seeing prior. It seems BMW just hasn't dealt with this issue adequately - anywhere!

I hope it works out for you... you tell them the Aussies are supporting you!

Cheers

 

Decided to call a different dealer.
Made an appointment which sounds very promising.
I'll write down the TSB number and take it with me.
Thanks for the support!

 

Cooprd, how'd you go?

 

Since it may be a possible safety issue they will fit me in this Thursday.
I now have a fuel guage problem as well.

 

Darn! Not a failure I have seen - yet! Good luck.

Omar

 

July 05 Build owner here, had mine fixed today, under warranty no issues getting the work done.

(From outside Chicago IL)

 

No more warranty.

03'

64,000 miles.

I've heard the airbag issue is 6 years/100,000 miles.

I guess I'll find out for sure!

Thanks Omar.

 

Fixed under warranty (but had to be one of four codes).

one Fuel tank sensor was bad

 

Airbag warning light fixed under warranty (but had to be one of four codes).

One of the Fuel Tank sensors was bad (of course there's two).
Labor was a fortune!

Went on a run today and had to pull over. I kept hearing strange noises I've never heard before. It was road debrie hitting under the MINI. They didn't put the skid plate from under the MINI back on. So now I have to go back!
Hmm, wonder what they will say about that?

 

Hello from Key West, Florida, USA...

...just popping in to browse and found this article. My airbag warning light came on yesterday without any reason...I was parked and just turned the key in the ignition. I sat for a few minutes...I just knew it was going to blow up in my face....but it didn't. I drove home with the light on and was petrified the entire time. This morning everything was fine, like it never happened...

My question to you guys is: Do you think it was a fluke and won't happen again? ...or should I just take it in and have it checked out? Mick/Flora Blue

 

I say check it out. The two main reasons are:
1. The computer error codes may determine what the cause was.
2. Should something go bad later, you would like BMW to have a record of this.

The classic problem of the pre-tensioner usually triggered the warning light in earlier 02-04 cars but would not re-set without a visit to the dealer. So, this may be a different issue or the electronics may now re-set automatically I just don't know.

Cheers,
Omar

 

Good work Omar.