NeilJ, do you recall where the fuse was located?

 

Can the airbag light be cleared by an ECUtool?

 

 

There are diagnostic tools that will reset it (as long as the original cause of the error has been fixed). Some independent BMW repair shops and body shops have the necessary tools.

 

No idea, the dealer did it for me.

 

The light can be cleared using BMW's DIS, INPA, and ISTA/D software as long as all of the faults have been corrected.

 

Got this Tue. morning. Droped off Wed night. Hope it gets fixed soon(leaving for Detroit next fri. for the NAIAS). Have a Countryman S All4 auto as a loaner, nice but want my car that I had only 5 days/80 miles

 

I have a 08 Clubby I just bought a week and a half ago and noticed on a dinner run with my fiance that the airbag light came on when she was sitting in the seat but won't be on when someone is not in the seat.. When we went back into the car to leave from dinner the light didn't come on when she sat in the seat.. Now the light doesn't come on at all whether someone is in the seat or not.. hmmm..

 

The INPA that I have installed, v5.00, does not appear to show me the airbag error or allow me to clear it. Is there something that I am missing? INPA and NCS Expert are working correctly on my 2007 R56, by the way.

 

I've also become a victim.
Passenger airbag light above mirror, seatbelt light on top of speedometer, airbag light in middle of speedometer, red airbag man showing on onboard computer. :(

For the past month or so, the passenger airbag light was acting up randomly. Yesterday, the whole slew of airbag and seatbelt warnings came up and never turned off again.
1)checked wires and connectors by seats, everything was tight with no visible damage
2)checked with OBD2 reader, no error codes
3)played around with seating positions... no luck.

Worst thing is my 2007 MCS warranty expired a few months ago, so I'm afraid to call my mini dealer.

 

Which type of scanner?
If it's a generic OBDII reader, it cannot access the airbag module.
You need either the Bavarian Technic scanner, or the factory direct unit.

- Erik

 

My airbag light came on in my 07MCConv immedietely after the warranty ran out. I drove it around until the next oil change. The dealer quoted $1100 for a replacement mat sensor. Is there a permanent fix outside of a dealership?

At least my top airbag OFF light is OFF, so it seems like it will still deploy? Dealership could not answer this question, after I paid them $120 for a diagnosis. I wonder if they will send a survey.

I really dont care if the light is on as long as it passes a safety inspection for the state--that would be a bummer to have a five year old car that fails a safety inspection.

 

After spending many, many hours trying to download a "full" version of INPA, I gave up and purchased the Enthusiast Package from Bavarian Technic - http://www.bavariantechnic.com/hardware.aspx . I was able to download the software, connect the cable, and clear the airbag light in about 15 minutes.

 

Guess I'll join in. 2009 R55 w/23K. Leather sports seats.

The symptoms are (not always simultaneously):

1) Passenger Airbag Off illuminated warning light in overhead console,
2) Seat-Belt Warning on speedo (top center),
3) Unfastened Seatbelt chime going off when no one (or anything) is in the seat. I have to pound on the seat cushion to get it to go off.

Not consistent enough to be certain I can demonstrate it to dealer, but with 10 months remaining on my warranty, I will definitely be bringing this to their attention (in writing, if need be).

 

I recently did an audio upgrade on my R56 and like you should do I unhooked the neg side of battery, since I did that I now have the airbag light on. Also have the seat belt light. But the airbag light on in my display is kind of annoying, I guess a trip to the dealer is in my future unless anyone knows another way?

 

If you have an Alta AccessPort, this will actually clear the airbag light as well. If you call Alta, as I did, and ask them about this, they will say "no", but I saw this on an old thread and have confirmed myself today, that the AccessPort will do this. This is located in the Troubleshooting section of the AccessPort under "Clear Codes". Remember, if the physical/electrical circumstance that caused the fault code has not been remedied, the code will almost immediately reappear after clearing.

 

Well, the car's in the shop (dealer) for a few warranty issues (my opinion), and they called and said there's no fault code stored in the car's memory indicating the airbag fault light has ever come on. They're asking MINI USA for direction/advisement.

 

I am sorry i missed this when you posted on 5-24 as I would have replied to you at that time.

From you explanations there is no reason for a "fault code". Non of the items you listed will cause a "fault code" as non of them are really "faults".

But I have seen this before on another car. It looks like all the indications are there as if someone is sitting in the seat when in reality there is nothing sitting on the seat. What i found in the other car was that the foam part of the seat had deteriorated some and a few small pieces had moved between the seat cover and the pressure pad that was in the seat so it was putting pressure on a few of the sensors in the pad but not all of them and in a way that the computer really did not understand. Once those small moving pieces were removed there has been no problem since.

Now I can not be sure if that is you problem but it is a possibility. And it would explain why when you pound on the seat the problem disappears. But then comes back at some point.

The only time the MINI air bag system will show a fault code is when one of the airbag sensors has been tripped or if one of the sensors has gone bad, I.E. gotten water in it or stuff like that. As along as the airbag sensors and trip electronics test fine when the car starts if will not throw a code. The pressure pad in the seat is neither an airbag nor a trip sensor.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I got a call from my SA an hour ago saying that the tech finally took my car out for a test drive (hmmm... shop lunch run?). After a bit, the seat belt reminder and SRS disabled light both went on. The tech then buckled the passenger seat belt. Chime went off, but the SRS-Disabled message stayed lit. The tech then pounded on the seat, and the light went off (just as I had described), and then came back on.

Good news: they are going to replace the seat-pad sensor. Bad news, they have to order it from Germany.

From my risk management background/perspective, anytime a warning is displayed saying a safety fault has occurred (correctly or not), that should be recorded for investigation. If not, then other "warnings" might also be ignored by the driver based upon past history of unimportant false alarms regarding safety systems. /soapbox

P.S. The SA sounded very excited that the tech was able to reproduce the fault. I can only imagine what it must be like often standing between an inarticulate customer and time/labor conscious technician.

 

This exact same thing just popped up on my wife's 2007 MCS. I've tried to read through this post as well as others, but I'm having a hard time connecting the dots between the error shown with Navigation and the same error shown without Navigation. Wife's has nav and looks exactly the same as this picture.

Anyone point me the right direction on things I can check on before taking it to the dealership? If the only solution is the dealership, would it be cheaper to purchase softward and cable to diagnose and reset the light myself?

Please... any help would be appreciated. We really can't afford a $1,000 repair bill on the car right now...

 

Ask first, but take it to the dealer for a scan. The passive restraint warranty is 5 years/50,000 miles (Fed req'd) I think.

 

Thanks - unfortunatley car is out of warranty both on years and miles...

Any other suggestions on how to approach this without spending a fortune?

 

Well, the passive restraint warranty is different from your bumper-to-bumper, and there might even be some "wiggle room" when it comes to a safety issue. You can't be more than a few months outside the 5-year warranty (maybe the mileage on your car is high, though). Contact MINI.

There are unwritten things. Maybe they can help.

 

Gen 1 MINIs had a 10 year/150K SRS warranty (at least according to a post here at MA).

 

Why is it when it is below 25degF my passenger airbag light (overhead and tach display) is out and above that temp it is on all the time? Turning on the seat heater does not have any affect. 08 Mellow Yellow 45,000mi. Thanks!