Seat Belt /Air bag error questions

Klaus · 04-09-2013, 12:34 AM

I did a search about this topic, but I wasn't able to find the parts and labor for replacing the wiring for the seatbelt tensioner. I have a 2008 135i, sport manual seats in leatherette, no heat. I didn't want to have the dealer charge me an hours labor to diagnose the issue. Has anyone had this done recently? If anyone in the San Diego area has a code scanner, I would be happy to buy you lunch to let me borrow it. Your help is much appreciated.

bitcore · 07-24-2014, 09:38 AM

I know this is SUPER old, but here's my experience. I have the same seats as you: no heat, black leatherette, manual, sport.
You can:

Replace the entire seat bottom for something like $700 for just the part.
Find a used seat bottom or entire seat assembly in a junkyard/accident car
order a weight sensor mat simulator and seat belt connected sensor simulator.

I went with the last option, I got it off of Ebay, PM me if you want to know the seller (it was best rated seller) - it was around $60, and required no cutting. The seat belt simulator- you unhook the cable and replace the pins in the connector with the simulator with a very small flathead screw driver to release the pins. I did this about a month ago and it worked perfectly. It was worth it.
The seat belt simulator is essentially just a resistor, but the seat mat emulator may actually have some active components in it. I think I remember opening it up and seeing an atmel processor on an actual board.

04-09-2013, 12:34 AM	#1
Klaus Enlisted Member 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 135i 6mt Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Carlsbad, California iTrader: (0)	Seat Belt /Air bag error questions I did a search about this topic, but I wasn't able to find the parts and labor for replacing the wiring for the seatbelt tensioner. I have a 2008 135i, sport manual seats in leatherette, no heat. I didn't want to have the dealer charge me an hours labor to diagnose the issue. Has anyone had this done recently? If anyone in the San Diego area has a code scanner, I would be happy to buy you lunch to let me borrow it. Your help is much appreciated. __________________ "The 135 coupé is the best car BMW makes." -Jeremy Clarkson
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07-24-2014, 09:38 AM	#2
bitcore Second Lieutenant 107 Rep 215 Posts Drives: F87 BSM Manual M2 Comp Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	I know this is SUPER old, but here's my experience. I have the same seats as you: no heat, black leatherette, manual, sport. You can: Replace the entire seat bottom for something like $700 for just the part. Find a used seat bottom or entire seat assembly in a junkyard/accident car order a weight sensor mat simulator and seat belt connected sensor simulator. I went with the last option, I got it off of Ebay, PM me if you want to know the seller (it was best rated seller) - it was around $60, and required no cutting. The seat belt simulator- you unhook the cable and replace the pins in the connector with the simulator with a very small flathead screw driver to release the pins. I did this about a month ago and it worked perfectly. It was worth it. The seat belt simulator is essentially just a resistor, but the seat mat emulator may actually have some active components in it. I think I remember opening it up and seeing an atmel processor on an actual board. Last edited by bitcore; 07-24-2014 at 10:02 AM..
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