[Mrsn52e90]

Originally Posted by Needler56

Yes, I did this May of this year for my '06 325i with over 100K miles. I emailed BMW NA explaining the situation and provided my car's details. Below is what they replied with:

"BMW has extended the limited warranty on this vehicle for the Supplemental Restraint System's (SRS) front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor (OC3) mat to 15 years without mileage limitation as determined from the original in-service date."

I forwarded the email to my SA while scheduling an appointment. They were aware of it and took care of it. Hope this helps!

What?! I have a '06 330i and got the airbag light on last year. How did you get BMW NA to approve the fix for you?

I called them and they said my vehicle is not in the list of cars affected.

[Kenneykickin]

I bought my e90 330i used and previous owner said it was under recall for the airbag light. Was never fixed called dealer and said my car wasn't under the recall.... But it's suffering from the air bag problem.

[Kenneykickin]

Originally Posted by Mrsn52e90

What?! I have a '06 330i and got the airbag light on last year. How did you get BMW NA to approve the fix for you?

I called them and they said my vehicle is not in the list of cars affected.

Same here.... Bullshit.

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by Needler56

Yes, I did this May of this year for my '06 325i with over 100K miles. I emailed BMW NA explaining the situation and provided my car's details. Below is what they replied with:

"BMW has extended the limited warranty on this vehicle for the Supplemental Restraint System's (SRS) front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor (OC3) mat to 15 years without mileage limitation as determined from the original in-service date."

I forwarded the email to my SA while scheduling an appointment. They were aware of it and took care of it. Hope this helps!

I wonder if you could make a PDF printout of this response, I know of at least 2 other people who may be able to find it helpful after getting denied at the dealer.

[lichtgelb]

Just FYI...the occupancy sensor mat can be coded out with ncsexpert leaving the passenger airbag enabled at all times. I did this to my 06 E90. It's not the ideal solution but it can be done.

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by lichtgelb

Just FYI...the occupancy sensor mat can be coded out with ncsexpert leaving the passenger airbag enabled at all times. I did this to my 06 E90. It's not the ideal solution but it can be done.

I did this also for my car, but I put sport seats in my non-sport car, so I knew I'd never get anywhere with the dealer.

For my cousins/friends though, I'd prefer they get it fixed by the dealer, but this is a very good fall back option.

As lichtgelb said, coding it out gets rid of the error, but leaves the passenger airbag on permanently (even if no passenger is there).

DON'T USE FRONT SEAT CHILD SEATS since the airbag will always be on now, regardless of little to no weight in the seat!!

[TBN54]

This wouldn't happen if you just went with coilovers.

[Mrsn52e90]

Originally Posted by Ali-323i

I wonder if you could make a PDF printout of this response, I know of at least 2 other people who may be able to find it helpful after getting denied at the dealer.

+1. That would be most helpful.

[300e]

Sorry to resurrect an old post, but I'm in the same boat.

Called BMW today to ask about the recall on the seat mat sensors and had an interesting conversation.

Rep - "your car isn't covered as only build dates from December of '05 through September of '06 are covered, and since your build date is March of '06 you are not covered."

Me-'uh what? March of '06 is within that period so I would be covered.'

Rep-"well apparently you don't have the parts affected by the warranty so you aren't covered. If you were, my computer would tell me."

That and she told me she didn't expect the Takata recall to be done on my car for 15 YEARS! I had her confirm that she actually said years, not months.

I can't help but be unconvinced. And flabbergasted at the call. It was like I was on candid camera or something.

[Brad from the OC]

Originally Posted by 300e

Sorry to resurrect an old post, but I'm in the same boat.

Called BMW today to ask about the recall on the seat mat sensors and had an interesting conversation.

Rep - "your car isn't covered as only build dates from December of '05 through September of '06 are covered, and since your build date is March of '06 you are not covered."

Me-'uh what? March of '06 is within that period so I would be covered.'

Rep-"well apparently you don't have the parts affected by the warranty so you aren't covered. If you were, my computer would tell me."

That and she told me she didn't expect the Takata recall to be done on my car for 15 YEARS! I had her confirm that she actually said years, not months.

I can't help but be unconvinced. And flabbergasted at the call. It was like I was on candid camera or something.

I have the same problem as you with my 2006 325i build date of 07/05 with mechanical seats. My passenger seat occupancy mat failed last week and I did a lot of research and sent 3 letters to BMW NA. All 3 responses said that my VIN is no longer included in the 10 year extended warranty and that the warranty for my car expired on 8/31/15. Other documents that I found indicated that I should have received a recall letter in 2014, but I did not So it looks like I will probably have the mat sensor pad replaced at an Indy at my expense.

[Brad from the OC]

Here's a couple of more attachments that can provide some for information that might help you. As of now, I think the bottom line is that unless you have a letter from BMW stating that your car is covered under a warranty, a stealership will not perform the work for you without charging you.

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by Brad from the OC

Other documents that I found indicated that I should have received a recall letter in 2014, but I did not .

I wonder if this is the sort of thing you could pursue further, since they were supposed to notify you and didn't. Not sure what the process would be to go and do that, but I imagine some responsibility/accountability must be taken.

[Vitalität]

Mine is 06 330i and build date is 5/05 and I am not covered and pass airbag still goes off and on.

[Vitalität]

Anyway, if we ignore this warning on dash, it will be harmful? Will airbag explode at some point?

[Vitalität]

Originally Posted by Mrsn52e90

What?! I have a '06 330i and got the airbag light on last year. How did you get BMW NA to approve the fix for you?

I called them and they said my vehicle is not in the list of cars affected.

Yeah how is this possible?

[Brad from the OC]

I believe the only recourse that I have at this time is to pursue this issue by:
If your BMW center is unable to remedy the defect without charge or within a reasonable period of time, you may notify the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20590; call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
I entered my VIN number in their website and it doesn't indicate that I have any outstanding recalls on my vehicle.

[300e]

Brad from the OC:

Thanks for the additional PDF's. I need to re-read it, but it would seem to me that the extended warranty on the part would provide a free fix from BMW in lieu of not being included in the Recall. Or is that warranty also VIN specific?

Were you also denied in that regard?

Such BS from BMW.

[PTinVT]

I had just started getting an occasional airbag light on my E46 a few years ago, and then I happened to give a ride to one of my portly friends, and the light hasn't appeared since. He said "you just needed some ballast." So if your girlfriend is on the thin side, perhaps get one of your heavy friends to go for a ride in the passenger seat? YMMV

[300e]

I guess I'll have to go get me some ballast. Pretty funny.

[Brad from the OC]

Originally Posted by 300e

Brad from the OC:

Thanks for the additional PDF's. I need to re-read it, but it would seem to me that the extended warranty on the part would provide a free fix from BMW in lieu of not being included in the Recall. Or is that warranty also VIN specific?

Were you also denied in that regard?

Such BS from BMW.

I probably read about 10 different Technical Service Bulletins regarding the mat failures and I have come to the conclusion that there was a recall on my 325i in 2014. That recall for my build date expired in 2015 and for those vehicles that were not included in the 2014 recall, received a 15 year extended warranty. From those 10 TSBs that I read, BMW was aware of the passenger seat occupancy mat early failures in 2006 and had the manufacturer of the mats improve the durability of the mats and started installing them in the mid year 2006 cars in 12/05. So there are different levels of warranty if your build date is after 12/05. Even since the improved mats were installed, there is strong evidence from complaints to the NHTSA that there were a large number of failures also. So that could be the reason that there are so many TSBs and warranty extensions. Bottom line is it's my opinion that BMW doesn't want to nor will they make it easy for the owner to repair the problem under a warranty or recall.

[ozziewizzle]

I just tell my passengers to stop fidgeting

[Brad from the OC]

Originally Posted by Ali-323i

I wonder if this is the sort of thing you could pursue further, since they were supposed to notify you and didn't. Not sure what the process would be to go and do that, but I imagine some responsibility/accountability must be taken.

Yes, I was able to find a way to pursue accountability on the part of BMW to produce documentation that I was notified on the recall. Please view the attachment. Since so many owners of BMW models experienced a failure in the seat occupancy sensor, those owners notified NHTSA to report and complain of this safety issue. NHTSA has the authority to order BMW to correct those issues and produce documentation that they are resolving the issue. So I reported this lack of recall notice to the NHTSA and I'm hoping that they will ask BMW to produce some type of evidence.