'06 E90 Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor

ledfoot · 05-24-2024, 04:47 PM

I realize there was a Passenger Airbag Sensor reimbursement program a while back, to fix occupancy sensors that failed. Seems like that is no longer active, or is it?

My 2006 E90 330i Sedan w/Sport Package is now thinking someone or something is sitting in the passenger seat, even when it's empty, causing the seatbelt chime to go crazy.

Has anyone had luck in getting a BMW dealer to fix this w/o charge in 2024? Or am I just too late?

GoRomeo · 05-24-2024, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ledfoot

I realize there was a Passenger Airbag Sensor reimbursement program a while back, to fix occupancy sensors that failed. Seems like that is no longer active, or is it?

My 2006 E90 330i Sedan w/Sport Package is now thinking someone or something is sitting in the passenger seat, even when it's empty, causing the seatbelt chime to go crazy.

Has anyone had luck in getting a BMW dealer to fix this w/o charge in 2024? Or am I just too late?

Dang dude you are super late. This recall was back in early 07’ I believe. I remember was not long after I bought my E90. Dealership made the repairs for free. You may want to ask your nearby dealership if they still can honor it?

autoAER · 05-24-2024, 06:15 PM

Hi,

You have three options-
1. Code the warning off
2. Install a bypass sensor (cheap, easy, but I do not recommend going this route)
3. Replacing the actual passenger seat mat sensor (difficult DIY)

I tried to get the dealer to replace it under warranty back in 2015, but even then they refused to do it stating that this problem was caused by normal wear and tear (no one ever sat in the passenger seat of my E92

)

I personally coded the light off in my old E92, it did not cause any additional problems after that and everything remained functional.

StradaRedlands · 05-24-2024, 09:38 PM

Common problem. My thinking is that it's because the leather shrinks and hardens over the years, which increases pressure on the sensor mat. I run emulators, they're easy to install: https://www.ebay.com/itm/151155246176

You can also just stick in a dummy seatbelt into the clasping portion. Not elegant, but 100% works.

05-24-2024, 04:47 PM	#1
ledfoot Enlisted Member 4 Rep 32 Posts Drives: '06 330i 6sp, '04 B6 S4 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	'06 E90 Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor I realize there was a Passenger Airbag Sensor reimbursement program a while back, to fix occupancy sensors that failed. Seems like that is no longer active, or is it? My 2006 E90 330i Sedan w/Sport Package is now thinking someone or something is sitting in the passenger seat, even when it's empty, causing the seatbelt chime to go crazy. Has anyone had luck in getting a BMW dealer to fix this w/o charge in 2024? Or am I just too late?
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05-24-2024, 06:15 PM	#3
autoAER Private First Class 102 Rep 136 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Concord, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [7.75]	Hi, You have three options- 1. Code the warning off 2. Install a bypass sensor (cheap, easy, but I do not recommend going this route) 3. Replacing the actual passenger seat mat sensor (difficult DIY) I tried to get the dealer to replace it under warranty back in 2015, but even then they refused to do it stating that this problem was caused by normal wear and tear (no one ever sat in the passenger seat of my E92 ) I personally coded the light off in my old E92, it did not cause any additional problems after that and everything remained functional. __________________ Current: 2006 330i Mystic Blue 6MT, 2011 328i Coupe Titan Silver Ex: 2006 330i Barrique Red, 2008 335i Monaco Blue, 2011 335i Deep Sea Blue
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05-24-2024, 09:38 PM	#4
StradaRedlands Brigadier General 5954 Rep 3,581 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.25] 2009 BMW 328i Touri ... [8.00] 2013 BMW X5 35i [7.80] 2011 BMW 528i [8.70] 2006 Mazda3 [5.50]	Common problem. My thinking is that it's because the leather shrinks and hardens over the years, which increases pressure on the sensor mat. I run emulators, they're easy to install: https://www.ebay.com/itm/151155246176 You can also just stick in a dummy seatbelt into the clasping portion. Not elegant, but 100% works.
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