Driver restraint system malfunction

[jimmydash]

I was driving at around 60 when I tried to enter a corner way too fast, braked hard and turned steering wheel a little, got the car under control, easily made the corner and then this bloody light came on. I've googled this and there are way too many ideas of what it could be. Any suggestion from my PH brothers please?

[E-bmw]

You need to get the SRS codes read, as you say there are many different reasons & until you have a code forget trying to guess.

[g3org3y]

Might be helpful to get a code reader on the car.

Could be something as simple as a loose connection .

[mackie1]

The title read like an amusing admission of you cocking up. Glad to hear it’s just a warning light and not a backwards hedge excursion.

[jimmydash]

mackie1 said:

The title read like an amusing admission of you cocking up. Glad to hear it’s just a warning light and not a backwards hedge excursion.

I see why you say that - I could do with a laugh having read horror stories of my problem potentially being very expensive!

[E-bmw]

jimmydash said:

mackie1 said:

The title read like an amusing admission of you cocking up. Glad to hear it’s just a warning light and not a backwards hedge excursion.

I see why you say that - I could do with a laugh having read horror stories of my problem potentially being very expensive!

It could well be very expensive, but you will have no idea until you get its brain read.

[jimmydash]

Update: I took my 6 to the village MOT place, they had a scanner, I sat fearing the worst, however, he came back after 5 minutes and said it was sorted! He said the car thought it was going to crash (fair enough). Message gone, nothing in the history. I'll advise if it comes back on again. Might avoid spirited driving for a while.

[jimmydash]

My problem has reoccurred. My local garage can reset the error message but the moment the headrest/seatback is moved the code re-appears. They think there's a loose electrical connection and don't have the confidence to take the seat apart. I’m in East Dorset any suggestions or do I have to go to a BMW main dealer?

[Collectingbrass]

jimmydash said:

My problem has reoccurred. My local garage can reset the error message but the moment the headrest/seatback is moved the code re-appears. They think there's a loose electrical connection and don't have the confidence to take the seat apart. I’m in East Dorset any suggestions or do I have to go to a BMW main dealer?

I had this with an E63. You shouldn't need to take the seat apart. The Safety Restraint System connections are in a yellow block under each seat. They can get disturbed and need reconnecting, equally they would benefit from a squirt of contact cleaner. Unless the garage have already narrowed down the seat for you, the passenger seat is typically the weaker point.

[d_a_n1979]

jimmydash said:

My problem has reoccurred. My local garage can reset the error message but the moment the headrest/seatback is moved the code re-appears. They think there's a loose electrical connection and don't have the confidence to take the seat apart. I’m in East Dorset any suggestions or do I have to go to a BMW main dealer?

As 'collecting brass' has mentioned; more than likely the connector under your seat.

If you lift the seat as high as it'll go and move it right back/or right forward, you should see the connector

Unplug, replug a few times to clean the connections, spray with WD40s 'fast drying contact cleaner spray' and then reconnect and see how that goes

My pal had similar issues in his E46; did the above, reconnected the plugs & you could see slight play in them, one cable tie later holding the plug together tightly and zero issues!

A well known issue in MG ZTs too

[g3org3y]

jimmydash said:

Update: I took my 6 to the village MOT place, they had a scanner, I sat fearing the worst, however, he came back after 5 minutes and said it was sorted! He said the car thought it was going to crash (fair enough). Message gone, nothing in the history. I'll advise if it comes back on again. Might avoid spirited driving for a while.

Which version of 6 Series?

Passenger occupancy sensor issues quite a common thing with the E60 5 Series and E63 6 Series.

[jimmydash]

F12

[g3org3y]

jimmydash said:

F12

As mentioned above, probably a connection under the seat, rather than in the seat itself.

I suppose I can understand why a local garage may prefer bread and butter MOTs and oil changes than chasing down dodgy electrical connection in fancy BMW seats? Any BMW specialists near you (or even auto electrician)?

[jimmydash]

There is a BMW specialist in Salisbury I've used a few times. I’ll go speak to them.