Passenger air bag light not showing off

On1wheel01 · Post by **On1wheel01** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:41 pm

My new to me 03 Z4 may have an issue. When I start the car the light illuminates as it should. But then the air bag light off no longer is illuminated after a few seconds and I assume would make the air bag for passenger active ? Does the same thing if my 50 lb 10 year old sits on seat or of seat is empty. Ideas ???

maxman · Post by **maxman** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:31 pm

The light is meant to go off after starting the car,when it stays on ,that’s when you have a problem.Light on means air bag not active .

On1wheel01 · Post by **On1wheel01** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:30 pm

Yes but what I’m saying is if I want to take my 10 year old for a ride the air bag light should say off with her being in the seat correct ?

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:16 pm

On1wheel01 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:30 pmYes but what I’m saying is if I want to take my 10 year old for a ride the air bag light should say off with her being in the seat correct ?

No, it's working as it should. If the light ever stays on there is an airbag fault.

On1wheel01 · Post by **On1wheel01** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 1:23 am

Oh okay. So if in a collision would the passenger air bag deploy with a light weight co pilot or no passenger at all ?

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 2:17 am

If the light stays off I'd assume it would deploy.

BMWs had an option to disable the passenger air-bag - if you open the passenger door and there is a key-slot in the end of the dash you can turn it off with the key, but I think it is a pretty rare option.

I think BMWs of that era could only tell if the passenger seat was occupied - they weren't designed to determine the weight of the passenger because back then it wasn't an issue.

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 6:00 am

On1wheel01 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:41 pm My new to me 03 Z4 may have an issue. When I start the car the light illuminates as it should. But then the air bag light off no longer is illuminated after a few seconds and I assume would make the air bag for passenger active ? Does the same thing if my 50 lb 10 year old sits on seat or of seat is empty. Ideas ???

Bit confused - do you mean the airbag light on the dash goes off (normal), or do you mean the 'Pass Airbag Off' light on the centre console next to the gear/transmission lever turns off, even though you've put the key in the side of the dash and disabled it?
Two different functions/features.

On1wheel01 · Post by **On1wheel01** » Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:24 pm

I’ll have to check if I have the place in dash to turn off. And the light on center console

On1wheel01 · Post by **On1wheel01** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 12:16 am

I’m happy to report I do have the switch to turn the air bag off. Thanks everyone. Now can shut the wife down and tell my oldest she can ride in it lol

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 12:25 am

On1wheel01 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 28, 2017 12:16 am I’m happy to report I do have the switch to turn the air bag off. Thanks everyone. Now can shut the wife down and tell my oldest she can ride in it lol

Nice

. As others have mentioned, this is not a common option so it's worked out well for you that yours has it.

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