Really weird airbag issue

[theosinc930]

Hi guys, maybe you could help me diagnose a weird issue I've had. Got into my 2003 Z4 2.5i today and the steering wheel didn't want to turn all the way to the left. So I pushed the wheel a bit harder to the left (not very, just medium pressure) and I suddenly heard a weird click and then the wheel went all the way to the left normally. And at the same time as the click, my airbag warning light suddenly went on. Any idea what happened? Thanks.

[colb]

Sounds like the terminals inside the clockspring have bent and broken where they run on the internal contact plate, breakage here would indeed bring on the airbag light as the ECU would have seen the loss of communication with the steering wheel airbag. Replacement clock spring sounds the likely way forward. Can't see the part on real oem apart from the steering angle sensor that is lower down on the shaft.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=32_1384
and
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=32_1385

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394438078792 ... R6q9_pHoYQ

[theosinc930]

Alright, but I don't really understand how it just broke like that all of a sudden. It was working perfectly yesterday evening and when I took it out of the garagw this morning, the wheel wouldn't turn all the way. Can't understand why that happened.

[j3nks79]

Why does any part fail?! It’s called planned obsolescence.
Replace the squib. Very easy to do. Loads of eBay if you want to save yourself some money

[theosinc930]

I'll take it to my mechanic. After I replace the part, I don't have the OBD scanner to reset the airbag light anyway.

[smorris_12]

Why does any part fail?! It’s called planned obsolescence.

?!?! Think about that for a minute. A rarely seen failure of a 20 year old part is almost completely the opposite of planned obsolescence.

Anyway, planned obsolescence is mostly[1] a myth. Part of any product design cycle is cost reduction. Make something lighter, simpler, or thinner and save money; that's just good business. Nothing *needs* to last forever, just to be good enough for a reasonable lifespan. Marketing can have far more impact on repeat sales than things breaking.

In fact, where companies have tried to make things have a finite life by design, they've usually come a cropper.

Cars, if anything, have been way over-engineered for years, otherwise I'd not have 2 cars knocking on the door of 20 years old with 460,000 miles between them!

[theosinc930]

Sounds like the terminals inside the clockspring have bent and broken where they run on the internal contact plate, breakage here would indeed bring on the airbag light as the ECU would have seen the loss of communication with the steering wheel airbag. Replacement clock spring sounds the likely way forward. Can't see the part on real oem apart from the steering angle sensor that is lower down on the shaft.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=32_1384
and
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=32_1385

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394438078792 ... R6q9_pHoYQ

Are you looking for part number 3 in this image?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=61_1619

[colb]

Yes thats the one No 3 in the diagram
Part No 61318379091
New available on Auto Doc here
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search ... 1318379091
Ebay used items a lot cheaper

[j3nks79]

Why does any part fail?! It’s called planned obsolescence.

?!?! Think about that for a minute. A rarely seen failure of a 20 year old part is almost completely the opposite of planned obsolescence.

Anyway, planned obsolescence is mostly[1] a myth. Part of any product design cycle is cost reduction. Make something lighter, simpler, or thinner and save money; that's just good business. Nothing *needs* to last forever, just to be good enough for a reasonable lifespan. Marketing can have far more impact on repeat sales than things breaking.

In fact, where companies have tried to make things have a finite life by design, they've usually come a cropper.

Cars, if anything, have been way over-engineered for years, otherwise I'd not have 2 cars knocking on the door of 20 years old with 460,000 miles between them!

How do you know it’s an original part?
I’ve worked in the Motortrade for over 20 years and manage a Garage. So I see what parts fail and how they are designed to last for a warranty period. The parts market is a massive % of profit for Manufacturers.
If you don’t believe in planned obsolescence that’s ok we are all entitled to out our opinions

[enuff_zed]

I’ve worked in the Motortrade for over 20 years and manage a Garage.

Excellent news.
What's your current discount rate for forum members?

[theosinc930]

Yes thats the one No 3 in the diagram
Part No 61318379091
New available on Auto Doc here
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search ... 1318379091
Ebay used items a lot cheaper

Forgot to update the thread. My mechanic replaced the clockspring and it solved the issue, thanks.