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New member in Scottish Borders

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Gotbadger
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Post by Gotbadger » Sat Jun 07, 2025 3:58 pm

Hey all I’m based in the Scottish Borders and recently picked up an 2003 E85 2.5i from forum member Caius. He kindly supplied it with some m sport seats he had which resulted in the airbag light coming on when fitted …

Car is a bit of a project at the moment. Currently on the list is:
  • sorting the rear suspension as it squirms around a bit at speed - currently have shocks and springs on order but no doubt the bushes are not great either
  • The aforementioned dreaded issues with the passenger airbag
  • Getting some kind of audio setup working so I can use my phone easily
  • Some bodywork issues rust and scrapes
Anyway plenty to be getting on with and can hopefully get some advice on here when I’m stuck

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Zed Baron
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Post by Zed Baron » Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:03 pm

Welcome aboard :thumbsup:
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enuff_zed
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Post by enuff_zed » Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:49 pm

Welcome.
Seats shouldn't be a huge issue.
I thought prefacelift would fit straight in with no issues, so I am going to assume yours are facelift ones.
(Usel, feel free to correct me. :D

Take the seat occupancy sensor black box off your original passenger seat and connect it up to your sport seat's yellow connector. Then fit an emulator gizmo to it. So it's mounted on the seat but only electrically connected to the yellow plug and the emulator, not the pad in the seat.
This will fool the car into thinking there is someone in the passenger seat. It's a failsafe set up as the airbag will deploy now even if there is no-one in that seat.
However, as it thinks there is someone in that seat, the belt buckle warning will beep at you.
Option 1: connect the seatbelt.
Option 2: rob a belt buckle off a breaker and fit that into the holder.
Option 3: use NCS Expert to tell the left airbag module (SBSL) not to check with the seatbelt buckle.
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
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If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:
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bigwinn
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Post by bigwinn » Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:24 pm

Welcome to the forum

Which side of the borders- I have very happy memories of D&G…

Deffo check your rear trailing arm bushes as they get very baggy quickly once the rubber degrades
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:

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EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me
GM5 repair- PM me

Roof problems? E85 and E89 PM me… E86 less so

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Gotbadger
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Post by Gotbadger » Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:28 pm

Not sure if it’s anything to do with the seat apparently this car has had this issue on and off in the past.
IMG_8295.jpeg
IMG_8295.jpeg (71.97 KiB) Viewed 216 times
Photo above is what he sent me from his reader. I’m currently learning about BMW coding need to get a cable and then see what I can find out.

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enuff_zed
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Post by enuff_zed » Sat Jun 07, 2025 6:34 pm

Hmmm. That is hinting at a dodgy SBSL
HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
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Mr Tidy
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Post by Mr Tidy » Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

I was on a trip with Caius last weekend after he dropped the car off on his way North.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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Argyll Andy
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Post by Argyll Andy » Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:35 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

I was on a trip with Caius last weekend after he dropped the car off on his way North.
I was just about to post similar Iain, great minds and all that :wink:

Welcome Gotbadger, :thumbsup:

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    enuff_zed
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    Post by enuff_zed » Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:35 pm

    Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

    I was on a trip with Caius last weekend after he dropped the car off on his way North.
    Did he then head south at speed? :poke: :D
    HQ of 'Norfolk Zed Rescue'.
    Always happy to help if I can.

    If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way! :thumbsup:
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    Argyll Andy
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    Post by Argyll Andy » Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:41 pm

    enuff_zed wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:35 pm
    Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

    I was on a trip with Caius last weekend after he dropped the car off on his way North.
    Did he then head south at speed? :poke: :D
    No, but he definitely headed North at speed :wink: He was heading up to meet us :driving:

      G29 M40i Thundernight with Ivory interior, all option packs (here for a while, hopefully :oops:)
      G29 M40i Misano Blue all option packs (Gone 26k of fun)
      E89 35iS, Valencia Orange, Design Pure Traction pack (Gone)
      E89 23i sDrive, Silver (Gone)

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      earthdweller
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      Post by earthdweller » Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:26 am

      Argyll Andy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:41 pm
      enuff_zed wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:35 pm
      Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Hi and welcome to the forum. :thumbsup:

      I was on a trip with Caius last weekend after he dropped the car off on his way North.
      Did he then head south at speed? :poke: :D
      No, but he definitely headed North at speed :wink: He was heading up to meet us :driving:
      Leta face it who wouldn't rush to see you :thumbsup:
      07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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      earthdweller
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      Post by earthdweller » Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:27 am

      Welcome to the forum gotbagder
      07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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      Argyll Andy
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      Post by Argyll Andy » Sun Jun 08, 2025 1:46 pm

      earthdweller wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 7:26 am
      Argyll Andy wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:41 pm
      enuff_zed wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:35 pm Did he then head south at speed? :poke: :D
      No, but he definitely headed North at speed :wink: He was heading up to meet us :driving:
      Leta face it who wouldn't rush to see you :thumbsup:
      Fully understandable and I 100% concur :D

        G29 M40i Thundernight with Ivory interior, all option packs (here for a while, hopefully :oops:)
        G29 M40i Misano Blue all option packs (Gone 26k of fun)
        E89 35iS, Valencia Orange, Design Pure Traction pack (Gone)
        E89 23i sDrive, Silver (Gone)

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