Hello everybody,
I have a 2004 2.2 Z4 (E85).
A cup of coffee was spilt, which seeped into the airbag ECU (Airbag crash module) and caused a fair bit of damage. The module is situated under the central build, just behind the handbrake.
Basically, the liquid shorted the wires in the plug leading to the module, which ruined a section of loom and the module itself. Luckily, the fuses to the unit blew, avoiding a major fire!
Looking around the net, it's quite a common problem - people keeping drinks on the central unit, which spill and leak directly into the ecu plug. Poor design?!
Managed to get an official plug and loom from the stealership - Was quoted £70 from one dealers, although managed to get everything from Sytner Sheffield for around £10.
BMW Spares North East provided me with a second hand module (£80). They were as helpful as you could imagine, even offering to let me return the item should I have any trouble, or offering loads of after sales technical advice.....Well, I had trouble! Of course, no amount of calling them back to explain this was getting any advice, or a sniff of a refund if needed.... They were quite offhand with me (except for one guy who tried his best). Don't you just wish people were as helpful AFTER they've had your money?
No one, and I mean NO ONE could programme the dam thing. Excel tuning in Chesterfield couldn't touch it, and AF tuning (also Chesterfield) tried about 7 different systems on it - both handheld and laptop, and they couldn't do it. These guys are supposed to be the "experts" too - anything they can't do, can't be done!
Called the dealers - and Sytner Sheffield said they thought it wasn't possible to re-code these units, and although they offered to "have a go", couldn't give me an answer (they also said it would be £150 and upto a 5 hour job, then the next day said £90 and 30 minutes).
Stratstone BMW Chesterfield were totally useless, telling me on TWO separate occasions that the boxes were programmed from the factory, and keyed to each car - and COULDN'T be programmed or re-programmed. They did then say they could provide me with a replacement module (the exact same unit I already had) which of course, they COULD programme. They also kindly went into a long speech about how the units were like door keys - you have a key for your door exactly to fit your lock and it only fits YOUR lock. Of course, if the units were like door keys, they could be manipulated, copied and shaped to fit other locks. The missed that part out of course.
Eventually took it to QUARRY MOTORS Sheffield - independant specialists for BMW. They promised me they could do what everyone else couldn't, as they used the same system as BMW. Was there for about 45 minutes, and all done. Easy as 123.. Seems you actually have to talk to someone who knows what they're doing. :driving:
Scary that TWO independant professional specialists couldn't do it, TWO dealers couldn't do it, and no one else seemed to have any information about it.
I was initially sceptical about the small independant garage - although they were 100% professional, and were a third of the stealership price! I had a look around while I was there, and can clearly imagine they will be getting all my servicing and repair work from now on.....
I have a 2004 2.2 Z4 (E85).
A cup of coffee was spilt, which seeped into the airbag ECU (Airbag crash module) and caused a fair bit of damage. The module is situated under the central build, just behind the handbrake.
Basically, the liquid shorted the wires in the plug leading to the module, which ruined a section of loom and the module itself. Luckily, the fuses to the unit blew, avoiding a major fire!
Looking around the net, it's quite a common problem - people keeping drinks on the central unit, which spill and leak directly into the ecu plug. Poor design?!
Managed to get an official plug and loom from the stealership - Was quoted £70 from one dealers, although managed to get everything from Sytner Sheffield for around £10.
BMW Spares North East provided me with a second hand module (£80). They were as helpful as you could imagine, even offering to let me return the item should I have any trouble, or offering loads of after sales technical advice.....Well, I had trouble! Of course, no amount of calling them back to explain this was getting any advice, or a sniff of a refund if needed.... They were quite offhand with me (except for one guy who tried his best). Don't you just wish people were as helpful AFTER they've had your money?
No one, and I mean NO ONE could programme the dam thing. Excel tuning in Chesterfield couldn't touch it, and AF tuning (also Chesterfield) tried about 7 different systems on it - both handheld and laptop, and they couldn't do it. These guys are supposed to be the "experts" too - anything they can't do, can't be done!
Called the dealers - and Sytner Sheffield said they thought it wasn't possible to re-code these units, and although they offered to "have a go", couldn't give me an answer (they also said it would be £150 and upto a 5 hour job, then the next day said £90 and 30 minutes).
Stratstone BMW Chesterfield were totally useless, telling me on TWO separate occasions that the boxes were programmed from the factory, and keyed to each car - and COULDN'T be programmed or re-programmed. They did then say they could provide me with a replacement module (the exact same unit I already had) which of course, they COULD programme. They also kindly went into a long speech about how the units were like door keys - you have a key for your door exactly to fit your lock and it only fits YOUR lock. Of course, if the units were like door keys, they could be manipulated, copied and shaped to fit other locks. The missed that part out of course.
Eventually took it to QUARRY MOTORS Sheffield - independant specialists for BMW. They promised me they could do what everyone else couldn't, as they used the same system as BMW. Was there for about 45 minutes, and all done. Easy as 123.. Seems you actually have to talk to someone who knows what they're doing. :driving:
Scary that TWO independant professional specialists couldn't do it, TWO dealers couldn't do it, and no one else seemed to have any information about it.
I was initially sceptical about the small independant garage - although they were 100% professional, and were a third of the stealership price! I had a look around while I was there, and can clearly imagine they will be getting all my servicing and repair work from now on.....
