Passenger seat occupancy module question

[David-H]

I now have some M-sport seats that are from an E86 Si (Black leather with greyish suede on the backs & inboard sides of the squab / bolster).

On one of the threads on swopping from pre-facelift SE seats to M-sport Si seats it says that the passenger seat occupancy is built into the later seats, as opposed to the black box module on the earlier ones, but is compatible thus making them a "plug & play" with regard to passenger seat occupancy.

Can anyone confirm this or do I need to order some sort of bypass kit?

 

[mac27040]

It's not compatible, you need to use the black box from the old passenger seat and get yourself a bypass sensor off eBay, then code car to switch off seatbelt reminder.

Did this to my M seat, just remember to disconnect battery for over 20 mins before unplugging yellow connector under seat

 

[David-H]

It's not compatible, you need to use the black box from the old passenger seat and get yourself a bypass sensor off eBay, then code car to switch off seatbelt reminder.

Did this to my M seat, just remember to disconnect battery for over 20 mins before unplugging yellow connector under seat

I went ahead and switched seats and all I can say is that there are no alarms or errors / warning lights when I start the car?

Why do I need a by-pass sensor and recoding? :?

 

[maxman]

It's not compatible, you need to use the black box from the old passenger seat and get yourself a bypass sensor off eBay, then code car to switch off seatbelt reminder.

Did this to my M seat, just remember to disconnect battery for over 20 mins before unplugging yellow connector under seat

I went ahead and switched seats and all I can say is that there are no alarms or errors / warning lights when I start the car?

Why do I need a by-pass sensor and recoding? :?

By-sensor for airbag light,recoding for seat belt light/audible warning.You don't need to recode if you buy the extra bit of kit when you get the by-pass sensor.

 

[mac27040]

Well it's been awhile since I did mine so even better if you don't need it coding.

 

[ben g]

When I installed my yellow and black M sport seats, I didn't have any warning chimes either. They were advertised as removed from a Facelift z4 that they were breaking.

Only problem I had is I set the airbag light off by removing them literally 30 seconds after disconnecting the battery :lol:

 

[MACK]

Interesting. From what you two are saying this need to bypass the seat occupancy sensor may well be a myth then?!
I think the problem here is most of us that have fitted them have blindly just followed the instruction of others and haven't actually checked if they worked or not for ourselves.

 

[David-H]

Interesting. From what you two are saying this need to bypass the seat occupancy sensor may well be a myth then?!
I think the problem here is most of us that have fitted them have blindly just followed the instruction of others and haven't actually checked if they worked or not for ourselves.

Seems to me that you do need the bypass for ///M sports seats but not for the Si M-Sport seats?

 

[ben g]

That makes sense. Mine are Si sport seats

 

[MACK]

Interesting. From what you two are saying this need to bypass the seat occupancy sensor may well be a myth then?!
I think the problem here is most of us that have fitted them have blindly just followed the instruction of others and haven't actually checked if they worked or not for ourselves.

Seems to me that you do need the bypass for ///M sports seats but not for the Si M-Sport seats?

Not doubting what your saying, but why would BMW do that? After all the only difference between an M Sport Seat and the Si M Sport Seats is the choice of leather covering them, they are the same seats. Build wise they are identical in terms of frames, foam padding and backings etc.

 

[David-H]

Interesting. From what you two are saying this need to bypass the seat occupancy sensor may well be a myth then?!
I think the problem here is most of us that have fitted them have blindly just followed the instruction of others and haven't actually checked if they worked or not for ourselves.

Seems to me that you do need the bypass for ///M sports seats but not for the Si M-Sport seats?

Not doubting what your saying, but why would BMW do that? After all the only difference between an M Sport Seat and the Si M Sport Seats is the choice of leather covering them, they are the same seats. Build wise they are identical in terms of frames, foam padding and backings etc.

The other difference is in the seat wiring? As the pre-facelift had an option of M-sport seats then the wiring would be compatible and maybe not changed for the facelift?

 

[MACK]

Seems to me that you do need the bypass for ///M sports seats but not for the Si M-Sport seats?

Not doubting what your saying, but why would BMW do that? After all the only difference between an M Sport Seat and the Si M Sport Seats is the choice of leather covering them, they are the same seats. Build wise they are identical in terms of frames, foam padding and backings etc.

The other difference is in the seat wiring? As the pre-facelift had an option of M-sport seats then the wiring would be compatible and maybe not changed for the facelift?[/quote

Yes could well be that, I have to admit I just blindly followed the instructions on here when I did mine last year. I assumed (we all know what that means!) it was the way to do it and they wouldn't just plug and play. I never actually just tried the dam thing! I think I will be whipping my passenger seat out in the next few days to try it!

 

[MACK]

Well finally got around to undoing the bypass on my passenger seat and connecting it up as it would have been in the car it came out of. Works a treat, quick drive on my own confirms everything works as it should, no warning lights or noises where there shouldn't be. Quick drive with a passenger confirmed the seat belt chime works as and when it should etc.

So in conclusion it would appear its a myth you need to fit a bypass to keep the airbag light off and use coding or a seatbelt clip to silence the chime.
Don't know where the bypass thingy originated but there is now at least 3 pre facelift cars in this thread alone with post facelift M Sport seats that have been a simple plug and play install.