Anyone able to reset airbag warning light in E46 BMW? (Rolesville: buying, live in)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I have a 2002 BMW M3. I replaced the window regulator yesterday, and even though I was careful to disconnect the battery before removing the side impact airbag, I somehow triggered an airbag fault.
If I go to a dealer or independent mechanic to have the fault reset, they will probably charge me for a complete diagnostic before they reset the light.
Does anyone have one of those tools that can reset the SRS fault codes? I live in southern Wake, down by Lake Wheeler.
You can usually get codes by either googling, or by finding BMW message boards (well, I don't know for sure that BMW message boards exist but "Ford enthusiasts" have one, so I would guess BMW has one too!)
You can usually get codes by either googling, or by finding BMW message boards (well, I don't know for sure that BMW message boards exist but "Ford enthusiasts" have one, so I would guess BMW has one too!)
I don't need the code. I pretty much know that it will say something like "Hey dummy, you disconnected the passenger-side airbag". I need to clear the code in the fault list so that the little light goes out on my dashboard.
If I was planning to keep the car for much longer, I'd invest in one of the special tools that does this (e.g., SRS (Airbag) Scan and Reset tool), but my plan is to sell the car in the next few months. I'm hoping that someone on this forum already has a similar tool and can reset the light for me.
If I was planning to keep the car for much longer, I'd invest in one of the special tools that does this (e.g., SRS (Airbag) Scan and Reset tool), but my plan is to sell the car in the next few months. I'm hoping that someone on this forum already has a similar tool and can reset the light for me.
Eh.... I'm on the fence with this. The fact that you are planning to sell the vehicle and we're talking about airbags, maybe you should just fork over the cash to get this done at a mechanic. Nobody is perfect and especially considering you posted this on the internet, it could come back around and bite you in the posterior should something happen to a subsequent owner.
Have you tried any of the autoparts stores? I don't have a BMW, but they've run a diagnosis and reset codes for me many times, no charge. (Autozone, etc...)
(If applicable, I have bought the part from them, but it's not required.)
Eh.... I'm on the fence with this. The fact that you are planning to sell the vehicle and we're talking about airbags, maybe you should just fork over the cash to get this done at a mechanic.
If I was to reset the code, and the fault came back the next day, then sure. . . I'd know that I had possibly damaged the side airbag unit while repairing the window regulator. In that case, then I would go to a repair shop and have it looked at.
Have you tried any of the autoparts stores? I don't have a BMW, but they've run a diagnosis and reset codes for me many times, no charge. (Autozone, etc...)
I knew that they read codes, but was not sure that they reset codes. I'll give them a call.
EDIT: I just called Autozone, they will read codes but they will not reset them.
I knew that they read codes, but was not sure that they reset codes. I'll give them a call.
EDIT: I just called Autozone, they will read codes but they will not reset them.
The Autozone and AAP in Rolesville won't reset the codes as a general rule. They will just pull them. It depends on who you get, I did get one person to do it but it was random luck, I think as a general rule corporate won't let them do it. I ended up just buying an OBD2 Bluetooth connector and using my Android phone to pull and reset them, cost me around $25 or so.
If I was to reset the code, and the fault came back the next day, then sure. . . I'd know that I had possibly damaged the side airbag unit while repairing the window regulator. In that case, then I would go to a repair shop and have it looked at.
Exactly. Nothing wrong or dangerous about clearing codes unless it's done within minutes of someone picking up the car with intent to deceive. I forget the name of the reset tool, I had one when I had my M's, very handy. Check a local car messageboard, or hit up an M enthusiast shop like IMW I'm sure they will do it for nothing or next to nothing. The tool itself isn't expensive if you just want to buy it.
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