Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor Replacement (NOT Bypass)

[itdnwiwbp]

My passenger seat occupancy sensory has given out for the second time in less than three years. Last time I had it replaced by an upholstery shop but since it looks like this is definitely going to be a regular thing I was hoping to take care of it myself this time and in the future. Has anyone done a DIY on this? Everything I find on various forums and Google searches on the topic leads to DIYs on how to bypass. If anyone has any tips I'd appreciate it and will gladly post a DIY (if no one knows of one that already exists) if I end up tackling this. Thanks!

EDIT: Here's a link to my DIY. http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?15948-Passenger-Occupancy-Sensor-Replacement-DIY&p=433693#post433693

[GE Geoff]

+1
I'd love to see a DIY for this as well!


iPhone 5/meat hook hands/Tapatalk

[Vas]

I need to replace mine as well and will do it myself. However I have not seen a DYI for replacing it.

[johnrando]

I have a bypass switch that I bought new but didn't need. I know you don't want bypass, but if somebody does, I'll sell mine.

[UdubBadger]

I have a bypass switch that I bought new but didn't need. I know you don't want bypass, but if somebody does, I'll sell mine.

doh i just bought one from Lithuania on eBay. lol

[fredo]

Do you remember how much you paid to the upholstery place ? I may need to consider that for the Mini Cooper.

[az3579]

Dealing with the hog rings from what I hear is a real PITA. It's not for the faint of heart.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnmadd]

I have a bypass switch that I bought new but didn't need. I know you don't want bypass, but if somebody does, I'll sell mine.

I'm interested depending on price. Doesn't pa soft clear the light though, I think that's what I remember.

[itdnwiwbp]

Do you remember how much you paid to the upholstery place ? I may need to consider that for the Mini Cooper.

I don't recall the exact price. I wanna say $125 plus the sensor that I bought. I could be thinking of something else though. Probably money well spent but I'd rather learn how to do it since I intend to own this car for the foreseeable future and will probably have to replace the sensor three or four more times.

[BADCLOWN]

I had mine go out on my gray ZHP and Dane luckily had a new sensor pad I bought for replacement. My indy tech buddy replaced it in under an hour

[itdnwiwbp]

Yeah, the upholstery shop took about an hour so I figured worst case it would be a few for me to do it. Did you remove the seat or where you able to remove the upholstery with it installed? I literally have no idea how to approach this aside from just beginning to remove parts until I find the sensor. Any special tools? I'm assuming some hog ring pliars and replacement hog rings?

[Vas]

I would remove the seat from the car and take it apart. The sensor is in the lower cushion.

[az3579]

Yeah, the upholstery shop took about an hour so I figured worst case it would be a few for me to do it. Did you remove the seat or where you able to remove the upholstery with it installed? I literally have no idea how to approach this aside from just beginning to remove parts until I find the sensor. Any special tools? I'm assuming some hog ring pliars and replacement hog rings?

The upholstery must come off. It's quick if you've done it before AND have the correct tool to get the hog rings out and in. If you don't have the right tool, it could take a lot longer depending on experience. I think Charlie said it took him the better part of a day's labor to get his M3 seat stitched back up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cakM3]

The upholstery must come off. It's quick if you've done it before AND have the correct tool to get the hog rings out and in. If you don't have the right tool, it could take a lot longer depending on experience. I think Charlie said it took him the better part of a day's labor to get his M3 seat stitched back up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's correct BP... I didn't have that darned hog ring tool in the correct size. What a royal PITA that was.... now I know why Dane used zip ties afterwards.... I ended up doing the same ;)

[itdnwiwbp]

Tip ties! Great tip! Thanks! Anyone know the correct size hog ring pliars? Or is it possible to just clip them in the center to pull them out?

[danewilson77]

I pulled them out.

"No flamesuit required"

[328ioc]

Since we are kinda on the subject......sorry for the minor thread jack.......

But does anyone know if disabling the mat and clearing the light in PA Soft will accomplish the same as the bypass?

[johnrando]

I'm interested depending on price. Doesn't pa soft clear the light though, I think that's what I remember.
I'll find out what I paid and get you a price.

Sent from mobile

[BADCLOWN]

Since we are kinda on the subject......sorry for the minor thread jack.......

But does anyone know if disabling the mat and clearing the light in PA Soft will accomplish the same as the bypass?



I wouldn't think so since the connection isn't being made

[az3579]

Since we are kinda on the subject......sorry for the minor thread jack.......

But does anyone know if disabling the mat and clearing the light in PA Soft will accomplish the same as the bypass?

I didn't think disabling the mat was even possible...
And clearing the light probably won't do jack since it'll just re-detect that the mat isn't functioning and come right back on again.

I'd just get the bypass sensor since it's soooo cheap and soooo easy to install. With the bypass installed, both airbags come on in the event of an accident regardless of whether someone is sitting in the passenger seat or not. If you ever get into an accident where the airbag goes off, your car's gonna get totaled anyway, so it doesn't matter if one airbag comes out or both.

[328ioc]

I didn't think disabling the mat was even possible...
And clearing the light probably won't do jack since it'll just re-detect that the mat isn't functioning and come right back on again.

I'd just get the bypass sensor since it's soooo cheap and soooo easy to install. With the bypass installed, both airbags come on in the event of an accident regardless of whether someone is sitting in the passenger seat or not. If you ever get into an accident where the airbag goes off, your car's gonna get totaled anyway, so it doesn't matter if one airbag comes out or both.
True forgot that the light will stay on even if it is consciously disabled...

Yeah I have an extra black box I'm just going to solder in the resistors.

[itdnwiwbp]

Since we're sidetracked now, I've read that there are insurance implications, also, for modifying a safety system. It could effect payout if the airbag blows unnecessarily and the bypass is discovered and if there are injuries or fatalities that may have been effected by the altered system criminal liability could be placed on the person who altered it (assuming it could be proven - but even if it couldn't in our litigious society I wouldn't doubt a passenger would sue the owner of the car regardless). Bypass might be cheap and easy but that doesn't make it the way to go. Shame BMW won't rectify their faulty part but it's the card we've been dealt if we choose to keep these cars on the road and completely safe.

[az3579]

In my eyes, this is a non-issue. The airbag will deploy regardless of whether someone is sitting there or not (with the bypass in place). If nobody is sitting there, there is nobody sitting there TO sue the driver. If there is somebody sitting there, then what would they sue for? The airbag deploying? The airbag would go off anyway since somebody is sitting there.

If someone disabled the airbag completely, then I can see grounds for safety issues. That is certainly not the case with a bypass since an airbag deploys with it in place. One airbag deployment is enough to total the car in most cases, so two should have zero effect on payout. Logically this doesn't make any sense.

But, if you want to go through the cost and time of replacing a mat every couple of years then go for it. It is certainly the correct way of fixing the problem.

One thing I can suggest to prolong the life of the sensor is to never allow anybody to kneel or support their weight with their arm while resting on the bottom seat cushion. It puts undue stress on the mat and cushion. This is commonplace at car washes where the guys don't care and kneel on the seat while vacuuming something.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[itdnwiwbp]

I won't bother to explain the logic behind what I said. It's merely what I've read elsewhere and it makes perfect sense to me. For me, the time and expense to fix it properly isn't enough to make it worth the possible liability for anything that may happen as a result of "fixing" it improperly. Of course everyone else may do as they wish with their own car and I say power to them. Just sharing info.

[az3579]

I won't bother to explain the logic behind what I said. It's merely what I've read elsewhere and it makes perfect sense to me. For me, the time and expense to fix it properly isn't enough to make it worth the possible liability for anything that may happen as a result of "fixing" it improperly. Of course everyone else may do as they wish with their own car and I say power to them. Just sharing info.

I do have to say I'm curious why your mat went so soon.
BMW carries a 2 year warranty on their parts; if it's within 2 years, you can get a free replacement.

[itdnwiwbp]

I just checked my service records and contrary to my original post it's been three years, three months (not "less than three years"). That seems very soon to me as well but I've read elsewhere of others, although not many, experiencing similar life on this part.

[itdnwiwbp]

I replaced my occupancy sensor today and, as promised, did a DIY. It was a pretty easy fix and I would highly recommend it over any bandaids or bypasses. Link: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?15948-Passenger-Occupancy-Sensor-Replacement-DIY&p=433693#post433693

[JB3]

Thanks for doing that and for sharing. Hopefully I never need it.

[johnrando]

+1!

[Vas]

Guess it's time to replace mine

[UdubBadger]

Coding mine out tomorrow thanks to BP


GoingHAM mobile