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05-07-2015, 04:28 PM
Update 9/17/16: Looks like this part is good for just over a year. Huge bummer. I'm guessing the warranty is one year. Started getting an intermittent airbag light a month ago (wife's daily - I spend little time in it). Finally got around to running diagnostics today - fault code 112 again. How is this not a recall item???
Update 9/19/16: BMW Silver Spring advised that there's a two year warranty and the dealer will replace it upon diagnosis. I just hope they don't take issue with the fact that I installed it myself. I don't mind to do it myself again as long as they supply the mat.
Update 9/24/16: Took the car in to Long Beach BMW this morning for diagnosis and the only diagnosis was a reminder of why I avoid dealers like the plague. They wanted $185 for diagnosis of a faulty part that lasted less than two years. Obviously I declined to continue since even the inflated price of the sensor is less than that diagnosis fee. Emailed BMW Silver Spring again to see if there's any way to continue with a warranty claim. If I can't get this warrantied I guess I'm gonna go the emulator route because I refuse to keep paying BMW for faulty parts every couple of years. I'll probably avoid genuine parts all together when possible as well in the future.
Update 10/10/16: The occupancy sensor mat was replaced under warranty at no charge by Long Beach BMW after speaking with the service manager and scheduling another appointment. FYI for anyone having this taken care of at the dealer, they're going to tell you that you have to do the control module at the same time and attempt an obscene uncharge on the part. This is not necessary. When picking the car up I asked for clarification about why they recommend this and was told they only do it to save themselves the couple of minutes it takes to replace the control module if they replace the mat and it turns out not be be the faulty part (either part failing will cause an airbag error 112 code).
As promised here is a DIY for replacing the passenger occupancy sensor matt. It really wasn’t all that difficult and took about two hours. I’m happy with the results. The upholstery looks exactly as it did before I started and fault code 112 is no longer showing. Of course I’m not a professional and any advice or instruction included in this DIY will be used at your own risk. I take no responsibility for anything that may result. If you have suggestions for how to do this better you should have given that input last month when I asked for help! No, just kidding. If anyone has any advice on how to do this more efficiently please share.
First, you will need a 16mm wrench, 3/8” 16mm socket & ratchet and possibly an 3” extension, T-20 & T-30 torx sockets, needle nose & regular pliers, side cutters and spring loaded hog ring pliers & ~12 hog rings.
1. Remove the back two 16mm bolts. Slide seat backward and remove front two 16mm nuts. The seat is now loose. Picture shows location of bolts/nuts and plug once removed.
19635
2. Disconnect battery.
3. Disconnect plug under seat. In pictures, insert flathead screw driver into gap below my finger and slide out. This will free the plug and it can be removed.
19636
4. Remove seat. Place seat on table just outside car if possible to make seat belt removal easier. Use 16mm wrench to remove one bolt attaching seat belt to seat.
19637
5. Tilt seat to access underside. Remove single T-20 torx screw at back of plastic side panel on door side of seat. Unclip two underside clips and jiggle front clip to remove. Remove plastic panel. (The clip shown second arrow from the left in the second photo inserts directly into the seat upon reinstallation. The others are installed reverse of removal.)
1963919638
6. Seat switches are a separate piece attached to the panel removed in step 5. Remove the seat switch panel by unclipping the three clips at the top and rotate away from the two clips at the bottom.
19640
7. Remove seat switch plug by sliding carriage down until plug can be pulled out.
19641
8. Remove four T-30 torx screws on panel currently exposed on door side of seat. Remove panel.
19642
9. Remove two T-30 torx screws, one on each side, of plastic trim panel that wraps around front of seat. Unclip two clips underneath and to the center (shown in first pic) by pulling the clip toward the center of the seat gently. Remove plastic trim panel.
1964419643
10. Remove plastic trim panel on console side rear of seat by removing single T-20 torx screw.
19645
11. Remove retaining strip for both bolsters. Start at back of seat and slowly pry strip off.
19646
12. Remove retaining strip for rear of seat and pull through gap between seat bottom and seat back.
19647
13. Remove hog rings from seat bottom. My seat had 11 hog rings though my occupancy sensor has been replaced at least once before so I can’t confirm that this is the original number installed. I drew arrows on the foam pad so I would know where hog rings needed to be replaced upon reassembly. Pull back seat bottom cover exposing occupancy sensor matt.
19648
14. Unclip occupancy sensor plug on bottom of seat and remove sensor matt.
19649
15. Install new occupancy sensor matt. Remove adhesive covers (four shown in pic) and adhere to seat foam. Note where occupancy sensor is slightly recessed into grooves in seat. Carefully run wire to plug on seat bottom.
19650
16. Reassemble in reverse order.
17. Have your QC guy look things over.
19651
Update 9/19/16: BMW Silver Spring advised that there's a two year warranty and the dealer will replace it upon diagnosis. I just hope they don't take issue with the fact that I installed it myself. I don't mind to do it myself again as long as they supply the mat.
Update 9/24/16: Took the car in to Long Beach BMW this morning for diagnosis and the only diagnosis was a reminder of why I avoid dealers like the plague. They wanted $185 for diagnosis of a faulty part that lasted less than two years. Obviously I declined to continue since even the inflated price of the sensor is less than that diagnosis fee. Emailed BMW Silver Spring again to see if there's any way to continue with a warranty claim. If I can't get this warrantied I guess I'm gonna go the emulator route because I refuse to keep paying BMW for faulty parts every couple of years. I'll probably avoid genuine parts all together when possible as well in the future.
Update 10/10/16: The occupancy sensor mat was replaced under warranty at no charge by Long Beach BMW after speaking with the service manager and scheduling another appointment. FYI for anyone having this taken care of at the dealer, they're going to tell you that you have to do the control module at the same time and attempt an obscene uncharge on the part. This is not necessary. When picking the car up I asked for clarification about why they recommend this and was told they only do it to save themselves the couple of minutes it takes to replace the control module if they replace the mat and it turns out not be be the faulty part (either part failing will cause an airbag error 112 code).
As promised here is a DIY for replacing the passenger occupancy sensor matt. It really wasn’t all that difficult and took about two hours. I’m happy with the results. The upholstery looks exactly as it did before I started and fault code 112 is no longer showing. Of course I’m not a professional and any advice or instruction included in this DIY will be used at your own risk. I take no responsibility for anything that may result. If you have suggestions for how to do this better you should have given that input last month when I asked for help! No, just kidding. If anyone has any advice on how to do this more efficiently please share.
First, you will need a 16mm wrench, 3/8” 16mm socket & ratchet and possibly an 3” extension, T-20 & T-30 torx sockets, needle nose & regular pliers, side cutters and spring loaded hog ring pliers & ~12 hog rings.
1. Remove the back two 16mm bolts. Slide seat backward and remove front two 16mm nuts. The seat is now loose. Picture shows location of bolts/nuts and plug once removed.
19635
2. Disconnect battery.
3. Disconnect plug under seat. In pictures, insert flathead screw driver into gap below my finger and slide out. This will free the plug and it can be removed.
19636
4. Remove seat. Place seat on table just outside car if possible to make seat belt removal easier. Use 16mm wrench to remove one bolt attaching seat belt to seat.
19637
5. Tilt seat to access underside. Remove single T-20 torx screw at back of plastic side panel on door side of seat. Unclip two underside clips and jiggle front clip to remove. Remove plastic panel. (The clip shown second arrow from the left in the second photo inserts directly into the seat upon reinstallation. The others are installed reverse of removal.)
1963919638
6. Seat switches are a separate piece attached to the panel removed in step 5. Remove the seat switch panel by unclipping the three clips at the top and rotate away from the two clips at the bottom.
19640
7. Remove seat switch plug by sliding carriage down until plug can be pulled out.
19641
8. Remove four T-30 torx screws on panel currently exposed on door side of seat. Remove panel.
19642
9. Remove two T-30 torx screws, one on each side, of plastic trim panel that wraps around front of seat. Unclip two clips underneath and to the center (shown in first pic) by pulling the clip toward the center of the seat gently. Remove plastic trim panel.
1964419643
10. Remove plastic trim panel on console side rear of seat by removing single T-20 torx screw.
19645
11. Remove retaining strip for both bolsters. Start at back of seat and slowly pry strip off.
19646
12. Remove retaining strip for rear of seat and pull through gap between seat bottom and seat back.
19647
13. Remove hog rings from seat bottom. My seat had 11 hog rings though my occupancy sensor has been replaced at least once before so I can’t confirm that this is the original number installed. I drew arrows on the foam pad so I would know where hog rings needed to be replaced upon reassembly. Pull back seat bottom cover exposing occupancy sensor matt.
19648
14. Unclip occupancy sensor plug on bottom of seat and remove sensor matt.
19649
15. Install new occupancy sensor matt. Remove adhesive covers (four shown in pic) and adhere to seat foam. Note where occupancy sensor is slightly recessed into grooves in seat. Carefully run wire to plug on seat bottom.
19650
16. Reassemble in reverse order.
17. Have your QC guy look things over.
19651