BMW airbag fault code diagnosis

[donchano]

The airbag light on my BMW 320 (55 reg) stays on permanently, so when the car went in for its MOT yesterday to my local independent garage I asked them if they could fix this problem at the same time. They ran diagnostics and it came up with "fault code 93B3 - airbag front passenger second stage", but they said I would have to take it to a BMW dealer to get the problem sorted.

I rang up the BMW dealer today and they wouldn't give me any idea of the repair cost unless I pay them £90 to run their own diagnostics. According to them the error code doesn't mean anything unless the diagnostics are done by a BMW dealer. That sounds like a load of codswallop to me but I'm no mechanic so it looks like I'm at their mercy. Are they just spinning me a line to get more money out of me?

[chas2008]

as a dealer BMW or otherwise they would want to confirm the code themselves

[Toureman]

No.

[Purple_Popple]

I had the same thing happen to a Peugeot car I had which developed an air bag 'fault'. No other garage would touch it and told me I had to take it to a Peugeot dealership who ripped me off as they couldnt diagnose the fault, £500 later and through my own investigations on a forum online - it was a simple battery replacement needed - problem solved ! I took the dealer to trading standards and got my money back.

[dougielogan]

9 times out of 10 it's a broken wire under the pass, seat caused by the seat being adjusted back and forth, any good auto electrician will be able to repair easily and at a reasonable price.

[oneinam]

This has been the same situation with a Vauxhall Vectra which has a constant engine management light on. They would ask for payment for the check first. Then Passat again engine management light and payment for check first. I think and from the number of friends who has warning lights permanantly on, it is an increasingly problem area. If it turns out to be simply a faulty sensor light, the these so called check payments are rather expensive. Its a pet hate.

[diagnosticman]

hello mate give me a ring i have the bmw diagnostic tools, i only £10 my number is 07969620976

[diagnosticman]

hello mate give me a ring i have the bmw diagnostic tools that do airbag, abs etc, i only charge £10 my number is 07969620976

[Toureman]

The AnswerBank is a general knowledge exchange and is not to be used to market, sell or promote any product, service, project or organisation.