2005 IR ZHP Alcantara 6MT l Bimmian phone mount l Khoalty Angel Eye's l Khoalty Fog's l AFE Stage 1 Intake l AFE Dynamic Air Scoop's l CDV Delete
Besian Sealed VANOS l Flat black Kidney Grills l Magnaflow Cat-Back
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.
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.
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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 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.
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/showt...693#post433693
Thanks for doing that and for sharing. Hopefully I never need it.
+1!
Randeaux/Rando/John/jr - '06 Cic ZHP; Southern California
"ZHP or not, I still like you"
ZHP Performance Package, Cold Weather Package, Leather, Jet Black/Black/BlackCube, NAV, Anthracite Black "my individual" interior trim
ESS Stage 1 Twin Screw Supercharger, Sprint Booster, BMW Perf Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, Dinan TB & STEP S/W, UCC Sway Bars, Apex EC-7 18x8.5 ET38
Suspension: AST 44100 dampers, Bimmerworld front adjustable end links, Swift springs (8K front, 10K rear), Vorshlag camber plates
Dynavin D99+, Hardwire V1 (w/V1 Connection), BSW Stage 1 Speakers, Kicker Amp/Subwoofer
BMW Performance Strut Brace, Orion V2 Angel Eyes, No-holes License Plate, SMG Paddle Shift Mod, Besian VANOS, Gold DISA, Fan Delete, M3 Side Mirrors
Note: Actual car no longer resembles signature picture
Guess it's time to replace mine
His - 2004 Imola Red / Alcantara 330i | 6MT | ZHP |
Her's - 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic / Black Leather 330i | 6MT | ZHP |