BMW 5 Series Airbag Warning Light Problem & Solutions

Hi there! I have some experience working on cars and faced a similar issue with my 2002 BMW 3 series last year. The airbag warning light wouldn't go off, which got me worried. Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed it as a faulty wiring connection in the airbag system. Basically, some cables and connectors under the driver's seat had worn out over time. The fix wasn't too complicated, they replaced the damaged cables and connectors, which cost me about 95 Euro. Quick heads up, don't try fixing airbag issues yourself as it's a safety-critical system. Would you mind sharing if you've noticed any other warning lights or if the issue started after something specific happened? Also, what's your exact engine variant? This info would help me give you more relevant advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine might be similar but a bit different since I have the 2004 5 series. Had my last service about 3 months ago, and everything was fine until this warning light showed up last week (currently at 184769 KM). I haven't noticed any other warning lights, and nothing specific happened before it started. Just came on out of nowhere during a regular drive. Good point about not messing with the airbag system myself, definitely planning to have professionals look at it. Just wanted to get some insight from the community first. The wiring issue you mentioned makes sense, considering the age of these cars. Hopefully, it's something similarly straightforward and not too expensive to fix.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional info about your 5 series. Yeah, our BMWs might be different models, but they share quite a bit of similar technology from that era. The way your warning light suddenly appeared without any other issues actually sounds pretty similar to what happened with mine. From my experience, it's good you noticed it at this point. When my 3 series had the issue, I learned these problems typically don't fix themselves and can get worse if left unchecked. The fact that it started out of nowhere during a drive, just like mine did, makes me think it could indeed be a wiring issue too. Just to add to my earlier response, after my repair, I found out these problems are pretty common in BMWs from the early 2000s. The wiring insulation tends to get brittle with age, and the constant movement of the seat (if it's under-seat wiring) doesn't help either. Your mileage is actually pretty close to what mine was when I had the issue. Still, best to get it checked properly to be sure. These old Bimmers can be tricky sometimes, what looks like the same problem might have different causes. Let us know what you find out when you get it checked. Always interested in hearing how these issues turn out!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this info. It's actually quite reassuring to hear that your experience was similar and wasn't anything too major. The age and mileage similarities definitely make me feel better about the situation. You're absolutely right about these old BMWs having their quirks. I'll definitely get it checked out this week, better safe than sorry with anything safety-related. The wiring issue seems like a plausible cause, especially given what you've mentioned about the insulation getting brittle over time. I'll update the thread once I get it diagnosed and fixed. Thanks again for all your help, it's great having experienced BMW owners to get advice from! Just hoping it'll be as straightforward as your repair was.