BMW i8 Active Hood & Airbag Alert: Repair Guide Needed

I dealt with a similar issue on my 2017 BMW i3s Hybrid last month. The active hood sensor malfunction is actually a serious safety concern since it's part of the pedestrian protection system. When I took it to the garage, they found that water had gotten into one of the sensor connectors, causing corrosion and triggering false deployment signals. They had to replace both hood actuators and the main sensor unit. The repair took about two days because they needed to recalibrate the entire system after replacement. My advice would be to get it checked immediately, don't wait on this one. The system is tied to your airbag controls, which explains the warning light. Also, make sure they scan for any additional stored fault codes, as there might be related issues that need addressing. Had to go to a certified BMW service center because these systems are pretty complex. Getting it fixed was worth it for the peace of mind. My car's been running perfectly since then.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the i3s issue! Really helpful info, especially about the water damage causing those sensor problems. I was worried it might be something more serious. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything stayed working properly since the fix, or have you noticed any other quirks pop up? Just want to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if I should expect any follow-up issues with my i8.

Hey! Just wanted to follow up on your questions about the repair costs since I had my i3s fixed. The final bill came to 315 € for replacing the faulty acceleration sensor, apparently that was the culprit behind the Active hood warning. Honestly, it was cheaper than I initially feared! Great news is everything's working perfectly since the fix. The Active hood fault message disappeared completely, and the airbag warning light went out as soon as they finished the repair. Haven't had a single problem with the system in the weeks since. Trust me, I was also worried about potential ongoing issues, but the BMW tech really knew what they were doing. They explained that once the defective sensor is replaced and properly calibrated, these problems typically don't come back. So you should be good to go once they sort it out! Definitely a relief to have it sorted, these high-tech safety systems can be nerve-wracking when they start acting up, but it turned out to be a pretty straightforward fix in the end.

Just got back from the mechanic, and wow, what a different experience from my last repair! Took your advice and went to a certified BMW service center. Turns out my issue was also sensor-related, but it was a wiring harness that had gotten damaged. The repair cost me a bit more than yours, around 500 €, but they did a thorough job. They showed me the damaged parts and explained everything clearly. Even got a detailed report of all the diagnostic tests they ran. Fixed it in one day, which was faster than I expected. The active hood warning and airbag light are both gone now. Car's running like new again. Really glad I didn't put this repair off, definitely learned my lesson about getting these safety warnings checked out right away. Thanks again for all your help! Really saved me from stressing too much about it. Sometimes these fancy features can be a headache, but at least this turned out to be a manageable fix.