BMW iX3 Active Hood & Airbag Warning Lights Mystery

I experienced something similar with my 2018 BMW i3s. The active hood and airbag warnings appeared simultaneously, and it turned out to be a faulty acceleration sensor in the front bumper area. This sensor is crucial for both the active hood system and airbag deployment timing. Last month, I took my car to the garage where they diagnosed it using their diagnostic tool. The issue required replacing the acceleration sensor unit and recalibrating the safety systems. It was a serious repair since it's part of the critical safety features, and driving with malfunctioning airbag sensors isn't safe. The repair took about 4 hours, including system checks and calibration. The mechanic mentioned these issues are relatively common in electric BMWs after reaching around 150,000 km. Make sure you get it checked by an authorized dealer since they have the proper diagnostic equipment for these specific electrical issues.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Did you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the sensor replacement and recalibration? Also, has everything been working fine since the repair, or have you noticed any other quirks? I'm planning to take it to a dealer this week but want to have an idea of what I'm getting into cost-wise.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I actually had this fixed and can give you the exact cost now. The total came to 315 € for replacing the acceleration sensor and doing all the necessary recalibration. And good news, since the repair, the Active Hood warning hasn't shown up even once! My i3s has been running perfectly with no more warning lights or quirks to report. I know you mentioned you're heading to the dealer this week, honestly, while the cost stung a bit, it was worth every penny to get it sorted properly. These safety systems aren't something you want to mess around with. Based on how smoothly my car's been running since the fix, I'd say you're making the right call getting it checked out. Just make sure they do a full system check after the replacement like they did with mine!

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update you. The whole experience was better than expected. Turns out you were spot on about the acceleration sensor! The mechanic found it was completely shot and needed immediate replacement. The total bill came to a bit more than yours, about 380 €, because they had to do some extra diagnostic work. But honestly, after the repair, it's like having a different car. No more annoying warning lights, and everything's working perfectly. The active hood system is functioning as it should, and all warning lights have disappeared. The best part was how thorough they were. They ran multiple system checks and even showed me the old sensor to explain what went wrong. Much better experience than my last mechanic visit! Thanks again for your help, it really gave me confidence knowing what to expect when I went in. Now I can finally drive without stressing about those warning messages!