The airbag issue light on my 2004 BMW X5 came on after a reasonably significant nose to tail where I was hit from behind, the airbags did NOT deploy however the light was definitely not on before the crash.
During the insurance claim process the BMW dealer attempted to reset the error code, however it was not a "soft" code that they could reset, their computer read an error "240 (F0) Control unit fault, internal", which they said the only way to repair was to replace the unit.
Upon more investigation I found multiple anecdotal references to the BMW SRS/MRS (which I believe is manufactured by Bosch) stating that after any "crash" above a significant level, regardless if the airbags have deployed or not will record into the CDR EEPROM and that the EEPROM can only fit three crashes before it is full. Of relevance is that the car was previously also involved in at least one other nose to tail while I have owned it, and quite probably had been in on in the 10 years before i owned it. There also appear to be companies in Russia/UK/USA that are able to reset the EEPROM and thus the CDR and recover a SRS/MRS in this state, however these are all on the other side of the world.
Unfortunately the insurance company has so far declined to cover fixing the issue as they say there is no way an airbag goes off in a rear collision, so how can the airbag module be involved, it must have already been faulty and I am just trying to claim it on insurance..... I have tried to explain the above but they have said I need to find a reputable source that states the above for them to look at it again.
I have done a LOT of googling but I can't find good reputable sources for the info I need, I am hoping an expert here could point me at some official bosch or bmw technical papers that might help my cause, specifically points to the following would be immensely useful:
- 1. A CDR record is created even for rear end crashes with no airbag deployment (nor tensioner deployment)
2. The EEPROM only stores up to 3 incidents and then will return an internal fault to standard dealer tools
- 1. http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/Tab_5_MRS_III.pdf
2. http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/E38_Air_Ba ... m_MRS2.pdfRear crash threshold - for activation of the seatbelt tensioners with a rear impact.The MRS control unit can process a maximum of 3 accidents involving activation of at least one triggering circuit. An internal fault is then stored in the fault code memory which makes it necessary to replace the control unit.
Thanks!