CAN A 25 YEAR-OLD AIRBAG SAVE YOUR LIFE?
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- Опубліковано 2 лют 2023
- Can an old SRS (airbag) system work after 25 years? The earliest airbag systems are go back almost 30 years - is there any point keeping these in good condition? Or are they just going to quietly do nothing?
Ever wondered how the BMW Airbag SRS (Supplementary Safety System) works, what goes wrong with it - and what about those 'resistor mods'? This video shows what is inside the SRS module and how it connects to the car's electrical system. This is explained on my 840ci E31 but is pertinent for all the early BMW's E31, E32, E34, E36, E38 and E39
#bmwsrs, #restoration, - Авто та транспорт
Crazy just how long they can work. I went to a junkyard a few weeks ago and saw a 1995 Ford F-150. It’s front end was completely torn apart and it was smashed inwards and door slightly buckled on the drivers side, yet when I looked inside I could see it’s 30 year old airbag had still deployed.
Thanks, yes, unless the SRS light is on they will go bang!
I use an "Autolift 3000" "car seesaw" lift on my cars. It lifts my 760i easily and safely. Just wheel it under the car and use a good electric drill to raise the car, if you are working in a semi public place it's fairly easy to lower the car back when you are not working on it.
Thanks Andrew, to be honest, even with a great lift like that I still won't work under the car - the only time I get under is when it is on sturdy ramps!
Timm, long time fan from your website since 2013. I've done well to depend on your advice on my E38 over the last 9 years. I've been wondering lately about the safety of the airbags in my E38 since it's my daily and couldn't find much info online. Thank you for posting this video, your information is fantastic!! Now I am not worried at all! -Derek in Ohio, USA
Great to hear from you Derek!
Another very useful video. Great work!
My pleasure!
Hi Timm this is Alvin your number one fan. Great video and a of details.
I'm still in Jamaica 🇯🇲
86 degrees here 😁
ALVIN!! Great to hear from you - keep up the great work my friend!
Very interesting, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Gr8 content sir 👍... And the Tesla comments 🤣
Thanks Robert! ******* Tesla's
I’d love a video on the pixel issues of MID and dashboard indicator. Everyone seems to suffer these issues. To send them out for repair is over $100. A ribbon is $6. A ribbon and lcd display is >$30. The MID is master class in patience and repetition to still fail.
Lookup the electric shock method
@@leenevin8451 😂 haha. That’s a fallacy. If you know how these lcd displays are connected you know that little quartz cigarette lighter ignition hammer is a joke. A disconnected contact on the ribbon cable is a disconnected contact on the ribbon cable.
Cheers timm that was great. Learned a lot there. Effing teslas 🤣👍🏼
My pleasure!
What amazes me is the attention to detail that goes into these systems. Little things like the shorting bars thought the system and strategies to deter the system from being bodged.
I presume the decision to fire logic is hardcoded on the board as the microprocessor would be too slow to be actively involved?
Yes, I should think so Andrew, tightly coded as well!
Hi Tim, love your videos. Do you have one on the dreaded power steering leaks we all hate?
Thanks! My car leaks everything, keeps the underside rust-free! Yes, power steering has the usual weeps at the junctions, and the same on the E31
Thanks Timms, no hacks like the washers for the valve cover leaks? I know I should have posted this on that video.@@TimmsBMWRepairsandInformation
I worry about the actual bag inflator not so much the electronics. I'd rather have one not go off than one that may be corroded and spray me with shrapnel. After all that's what the large recall was over. Then I think my vehicles I drive daily were early airbags and who knows if they even would have cought a problem like that recall. Then I take into account they are both convertible vehicles that are 20+ and 30+ years old.
I'm actually thinking about unhooking at least the older one.
I know in the US depending on the state it would still be legal to drive and register. And I'd rather have an insurance company mad at me than be dead from parts hitting my face
The middle of the floor under the dash is not really a great place for a wrangler with wash out floor drains and a steep windshield.
The airbags themselves are a bit like lightbulbs - they are completely sealed and they will go off unless the ignitor goes open-circuit - and then you will get the SRS warning!
@@TimmsBMWRepairsandInformation unless things have corroded and the charge ends up making metal shrapnel like the recalled ones
Thanks. My e36 has the same system.
My pleasure!
Is there a possibility to retrofit an airbag on the passenger side on the E31?
Thanks for the videos, keep up the great work!
Electrically it would be no problem - but I should think the dashboard hardware is quite different. You would need the SRS module, airbag and glovebox from a later car to do the job
I had the 'pleasure' last year of being a passenger in a car crash and had the airbags on my side all deploy. Absolutely horrible experience, definitely saves you from injury but very unpleasant indeed!
Glad it saved you!
The short answer is yes. Last year my 1997 Ford Probe got hit head-on at around 50mph with me in it, and both airbags went off. I was in a bad way, but no broken bones miraculously. Am still having physio and osteopathy now, and still in pain but on the mend. Could have been so much worse...
Well said!
Tim I see my airbag socket is rust a little. Maybe because of cabriolet car. I changed the airbag . New airbag and new plastic cover makes car looks better. I check all cables ans SRS system at the back seat. I cleaned all sockets and add etra sponge on it. I love care 90s cars :)
Have a great day.
You too Ali! I always like new stuff - and good work!
I wonder about the air bag itself. Does it deteriorate with time? Big dustup over Takata airbags failing. If I remember correctly, BMW had a recall and mine were replaced on my E39, but as time marches on, I wonder if there is a useful life to even properly made airbags.
Hello William, the airbags, unless recalled, will go off - they are hermetically sealed and should last many decades
After getting some bodywork done on my E64, everything was tested and it showed a higher resistance on the airbag but no SRS warning light activation. I'm not sure what to do with this information but was wondering if I should replace the module. Would love to see if that is something an owner can do or not.
No David, the resistance would be one of the sensor not the module
My SRS module failed on my E64 when my Indy was doing brakes and disks all round. Odd but they said wasn’t connected they did send away to specialists to get repaired but no joy. In the end safety first and £600 later for part from BMW
You certainly wouldn't want a repaired one, so the only way forward was to buy new - strange it failed though!
@@TimmsBMWRepairsandInformation The issue with these classics is that yes you can get some great deals when buying one now but still expensive to maintain as if new in certain areas.
Hey, My question is a little off-topic, but what colour is your E38? Royal Red E38 owner here :)
It is Mora Metallic, the same as my E31
Wow I can't believe that people would disable a safety critical warning with a resistor... Only to make a few extra quid selling (or using) an ageing car. I'm also fairly sure if one were to do that, and the new owner has an unfortunate incident, and they can prove the deception (and it is a deception AKA a LIE!). So whoever did it, could be in a world of trouble, as a lie that puts someone at risk should the truth be unknown, the teller bears the responsibility of the consequences.
If one wants to do that to their own car, and use it solely for yourself, just getting rid of a light, then whatever, their risk, their Darwin Award. If it were me and I was using the car, I'd visit a scrap dealer and pull the same airbag out a wreck, if it's intact (assuming I couldn't afford a new one). If I were selling it, I'd just fess up and have the new owner sign that they are aware that there is an issue with the SRS, hence the telltale light. If the buyer low balls you for it, you can just argue that the asking price was with the issue/s in mind (assuming that it actually is, and is realistic), and if their counter is not to your liking, you can still politely decline. There's no need to BS someone and jeopardise their safety as well, all because one lacks the spine and courage to be honest.
Well said Justin - it always amazes me!
Any don’t you test it Timm?
It's just like the safety escape kick-panel we had at work - if you tested it you always needed a new one!
I thought soy based biodegradable wire harnesses was just a foolish design implemented by Mercedes Benz of the late 1990’s. It cost $7k for a hand made wire harness and install for Mercedes biodegradable wire harnesses.
I assume BMW doesn’t have the same wire issues as Mercedes do of the same vintage? My 1998 E38 has rock hard wire insulation, but left alone it doesn’t fall apart.
Yes, we have the same - always best to leave it be - except on the boot hinge where it WILL break!