Rebody Airbag module removal

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
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Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
Z3 project and E89 Z4
As I now have no airbags in my Z3, I would like to unplug and remove the airbag module/ control unit from it's position in front of the gear lever.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't do this? Could it affect anything else in the electronics?
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
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Dec 5, 2011
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213
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Just out of interest, had a look online and it came up with this :-

"Disconnect the positive battery cable and wait 3 min."
"You are now safe to unplug the airbag control module harness wiring plugs."
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
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Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
Z3 project and E89 Z4
Just out of interest, had a look online and it came up with this :-

"Disconnect the positive battery cable and wait 3 min."
"You are now safe to unplug the airbag control module harness wiring plugs."
I think that presumes the airbags are still attached. Thinking about it, I'm not sure what the upshot would be, if I remove the module, with the seatbelt pre-tensioners, as they presumably are controlled by the SRS module and I still have those intact.
 

Foglem

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American Zeds
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Ann Arbor, Michigan
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M Roadster
Yes, the pre-tensioners are a part of the SRS module. If you work anywhere near that module be sure to disconnect the battery as hard top said. There is a large capacitor inside the module (this is how airbags still work during a crash when the battery has been crushed). There is also an accelerometer pack inside that module. If you knock it with a hammer and it's powered up it could, in this case, blow your pretensioners.
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
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144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
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Z3 project and E89 Z4
To be honest, my battery has been disconnected for 99.9% of the last 13 months, so that isn't a problem. ;)

So if I remove the electronic box, my pre-tensioners won't operate?
 
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Jezza

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To be honest, my battery has been disconnected for 99.9% of the last 13 months, so that isn't a problem. ;)

So if I remove the electronic box, my pre-tensioners won't operate?
Lucky you. When I stripped my Z3 I found that a previous owner had already removed the Airbag module. If the pretensions will still work then you might as well leave it in. But I'm not sure they will as surely the whole system will not work if it detects a problem with the airbags?
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
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Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
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Z3 project and E89 Z4
If the pretensions will still work then you might as well leave it in.
I am just thinking of space, as the module looks like it could be in the way of the new tunnel parts. I don't know as yet, but would like the vertical piece (where the heater controls and radio were) as tight to the heater matrix/ ac evaporator box as possible. If it's in the way I'll remove it as I can't be bothered to find somewhere else to put it. The car will have no airbags, no roll hoops and a solid wooden steering wheel. If it has a serious accident we are going to be maimed or dead anyway so I don't think seatbelt pre-tensioners are worth bothering with....do you? ;)
 

Jezza

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I am just thinking of space, as the module looks like it could be in the way of the new tunnel parts. I don't know as yet, but would like the vertical piece (where the heater controls and radio were) as tight to the heater matrix/ ac evaporator box as possible. If it's in the way I'll remove it as I can't be bothered to find somewhere else to put it. The car will have no airbags, no roll hoops and a solid wooden steering wheel. If it has a serious accident we are going to be maimed or dead anyway so I don't think seatbelt pre-tensioners are worth bothering with....do you? ;)
No, I don't think it's worth bothering about. Funny, but I was playing with my seat frames today and thinking ' should I remove the tensioners' as they're redundant anyway.
 
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