Airbag windscreen advice needed

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Hi guys I'd like to say thx for letting me join. I've been folowing forum for a while but never really joined properly until today,,,,
So im alredy going to ask for some advice,
2 days ago i bought what i thought it would be a good doonor car which is same as mine same year same 2,0 engine topaz blue with blue interior,
Mainly i wanted it for hood which looks like new and seats are imaculate,, also doors are in good nick and mirros base are imaculate,,
I bought it from a guy that took it to nc500 and went off road, so both airbags deployed
Windscreen cracked, wishbone bended and front bumper is broken,, but after driving it 200 milles to my home i thought to my self what if i try and save it,, engine was serviced just before he left to do nc 500 and it had new throtle cable and it wasnt reported to insurance company, i bought it wery next day,, engine on this doonor car sounds so nice and it actualy runs better then mine,,
Basicaly i was wondering if i should try and save it so my main question is regarding airbags are they as simple as just replacing them and plug them in, there is no lights on dash and car drives nice except it pulls to right becouse of lower controll arm,, if anybody knows more about airbags i would love some advice,,, thx in advance

 

[Jack Ratt]

The air bag in the steering wheel is just plug in so will be easy to replace. I would think that the passenger air bag is the same although I haven't had any experience of this. One of the forum breakers will be able to answer your question, @Synclare @mrscalex @spurs fan in a coupe

 

[Delk]

Airbags should just plug in but I am not sure why you don't have a light. I would expect the system would have a light and needs to be reset after everything is replaced. If so its easy to do but makes me concerned someone has disconnected something else.

 

[t-tony]

The system must have been in working order or the airbags would not have deployed? Perhaps the fact they have both deployed is the reason there are no "lights" on?

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

The airbag light should be on and codes should be thrown. I can’t think of any legitimate reason they wouldn’t be present. You will find one or more sensors that will need replacing as they are one time once the detection is made. That alone should be throwing an error. Never mind the resistance being detected from an open circuit on the airbags.

It’s technically possible to code the airbags out but I’m not sure that would have happened. Or maybe dash/dash lights are broken/removed.

I suggest you get a code reader on to get the real picture.

Airbags are a simple enough swap. I have various but I wouldn’t want to post just in case they go off.

 

[t-tony]

Will be interesting to find out what codes are stored when it comes to resetting the system.

Tony.

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Just went to car and took photos of dash
No lights at all i wish my e46 convertible was as rigid as z3 that car had llnew light on dash every other week

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Thats with a key in,, is airbag light not meant to come on inicialy

 

[mrscalex]

If it stays on (may come on and go out - can't remember) then that is the error light. It seems to be staying on?

Anyway. You will 100% have errors stored. And modules that need to be replaced.

The main crash detection module (under the console by the gear lever on facelift cars at least) will have self-destructed. As will 1 or more of the sensors under the carpet. I forget what sensors are on which versions of Z3. And which self-destruct after a crash. But I'm talking about lateral acceleration sensors and Yaw sensors. You may also find the battery blow-off detonator has been launched - that also will give the airbag error.

To be honest you have quite a lot of work there. Including have the crash detection module coded to the car.

I would think carefully about repairing this car. It needs to be worth it - not Cat recorded, mileage under 100k, nice condition etc.

 

[Delk]

Am I missing something? the airbag light is the one on the bottom right that is lit.

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Cheers mate i apriciate that
So carpets out for sure,,, ive just done that on my car as it was really wet so rear part i know you've got to take seats out and center console but i didnt take front ones out as i couldnt be asked with taking whole dash out,,,, i know there is loeads of work wishbone needs replaced, windscreen airbags sensors and module as you said,,, its just that engine revs so nice and ticks over lovely better then mine,
To be honest i only paid 150 quid as i wanted seats and roof but it just done 200 milles back effortless,,, i know it was worth alredy, seats are in great condition roof looks like imaculate and fter last nights rain here in scotland irs bone dry while my roof is not great and lets some water in,,,, just not sure what to do,,,, winter is coming so ill have pleanty of time to thik about it,, now i need to get good and cheap code reader

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Am I missing something? the airbag light is the one on the bottom right that is lit.

I thought thats seat belt,, confused now im away to switch it on again and put seat belt on

 

[mrscalex]

Whereabouts are you? I may be able to deliver the airbags at least - although I'd need the last 7 digits of your VIN to check as there are different versions (I do have several). May have the crash detection module, possibly sensors, possibly pre-tensioners too. If you are interested - just make the right decision on whether it's worth doing first.

Some idea of typical costs per ebay for parts I think you may need:

• Driver airbag - £25
• Passenger airbag - £40
• Crash detection module - £20
• Battery blow-off (awkward item to find strangely) - £30-£80
• Sensors - £20-£100 depends what is fitted/self-destructed
• Seat-belt pre-tensioners x2 - £20 ea

Plus module coding - £50-£100

If you PM me I'll sort out a better price than above on the airbags at least. Less certain I'll have the other parts.

As I say. Take your time to decide. And make sure the chassis hasn't been bent.

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Am I missing something? the airbag light is the one on the bottom right that is lit.

Yes you are right mate thats airbag light on

 

[mrscalex]

If you paid £150 (cheap money) I would seriously think about cashing in and breaking it. And putting the funds and maybe some of the parts to a better start point. That said if you like a project, you've paid so little money spending up to c £500 on fixing everything would still leave you with a cheap car. Though you still have the bodywork to consider.

 

[Delk]

Thats with a key in,, is airbag light not meant to come on inicialy

Seat belt light is the one in the middle that looks like a person sitting with a stripe. The pregnant woman on the right is the air bag light.

 

[mrscalex]

Yes you are right mate thats airbag light on

Well that's the mystery solved! Next you need to read the codes off to know exactly what is self-destructed/detonated and needs replacing.

 

[ktnez99]

I’m all for saving these cars. There were only 300,000 made in total over the eight years in manufacture so becoming rarer by the day. It’s your call so perhaps a good way to help you decide is to rally up the costs in repair work and then you’ll be in a better position to decide.

 

[Zeljko Mihajlovic]

Whereabouts are you? I may be able to deliver the airbags at least - although I'd need the last 7 digits of your VIN to check as there are different versions (I do have several). May have the crash detection module, possibly sensors, possibly pre-tensioners too. If you are interested - just make the right decision on whether it's worth doing first.

Some idea of typical costs per ebay for parts I think you may need:

• Driver airbag - £25
• Passenger airbag - £40
• Crash detection module - £20
• Battery blow-off (awkward item to find strangely) - £30-£80
• Sensors - £20-£100 depends what is fitted/self-destructed
• Seat-belt pre-tensioners x2 - £20 ea

Plus module coding - £50-£100

If you PM me I'll sort out a better price than above on the airbags at least. Less certain I'll have the other parts.

As I say. Take your time to decide. And make sure the chassis hasn't been bent.

Cheers for that mate good to know im gona take time and think about it my car needs couple of thing to pass mot but doonor has mot until june,,,im pretty confident that chasis is not bend it only went of road never really hit anything,, ill post photo now
Reason for it being so cheep was that he needed back to England and car wouldnt have made it 500 milles with broken windscreen and bumper hanging of and bended control arm,,, he left it and hoped that somebody local would be inetersted,,, i took a 200 milles trip thinking im going to take roof off and seats and then scrap it but changed my mind and drove it home seeing that interior is cleaner then mine,,