Dashboard lights

[Nodzed]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[bertiejaffa]

Does your mechanic know it is due to water or is he guessing? The airbag light is a common thing on the Z3 and happens a lot when you move the seat becuse the seat traps the wires and cuts them. Very easy fix. Where are you based?

 

[Rha]

Hi and welcome, sorry to hear of your MOT failure but after reading this thread it sounds like someone will soon be able to point you and your mechanic in the right direction, if they haven't already.You've come to the right place for advice. Don't break the Z. Great advice from @FRANKIE worth following up.

Rha, Roy.

 

[mwpe]

Hi and welcome, as others have said, this doesn't sound serious. We need a bit more detail but if you tell us your location I am sure someone nearby can help.

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

breaking the car for parts is a bit drastic @Prinses Nikkie , sounds to me like your airbag light has come on, its not the first time water in the foot wells has caused this, the light will stay on even if the repair is done (thats if it needs a repair in the first place, i have seen these lights come on just by moving the wires under the seat, then when reset the light has stayed off) they need to be reset, this is easly done with either a code reader (cheap on ebay) or if you have another member close by who can use there inpa software to check it out. where abouts in the uk are you?

I'm in Kent my car is in Swanscombe by Bluewater.

 

[littlefeller]

Anyone down this way?
have a look under the seats, quite often the back and forth motion runners under the seat run over the cables (this is what had happened to mine when i brought it, got a lower price because the airbag light was on and the mot had changed to include a failure if the airbag light is on, but i think now this has been extended to any warning light including engine management lights too)
mine had run over the cable, so the owner tried unplugging both seats - light still on, so then he removed the airbag bulb in the dash - light still on as there is also a small led just in case the bulb blows, so he then stuffed the hole where the bulb goes with paper. i simply plugged the seats back in and reset the light, what he had failed to realise is no matter what he did if you dont rest the light it wont go out even if the problem is fixed. if you cant see any reason its on by looking under the seat, it may just stay off if they are reset, a tool can be purchased from ebay for around £20 to read and erase errors. hopefully someone local will see this and get in touch. any questions please post them on here, there is always someone who can help.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Prinses Nikkie, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire. @Mrs Mint 's other half. As others have said not a big problem to solve.

 

[oldcarman]

Hi from Canada!! Do not scrap the car until someone else has had a chance to clear the codes!! Someone close by will be there to assist you I'm sure! JIM

 

[BMBabe]

@GazHyde who is over Kent way to help any idea?

@Prinses Nikkie have you resolved your Zed issues yet?

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

Thank you all for your advise and support. I've instructed my mechanic to Clear these drain holes and see if we can get an MOT on it. Still will have to sell as I'm not able to maintain it, with regret.I'll keep you posted about the progress!
Dear all, unfortunately my mechanic hasn't been able to fix the problem ( I think he was insulted when I forwarded him Frankies pics and other advice) as I have no MOT and it ran out of tax I had to sworn it and it's sitting at the front of my flag. My landlady isn't happy nie ( even though I have a double parking spot). Is there anyone near me that can help me out? ME10 4DE

 

[Bazza]

From me, lights staying on is not drastic enough to to break a car

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

Dear all, unfortunately my mechanic hasn't been able to fix the problem ( I think he was insulted when I forwarded him Frankies pics and other advice) as I have no MOT and it ran out of tax I had to SORN it and it's sitting at the front of my flat. My landlady isn't happy ( even though I have a double parking spot). Is there anyone near me that can help me out? I'm in Kent ME10 4DE

 

[DavidM]

You can always ask another mechanic to have a look, or maybe someone on this forum close by may be able to provide advice and guidance. Why is your landlady not happy, given the car is parked in a designated place?

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

You can always ask another mechanic to have a look, or maybe someone on this forum close by may be able to provide advice and guidance. Why is your landlady not happy, given the car is parked in a designated place?

She reckons I'm only allowed 1 car on the premises even though there is space for 2 she need to put her wood there....

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

No unfortunately my mechanic hasn't been able to fix the problem ( I think he was insulted when I forwarded him Frankies pics and other advice) as I have no MOT and it ran out of tax I had to sworn it and it's sitting at the front of my flag. My landlady isn't happy nie ( even though I have a double parking spot). Is there anyone near me that can help me out? ME10 4DE

 

[oldcarman]

So where does this stand @ Prinses Nikkie and is anyone close able to help her out with a code reset?? I don't think you are going to the right mechanic PN! JMO, JIM

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

Does your mechanic know it is due to water or is he guessing? The airbag light is a common thing on the Z3 and happens a lot when you move the seat becuse the seat traps the wires and cuts them. Very easy fix. Where are you based?

There was damp ness in the car this is now drying out there is still a faint light behind the seat belt sign I couldn't see a wire trapped under the seat. Do you mean under the carpet?

 

[oldcarman]

Yes. There is a layer of insulation than sucks up more moisture than you'd believe so even if your carpet seems dry there could be a lot of water under it. Perhaps @GazHyde can find the pics of the amount of water sucked out of, I believe, @BMBabe Panther! JIM

 

[GazHyde]

Don't have the pics to hand but we've baled several litres of water out of different z3's recently. The soundproofing under foam is about 2-3 inches thick in places so it can't hold a lot of water just where the cables are under the seat and between the seat and floor pan.

But as said, just one of the causes and damage to the cabling is probably a little more common from my experience.

 

[Prinses Nikkie]

The carpet is almost dry so I guess I need to break my hairdryer out!