Restraint system fault
QI’ve swapped my Audi TT for a 2005 BMW 535d (E60) which has turned out to be a right royal pain in the backside. The radio keeps dropping out and I think I know the cause but not the fix. None of the fans are running on the modules in the boot so need to figure that out. It’s in a loop I think of overheating, shutting down, thus cooling down and repeating the process. The radio plays up more on hot afternoons than say in a cool morning.
I now have a ‘restraint system fault’. It looks like someone has been playing with it in the past as the passenger mat sensor looks to have been looped out with a resistor and some wires have been played with in the boot at the side where the fuses are.
I wondered is there any common problems with the E60 in relation to the restraint systems? The fault appeared after removing the cover in the boot to check fuses in relation to the fans not running on the logic 7-amp and Bluetooth module.
There is a unit in there that has a red wire that isn’t connected to anything and looks like someone has deliberately removed it. Do you have any idea what it’s for? I can’t find the other end of where the red wire would have connected to.
Is there a code reader that isn’t really expensive that would clear fault codes including restraint ones on the 5-Series?
Ian Turner
A
The picture you have attached is a Motorola phone module and so whilst this may have an effect on the radio reception, it would not be related to the restraint system problems.
The best option would be, as you have suggested, to get a suitable scanner to enable the codes to be read off, hopefully identifying the source of the problem.
There are a couple of options and it will depend on your budget and operating preferences. The most comprehensive scanner would be the BIMCOM Advanced BMW & MINI Diagnostics Package which is £330 but this would also need a suitable lapyop computer running Windows software to operate.
As a standalone unit the Foxwell NT680 ALL Systems Scan Tool at £299 would be a good option or at a slightly lower cost of £199 the Foxwell NT680 Lite Enthusiast Level Diagnostic System should also read the codes from the system.
Gendan.co.uk will be able to talk you through the options on 01792 588002.