GROUP 72

72 02 97

Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

June 1997

Safety Restraint Systems

Product Engineering

SUBJECT:

Safety Belt Tensioner Harness, Fault Code 5 or 6

MODEL:

7 Series (E38), 5 Series (E39) - produced before 2/97

Complaint:

Airbag warning lamp on with fault code 5 or 6 stored in the Airbag Control Module, "Firing circuit

for belt tensioner" on driver's side or passenger side, respectively.

Cause:

Interruption in the connection of the safety belt tensioner to the Airbag Control Unit.

Correction:

On a customer complaint basis only, replace both the driver and passenger safety belt tensioner

harnesses with an improved version.

Procedure:

Caution!: Comply with airbag safety precautions! Disconnect the vehicle's battery before

commencing repairs. Incorrect handling can activate airbag or safety belt tensioner and result

in injury.

In order to replace both safety belt tensioner harnesses the front seats must be removed from

the vehicle. Follow the corresponding repair instructions found in the Technical Information

System (TIS) to remove the seats.

5214000

E38/E39 Electric Seats

5213000

E38/E39 Manual Seats

With the seats removed, unplug the safety

belt tensioner harness from the safety belt

buckle assembly. If the harness is

secured to the firing tube, remove the wire

tie.

Route the new harness through the seat

frame, securing it to the existing safety

belt harness with wire ties. Follow the

harness to the front of the seat to the main

seat connector.

Wire tie the old harness connector (1)

back so it does not interfere with the new

harness or the movement of the seat.

On vehicles equipped with electric seats,

loop the old connector (1) through the

SI Safety Belt Tensioner Harness, Fault Code 5 or 6

BMW AG - TIS

03.12.2003 17:48

Issue status (10/2001) Valid only until next CD is issued

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rubber harness support (2).

Secure the new harness to the firing tube

of the safety belt tensioner with a wire tie,

making sure that there is sufficient slack

between the wire tie and the connector

(3).

Using a small screwdriver press and

release the locking tabs for the main seat

connector.

Slide the connector toward the rear of the

seat to remove it from its mounting point.

Disassemble the connector by removing

the blue locking tab (1)(on drivers side

only) with a small screwdriver. Then

remove the side tab (2) by sliding it

rearward.

Remove the old wiring harness connector

(2) by sliding it out the side of the main

seat connector (1).

SI Safety Belt Tensioner Harness, Fault Code 5 or 6

BMW AG - TIS

03.12.2003 17:48

Issue status (10/2001) Valid only until next CD is issued

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Page - 2 -

Carefully transfer the wires one by one for

the safety belt buckle switch and seat

occupancy recognition from the original

connector (1) to the new harness

connector (2).

Reassemble the main seat connector and

lock the connector back onto its mounting

point.

Repeat the repair procedure for the second seat, then reinstall the seats into the vehicle as per

the TIS repair instructions.

Important: Upon completion of the repair, the Airbag Control Module fault memory must be

cleared.

Parts Information:

Part Number

Description

Quantity

61 13 8 373 275

Repair harness manual seat R/F

1

61 13 8 373 277

Repair harness manual seat L/F

1

61 13 8 373 277

Repair harness electric seat (both)

2

Warranty

Information:

Parts and labor are reimbursable under the terms of the BMW New Car Limited Warranty of 4

years/50,000 miles.

Defect Code:

65 77 93 79 00

Labor Operation:

00 51 278

Labor Allowance:

14 FRU

SI Safety Belt Tensioner Harness, Fault Code 5 or 6

BMW AG - TIS

03.12.2003 17:48

Issue status (10/2001) Valid only until next CD is issued

Copyright

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