1999 323 i - driver side airbags deployed!!!

[Fuzzy323i]

Need some advice...recently put 18x8 wheels and tires on a 323i E46. Was driving and driver side airbags deployed...scared the heck out of me! Brought it to the dealership and they said it was going to cost me $4,500+!!!! Long story short...there was a recall on my car for the driver side airbags but the dealership is saying that they deployed due to the fact the tires were not supposed to be on there b/c I did not have the "sport package". I didn't have BMW put them on so they are using that against me too. But...if 18" rims aren't supposed to be on there b/c I don't have a "sport suspension"...shouldn't they have told me that before putting the wheels on?

I really don't think that is a reason for the airbags to deploy. I mean...there was no accident...no impact on car...I was just driving and BOOM! Anyway...after the airbag deploys all kinds of things happened with the battery terminal. The estimate is crazy and they want me to pay for it.

I don't think the 18" wheels should make the airbags deploy...no matter what type of suspension. I am still under warranty. How do I find out if the recall was fixed? What does everyone think?

Fuzz

[ironman502]

Well, just to be safe, I think I would go through BMW for custom wheel installation. I am sure your new wheels and suspension combination had very, very little (probably nothing) to do with the airbags deploying. I heard of a Ford Focus that did the same thing as your car a while back, but it did not have custom rims. The airbag just went off spontaneously without an impact. I bet that's exactly what happened in your case, and, hey, what do you know? It's a common problem, and there's a recall for it! BMW knew it could happen without any modifications, and I'm sure they have research/documentation saying so. But, since you eluded the holy dealership for rim installation, they will try to weasel out of paying to fix your car. I would go after them- there is no reason why you should have to pay for something covered in a recall, no matter what else you modified.

[malcolm brumley]

The wheel size has nothing to do with air bag deployment. I would find another dealer or threaten with a law suit. I replace airbags all the time on wrecked cars. There is an accelerometer in the controler that measures the deceleration and decides if it should deploy.

[Fuzzy323i]

@Ironman - That was my impression...b/c I didn't install with them they are giving me a a hard time. That on top of the fact they aren't even BMW wheels...they are Motegi. They are looking into the history to see if the airbags were fixed when the recall came out.

@Brumley - Unfortunately...the car is stuck at this dealer...once the airbag deploys...the battery terminal burns out etc. The other BMW dealer is a nice distance away.

The tech actually called back last night...he sounded kind of nervous on the phone...the night before he was all gung ho about how WE screwed it up. Then I mentioned "airbag recall" and his tone was very different today. He also said he was going to look into it and help me make this right. The place I had the wheels and tires installed is a well respected BMW/Benz shop...I know they would have said something to me if my suspension was the case.

Thanks for the replies...I feel a little better knowing what I was thinking is similar to others.

Fuzz