Restraint System - Fault in airbag , belt tensioner or belt-force limiter . Continue wearing safety belt .

[abhaynilakhe]

2016 BMW i3 REX

Restraint System - Fault in airbag , belt tensioner or belt-force limiter . Continue wearing safety belt . Consult nearest service center .

Getting this alert right at start-up . Anybody know the issue and potential DIY fix?

 

[frictioncircle]

There have been a few BMW i3 recalls for the SRS system:
https://www.cars.com/research/bmw-i3/recalls/

If you're in the US, visit this link and enter your VIN to see which recalls apply to your vehicle:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

 

[3pete]

Anybody know the issue and potential DIY fix?

Do you know if your 12v battery has been replaced in the past 3-5 years? Some people report weird errors when the 12v dies, and that seems to be the lifespan of these so that might be a first place to check if yours might be original to the car.

 

[pj3i3forme]

Do you know if your 12v battery has been replaced in the past 3-5 years? Some people report weird errors when the 12v dies, and that seems to be the lifespan of these so that might be a first place to check if yours might be original to the car.

Just got this after replacing the 12v in a 2014 i3. What could I do- some kind of cord clear with a bimner thing? Curious, I'm looking to trade it in too bad I absolutely love this car.

 

[alohart]

Just got this after replacing the 12v in a 2014 i3. What could I do- some kind of cord clear with a bimner thing? Curious, I'm looking to trade it in too bad I absolutely love this car.

If the former 12V battery's voltage decreased too low or if your new 12V battery wasn't fully-charged before it was installed, spurious diagnostic trouble codes (DTC's) could have been stored which prevent an i3 from functioning correctly. These DTC's could be deleted with an OBD scanner (e.g., the BimmerLink app) or when the high-voltage (HV) system restarts after it has shut down. Many i3 owners have reported their i3's returning to normal after sleeping overnight when the HV system shuts down automatically.

I have replaced failing 12V batteries in our i3's twice before their voltage decreased too low. I also fully charged the replacement batteries before installing them. I have also disconnected the negative cable of the 12V battery 8 times for periods of 3 to 9 months each time when I stored our i3's while we traveled. To our i3's, this wasn't any different from replacing their batteries. However, I've never had any problems after replacing the batteries or reconnecting them, undoubtedly because the 12V system voltage never decreased too low.