So this past week I took my mini in for a recall on the passenger airbag light. After the work was all set and done, I ended up with one less light to worry about. Yet I still have the air bag light on. I was told I need to replace the B+ cable. Total cost 1,209.20. So my question is does anyone know anything about this cable ? I'm considering on doing this on my own. If I have to return to the dealership in order for them to reprogram or reset something that's fine,but I don't think it will cost as much. But the bulk of the work has been done. If anyone has suggestions feel free to comment. Oh does anyone know of the part number. It's the rear right.
Apparently they said it was a separate incident that didn't have to do with the recall. That was a bit weird. When I read the letter it outline eliminating those lights. So I thought crap that's why I was there for. but it turned out some other issue ?. A piece of black electrical tape over the light and problem solved. But it's gonna bother me, it's like have a dead bug on your windshield,or a piece of popcorn stuck in your teeth. Until it's gone I won't rest.
That price seems ridiculously high... Ask them what's all entailed with that repair. And yeah, get the part numbers... On the surface it seems like it would be an easy DIY job for you to handle... Oh.... And what bothers me worse is bird carp on my paint... That get my immediate attention... Nature's most powerful paint remover right there...
Yeah, you need to confirm what wire they're talking about. Real OEM Battery cables I suspect what they're talking about is the firing cable for the battery disconnect. If the original cable has gotten cut or broken somewhere in the car, there's a replacement cable available, #8 in the diagram at the link above. Though it's different than the picture, the firing cable is part of the body harness and plugs in inside the battery box, it's not part of the main battery cable as shown. Or they may be talking about the actual main battery cable, #1 in the diagram. If it's the #8 cable, this is routed internally from the battery box, around the interior of the car with the body harness, and eventually back to the airbag module near the hand brake (I think). The bulk of the labor is removing and refitting almost all of the interior of the car. Not technically hard work, but it's work. I've never actually replaced one, so I don't know what work is required at the ABG computer end, whether it's pulling and pushing pins from the connector, or what. If it's the #1 cable, that routes under the car. The work is in dropping the exhaust and heat shields, and re-installing. I doubt that's the one, because it should be a lot less labor than the price they quoted. In either case, once the fault is corrected, the airbag light will need to be reset using either the factory scan tool, or another tool with BMW/MINI extensions. Lots of folks have that.
B+ goes from the alternator to the starter. its included in a full engine harness and its likely 400 in parts and 600 in labor at dealer rates sounds about correct.
Figures bmw would call it something else. Any other car its the alternator back to the battery cable.