M Coupe Airbag Module: anyone know of a good place to find one?

[wallball]

Mine's bad so I'm looking for a replacement, either 65778386192, or 65776908896. I found and original one on eBay, bought it, but it's no good. You guys probably know the story on these: they go bad and that's it for the airbag system.

The best place to find one is one this forum, from someone parting out their car. I'm open to any ideas, thanks.

[19Spec3]

Put a WTB ad in the race cars and track parts classified section. I threw the airbag module in my E36 away and I think most people building racecars do the same.

[Randy Forbes]

There's someone that just posted they're parting out an M Coupe on the M Coupe Facebook page right now

[19Spec3]

Based on those part numbers, it looks like Z3 and E36 modules would also work -- and would be much easier to source. From Real OEM:

65776908896

RP control unit airbag, uncoded RP control unit airbag, uncoded

From:03/01/2000To:-Weight:0.249 kgPrice:$459.08

Superseded by:

65776910677(08/20/2001 — 08/13/2002), nonexchangeable retrospectively
65776922954(02/25/2002 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively

Supersedes:

65778386192(03/01/1999 — 07/14/2000), nonexchangeable retrospectively
65778386131(09/01/1998 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively
65774149976(03/01/1998 — 04/16/1999)

Part 65776908896 was found on the following vehicles:

• 3' E36   (06/1993 — 08/2000)
• Z3 E36   (12/1994 — 06/2002)

[rf900rkw]

Curious what is going bad?

[328 Power 04]

Based on those part numbers, it looks like Z3 and E36 modules would also work -- and would be much easier to source. From Real OEM:

65776908896

RP control unit airbag, uncoded RP control unit airbag, uncoded

From:03/01/2000To:-Weight:0.249 kgPrice:$459.08

Superseded by:

65776910677(08/20/2001 — 08/13/2002), nonexchangeable retrospectively
65776922954(02/25/2002 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively

Supersedes:

65778386192(03/01/1999 — 07/14/2000), nonexchangeable retrospectively
65778386131(09/01/1998 — ), Exchangeable retrospectively
65774149976(03/01/1998 — 04/16/1999)

Part 65776908896 was found on the following vehicles:

• 3' E36   (06/1993 — 08/2000)
• Z3 E36   (12/1994 — 06/2002)

Careful, this doesn't mean that the old E36 modules (plenty at the junk yards) will be compatible with Z3.
This just means that the new module version has compatibility to both.

MRSZ3 and ZAE modules (+ others) do not mix.

[fallguy]

Mine is toast as well, I was just going to search the part number on eBay.

I'm pretty sure you need to code it as well after install. I could be wrong.

[wallball]

Curious what is going bad?

I've had Error 240 ECU Fault forever. The replacement module, purchased used on eBay, has it also. The Seller says he can replace it, which is very accomodating since I bought it in March 2017 and just got around to installing it (which is a real PITA without removing the whole center console).

- - - Updated - - -

Mine is toast as well, I was just going to search the part number on eBay.

I'm pretty sure you need to code it as well after install. I could be wrong.

Yes, the Diagnostics thread originated by good ol' "328 Power 04" tells you how to code it. I did try it on the replacement module I got and got a bunch of warnings and exclamations in German, which I do not understand. I assumed that it was telling me that the module was not code-able because the module had the Error 240 fault.

It's the last of many vehicle functional repairs I've performed and I'm hoping to finally get that airbag light cleared on the dash...and have working airbags.

- - - Updated - - -

There's someone that just posted they're parting out an M Coupe on the M Coupe Facebook page right now

Thanks, that's great info.

[BimmerBreaker]

I thought we needed a brand new one. We just need a module from a z3 that didnt have an airbag light or deployed airbags?

[Z3speed4me]

Let me look through my pile of random parts from the last car I may have one sitting around.

Is it ok if I had a driver side bag deploy or does that make it bad??

[328 Power 04]

Let me look through my pile of random parts from the last car I may have one sitting around.

Is it ok if I had a driver side bag deploy or does that make it bad??

Usually 1 deployment should be OK.
If it's locked up due to a deployment (normally takes 3), I can easily clear out the data.
There are no wear parts inside the module.


(*I don't remember if I bought my used module from you, or someone else. I think mine was out of a 2000 Z3M.)

[LannVouivre]

Curious what is going bad?

Mine also has an internal fault DTC. I haven't replaced it yet because right now the new module is about $1k. I don't think it's repairable, so if you wanted to open mine up I could probably send it if I ever got a replacement.

[wallball]

Mine also has an internal fault DTC. I haven't replaced it yet because right now the new module is about $1k. I don't think it's repairable, so if you wanted to open mine up I could probably send it if I ever got a replacement.

Right, the price for a new module must be following Google stock price as it went from around $500 a few months ago up to over $1k. I suppose the market is not demanding so the value rises. I am curious about what the actual fault is. A good electronics guy with the schematic and a diagnostic tool could probably figure it out.

[BimmerBreaker]

I suppose the market is not demanding so the value rises.

I'll have to talk to my economics teacher about this "low demand, rise in value" theory of yours...

My S52 only had the driver's airbag deploy. Abel, want to help me with this coding stuff? I'll have the laptop tomorrow

[328 Power 04]

Yes sure thing, let me know a little ahead of time.

[wallball]

I'll have to talk to my economics teacher about this "low demand, rise in value" theory of yours...

It makes sense from a Production standpoint: only a few needed and made, means higher production cost, hence higher price. Otherwise it's just plain old greed!

[wallball]

I tried coding the module again and it gave me errors as shown below. Anyone know what they mean(regarding the airbag module). Screen Shot 2017-07-02 at 7.38.45 PM.png

[328 Power 04]

Is this the module with the internal error?
I don't believe module itself will let you code it.

[wallball]

Is this the module with the internal error?
I don't believe module itself will let you code it.

It's the replacement module that I recently installed. I coded it using NCSExpert and followed your instructions. After pressing "Execute Job," I got some warning window that told me to look in the ERROR.x file or one other one. The page I printed above is what was in the ERROR.x file, dated today when I was trying it out. Did I do something wrong (I hope)? I don't understand your second sentence.

[328 Power 04]

I was intending to say that a module with an internal error fault will not allow coding. So you do not need to think it's a connection problem.


I wonder if there is a short in the car that killed the 2nd module?
On my 2000 roadster, the error appeared right after plugging in a driver's seat belt tensioner thar I was given from another Z3. Turns out that Z3 was a 2001 falling under the newer part revision. Learned my lesson on that one. Wires were different.

[jclausen]

The dealer and let a shop code it

[wallball]

I was intending to say that a module with an internal error fault will not allow coding. So you do not need to think it's a connection problem.

I wonder if there is a short in the car that killed the 2nd module?
On my 2000 roadster, the error appeared right after plugging in a driver's seat belt tensioner thar I was given from another Z3. Turns out that Z3 was a 2001 falling under the newer part revision. Learned my lesson on that one. Wires were different.

A short is possible, of course, and shorts are not always easy to find; if the wiring is different, that's a killer. I'm not sure that the Seller was 100% certain that the 2nd module was good when I bought it. It came from a crashed roadster that was hit in the left rear quarter panel and the airbags had not deployed (I saw pics). So it could have been bad prior to the crash. The crash damage was not bad at all, so I was thinking that the bags did not deploy because of the limited acceleration. The Seller is sending me a replacement module that he will "test" somehow and make sure it's good.

Any idea what the ERROR.x errors mean?

[328 Power 04]

You have error 1006, and 1009. Which incidentally don't seem to be defined in the COAPIERR.txt file , but Errors 1000-1019 fall under "General Errors".
Those errors are likely because the module is rejecting coding, just like when it rejects clearing errors when "Internal Error" is present.

[LannVouivre]

1. I do realize that this should be pretty obvious, but I just want exchangeable vs. nonexchangeable retrospectively explained in a way that gives a reference point. When it gives a nonex or ex note, which unit is it referring to? Is it that the new part can be used to replace old parts (exchangeable) with no compatibility issues?

2. It seems to be p/n 65776908896 got superceded and discontinued recently or something, because I don't remember it having a "superceded by" list on realOEM. I think they have stopped production and that's what caused the (massive) price increase. It looks like originally there was 65778386192, which was superceded by 65776908896, which was superceded by 65776922954 in turn.

3. My current module is this one (via actually checking the one in the car now):
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=65778386192

I'm assuming that my only replacement options are another 65778386192 that may have the same problem and is also really rare, or the 65776922954 that HOPEFULLY has actually managed to resolve the problem.