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BMW Positive Battery Cable Replacement

  • 06-09-2011 7:08pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭


    Hey all,

    Just got an email from my sister re her friends 02 E46 316ti. She brought her car in to the NCT and it failed on an air bag light. Diagnostics say it's the 'positive battery cable' and this needs to be replaced. She got a quote of €695 for same from Chelmsford Motors in Ranelagh.

    Does this sound about right? Any other recommendations on where to go?

    Many thanks!


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,683 ✭✭✭✭Owen


    It's expensive enough from memory. Did one on a 2003 MINI under warranty way back when and had to sign off on the Invoice. Ended up being around 500. The cable was saucy enough, but the labour drove the invoice up. Most of the interior on one side had to be taken out to thread the very stiff cable through, a lot underneath the dash too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    Owen wrote: »
    It's expensive enough from memory. Did one on a 2003 MINI under warranty way back when and had to sign off on the Invoice. Ended up being around 500. The cable was saucy enough, but the labour drove the invoice up. Most of the interior on one side had to be taken out to thread the very stiff cable through, a lot underneath the dash too.

    Under warranty being with a main dealer.

    Sounds like a difficult enough job, or maybe just time consuming? A good indy should be able to do it a fair bit cheaper no?

    The woman concerned is in Dublin South - anyone recommend a good indy in the area that could handle it?

    Thanks!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 194 ✭✭C Eng


    Try 3 rock motors in Sandyford. Beemerchris is the name he goes under on BMW driver forum.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,683 ✭✭✭✭Owen


    Yeah, an Indy should be able to manage it alright.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    C Eng wrote: »
    Try 3 rock motors in Sandyford. Beemerchris is the name he goes under on BMW driver forum.

    Whereabouts in Sandyford is he?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,800 ✭✭✭voxpop


    Gary in Chelmsford is recommend as a bmw indy - worked in M&G as far as I know before going out on his own.

    bimmerchris is on heather rd (i think) - sandyford ind estate, down the very bottom beside network taxis


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    Many thanks for all your replies!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    Just for my education, how does a bad battery cable cause the air bag light to come on? Is it the main battery cable or the cable suppling the air bag ecu?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭BavarianCare


    Just for my education, how does a bad battery cable cause the air bag light to come on? Is it the main battery cable or the cable suppling the air bag ecu?

    Main battery positive cable contains a 'break point' which is split when the airbag ECU decides it's necessary to 'blow' it to avoid an electrical fire in event of accident.

    The airbag ECU has detected a problem with the resistance in that circuit

    Kind Regards,
    E.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 77 ✭✭muckeyw


    In fact there is a sensor on the batt terminal in the boot n it's a common enough problem have done them afew times in our place wouldn't be paying what's quoted tho


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭BavarianCare


    muckeyw wrote: »
    In fact there is a sensor on the batt terminal in the boot n it's a common enough problem have done them afew times in our place wouldn't be paying what's quoted tho
    That's the negative battery terminal I think you're on about. It's called an IBS but won't put on the SRS light.

    The resistance check is on the positive lead and it's similar in operation to a seatbelt pretensioner.

    Kind Regards,
    Eddie.
    www.bmwcare.com


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,401 ✭✭✭DublinDilbert


    Thanks guys, didn't actually know that. I'm guessing by the posts it's made onto the cable. Might of made more sense if it was made like a fuse bolted into the cable. Make replacement much easier....


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