Minor malfunction - seatbelt chime on pass seat went off due to iphone weight

JoeFromPA · 05-26-2015, 10:33 AM

Just thought I'd share this: Yesterday after getting gas, I was driving for about 30 seconds when my seatbelt chime started going off.

I un-did and re-did my seatbelt a number of times and it was still going off. The only thing on my pass seat was my iphone, so I thought - might as well lift it.

Instantly went off

So apparently, for some reason on this trip, the weight of my iphone was enough to trigger the passenger sensor.

Stage1 · 05-26-2015, 03:20 PM

Had this happen to me once when my phone got wedged in the crack of the passenger seat

JNoSol · 05-26-2015, 10:08 PM

Code the alert off. Problem solved

Racer20 · 05-27-2015, 05:37 PM

Happened to me a couple times this winter in my 228i. I don't think I've seen the issue in my M3 yet.

fchris · 06-02-2015, 09:42 PM

Just reach up and turn the Passenger Air Bag off. Seat sensor will then be turned off.

Jaymax85 · 06-02-2015, 09:43 PM

Happens to me too

morgan302 · 06-03-2015, 07:49 AM

Get a lighter phone

rebirth24 · 06-04-2015, 12:04 PM

This doesn't happen with Android based phones...just saying...

DaBean · 06-08-2015, 02:37 PM

+1 on coding these off...

Jockey · 06-10-2015, 12:46 PM

Yep, it annoys me that a 6-pack of beer on the seat will cause the chime.

Ian1973 · 06-12-2015, 10:47 PM

That was a problem with the E9x. Mine would do it with nothing on the seat if the cabin was over like 75 deg F. It was so irritating. I had to run with the passenger seat belt clipped.

Racer20 · 07-23-2015, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian1973

That was a problem with the E9x. Mine would do it with nothing on the seat if the cabin was over like 75 deg F. It was so irritating. I had to run with the passenger seat belt clipped.

So apparently modern seat occupancy sensors use electric fields to determine the water content of the object in the seat rather than just using a weight sensor. This eliminates the issue of mistaking a heavy object for a person, but it makes the system susceptible to EMC interference from electronic devices.

This happens to me about once a month or so, now I know why. Don't bother going to the dealership, nothing they can do about it.

BuLoOoSki · 08-12-2015, 07:34 PM

I have a Nexus 6, which I believe is even heavier than an iPhone 6 Plus, but I've never encountered this issue.

Greeney · 08-31-2015, 10:32 AM

I had to code the seatbelt chime for the Pax seat to off because of this... Very annoying.

eduardko · 11-09-2015, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greeney

I had to code the seatbelt chime for the Pax seat to off because of this... Very annoying.

So how to you code this off? Is it a DYI, or needs to be done at a shop?

evanescent03 · 11-11-2015, 09:27 PM

I see you beat me to this thread. . I searched but couldn't find anything and started a very similar thread a while ago. my car had mysteriously stopped being so sensitive. I wonder if they updated something when the car was in for the 1200mi beak in service. .?

doug_999 · 08-02-2018, 10:44 PM

Wow, just had this twice in last two weeks. Only happens with phone charging. Dealer said they are seeing it a lot more these days.

natedawg469 · 06-19-2023, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebirth24

This doesn't happen with Android based phones...just saying...

It finally did in 2023 in my 2015 bmw m4, lol.

05-26-2015, 10:33 AM	#1
JoeFromPA Colonel 1791 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: '15 AW M3 6MT Stripper Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	Minor malfunction - seatbelt chime on pass seat went off due to iphone weight Just thought I'd share this: Yesterday after getting gas, I was driving for about 30 seconds when my seatbelt chime started going off. I un-did and re-did my seatbelt a number of times and it was still going off. The only thing on my pass seat was my iphone, so I thought - might as well lift it. Instantly went off So apparently, for some reason on this trip, the weight of my iphone was enough to trigger the passenger sensor. __________________ AW/Carbonstructure 6MT 2015 M3 picked up 8/22/2014. Stripper except for adaptive suspension. Weighed at 3,450 pounds with 1/4 fuel. 70,000 miles as of February 2020.
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05-26-2015, 03:20 PM	#2
Stage1 Curiosity Killed the Cat 241 Rep 822 Posts Drives: M4 GTS Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: PA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2021 BMW M4 [0.00] 2016 M4 GTS [8.00] 2016 Cayman GT4 [0.00] 2016 Wrangler [0.00]	Had this happen to me once when my phone got wedged in the crack of the passenger seat __________________ SOLD - 2015 /// F82 M4 / AY-SO "AY-BRAVE" I'M BACK - 2016 M4 GTS I'M BACK AGAIN - 2021 M4 COMP FPB
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05-26-2015, 10:08 PM	#3
JNoSol Brigadier General 1381 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: 750 MSPORT & E90M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0)	Code the alert off. Problem solved __________________ Daily: G12 750 MSPORT Weekend Car: E90 M3
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05-27-2015, 05:37 PM	#4
Racer20 Major 1030 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: F80 M3, 228i THP, E46 ZHP Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	Happened to me a couple times this winter in my 228i. I don't think I've seen the issue in my M3 yet. __________________ 2015 M3, 2005 330i ZHP, 2015 228i 6MT Track Handling Pack, 2007 M Coupe (Sold)
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06-02-2015, 09:42 PM	#5
fchris Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Nothern California iTrader: (0)	Just reach up and turn the Passenger Air Bag off. Seat sensor will then be turned off.
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06-02-2015, 09:43 PM	#6
Jaymax85 Addicted to Speed. 711 Rep 2,375 Posts Drives: m3 zcp, macan GTS, f15 x5 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: 'Murica iTrader: (5)	Happens to me too
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06-03-2015, 07:49 AM	#7
morgan302 Second Lieutenant 91 Rep 299 Posts Drives: m3 2015 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00]	Get a lighter phone
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06-04-2015, 12:04 PM	#8
rebirth24 Lieutenant 51 Rep 482 Posts Drives: 2015 F82 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M4 [0.00]	This doesn't happen with Android based phones...just saying...
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06-08-2015, 02:37 PM	#9
DaBean Sakhir Smurf 314 Rep 594 Posts Drives: Plaid, F82 M4, E46 M3, Sequoia Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 'Merica iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW X5 4.4i [0.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2004 BMW M3 [0.00]	+1 on coding these off... __________________ 2015 M4: Sakhir on Sakhir \| M-DCT \| Adaptive Suspension \| Lighting \| Executive \| Cameras \| HK Sound \| Full Leather 2004 M3: Laguna Seca Blue \| SMGII \| Basic track mods: 18" Square setup on R888s / Performance Friction rotors / SS Lines / Ground Control Street/Track Kit / DTC-60 Pads NASA NorCal Instructor
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06-10-2015, 12:46 PM	#10
Jockey Brigadier General 3445 Rep 4,981 Posts Drives: 992 C4S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Park City, UT iTrader: (1)	Yep, it annoys me that a 6-pack of beer on the seat will cause the chime.
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06-12-2015, 10:47 PM	#11
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	That was a problem with the E9x. Mine would do it with nothing on the seat if the cabin was over like 75 deg F. It was so irritating. I had to run with the passenger seat belt clipped.
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08-12-2015, 07:34 PM	#13
BuLoOoSki Colonel 749 Rep 2,108 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (9)	I have a Nexus 6, which I believe is even heavier than an iPhone 6 Plus, but I've never encountered this issue. __________________ 2015 BMW F80 M3: Tractive EDC Suspension / Dinan Anti-Roll Bars / GC Camber Plates / KMP Dual Diff Mount / Girodisc Rotors / GT4 Brake Cooling Kit / PTF Flash Tune / Eisenmann Downpipes / CSF Heat Exchanger / BMS Charge Pipes 2007 BMW E92 335i (SOLD): BMS JB4 / Quaife LSD / Riss Racing DPs / Helix Intercooler / BMS Intake / STETT Charge Pipe / Forge DVs
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08-31-2015, 10:32 AM	#14
Greeney Brigadier General 213 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: Jerez E90 M3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Westchester, NY / Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (4)	I had to code the seatbelt chime for the Pax seat to off because of this... Very annoying.
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11-11-2015, 09:27 PM	#16
evanescent03 Lieutenant Colonel 1032 Rep 1,997 Posts Drives: '24 M3 CS; '22 GT4 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	I see you beat me to this thread. . I searched but couldn't find anything and started a very similar thread a while ago. my car had mysteriously stopped being so sensitive. I wonder if they updated something when the car was in for the 1200mi beak in service. .? __________________ Gone but not forgotten: '09 STi // '08 335i // '02 M3 // '11 335i // '15 M3 // '16 M3 // '16 Camaro SS // '16 Audi S3 // '18 Boxster 718S // '17 Camaro SS 1LE // '16 M6 GC CP
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08-02-2018, 10:44 PM	#17
doug_999 Brigadier General 2542 Rep 3,968 Posts Drives: 2011 1M/2021 992/2023 X3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Wow, just had this twice in last two weeks. Only happens with phone charging. Dealer said they are seeing it a lot more these days. __________________ 2011 1M, Black loaded sans sat radio 2021 911 C4S Gentian Blue, manual 2023 X3 M40i - loaded sans Park Assist
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