The warning light popped out, computer diagnostics showed faulty seat occupancy sensor. A decision was made to buy the emulator.
But… which one to choose as there are several versions?
In BMW 5 Series E60 E61 and BMW 6 Series E63 E64, the seat mat types are the same and the choice of the emulator looks the same, which is why both models will be described in one article. At the same time, we note that the article below applies to these models only.
Emulator for the driver's or passenger's seat?
At the beginning it is worth realizing one thing.
In most BMW 5 Series E60 and 6 Series E63, the seat mat is placed on the passenger side seat only. The seat occupancy sensor in driver seat is very rare. The following information applies to the passenger seat.
EU / US
It should be determined whether the car was manufactured for the European market or for the American market. This is important information because such cars differ in equipment and have different seat mats.
2-wired seat occupancy sensor
2-wired mat (2 pin mat connector) was usually placed in models manufactured before 2005 (European versions) and before 2003 (US versions).
European cars equipped with a two-wired mat usually have a metal key (not electronic). Thanks to this, we do not have to check if the mat has 2 wires. Let’s just remember that this simplification works if no changes have been made to the car’s installation, no seats have been changed. To be 100% sure, that would be best if you could check under the passenger seat if the seat mat has 2 wires.
In American cars, it is not possible to recognize the type of mat basing on the type of the key – here you always should check the seat mat type by looking under the passenger seat.
The 2 pin mat connector is located on the back of the seat. It is most convenient to move the seat forward and lift the back of the seat as much as possible. You have to enter the car through the back door. Under the seat there is a black can. On one side, a blue plug with 3 wires is connected. On the other, there are 2 wires (blue, white) leading to the mat plug.
3-wired seat occupancy sensor
3-wired mat (4-pin mat connector – one hole in the plug is empty) was usually placed in models manufactured after 2005 (EU versions) and after 2003 (US versions).
European cars equipped with a three-wired mat usually have an electronic car key (engine started with a button). The same as in the previous case, if we have an electronic key, it can be assumed that the mat has 3 wires provided that no changes were made to the car’s installation, the seats were not replaced. To be 100% sure, that would be best if you could check under the passenger seat if the seat mat has 3 wires.
In American cars, check under the seat if the mat has 2 or 3 wires. As mentioned earlier, it is not possible to recognize the type of mat by the type of the key.
To sum up: in order to buy the correct emulator that fits your car, you need to know two things:
1. whether the car has been manufactured for the European or American market
2. whether the seat occupancy sensor has 2 or 3 wires.
All versions can be purchased in our online store or, if you’re still not sure about the correct version, you can contact us.
Why is there the seat belt buckle emulator?
Is it needed or is the seat mat emulator enough?
As a result of installing the seat occupancy sensor emulator, the car computer “sees” the passenger seat as always occupied (even if there’s no-one sitting in the seat). Therefore, in car models equipped with the unfastened seat belt warning system, the unfastened seat belt warning light or/and sound will appear – the seat belt emulator sends to a car computer information that the seat belt is fastened and switches off the unfastened seat belt warning.
All E60/E61 and E63/E64 are equipped with such system, that’s why the seat belt emulator is needed.