2021-2025 BMW X5/X6/X7 Knee Airbag Warning SIB 65 27 24

Owners of 2021-2025 BMW X5, X6, and X7 vehicles may experience a persistent knee airbag warning light on their instrument cluster, accompanied by a "check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears." This issue, detailed in BMW Service Information Bulletin SIB 65 27 24, is typically triggered by damaged wiring harnesses.

Symptoms

If your BMW X5 knee airbag warning is active, you will typically observe the following:

• A "check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears" on the display.
• The "red air bag warning light lights up permanently" in the instrument cluster.

Fault Codes / DTCs

When diagnosing the issue, the Airbag Control Module (ACSM) may store one or more of these fault codes:

Code	Description
930949	Knee airbag, driver: Short circuit to negative terminal
93094F	Knee airbag, front passenger: Short circuit to negative terminal
93094C	Knee airbag driver's side: Resistance too great
930952	Knee airbag, front passenger: Resistance too great

Cause

The root cause of the BMW X5 knee airbag warning is the wiring harness for the knee airbags. Over time, these harnesses can rub against the metal support tubes within the instrument panel. This friction leads to chafing and damage to the wiring, resulting in the reported fault codes and warning lights.

Important Warnings

Owners and technicians should be aware of specific instructions related to this repair:

• The dashboard cover does not need to be removed during this repair procedure.
• The replacement harnesses do not need to follow the same exact routing path as the original ones.
• Both replacement harnesses are to be installed, even if only one side of the vehicle is showing a fault.
• It is important that felt tape is glued around the edge of the bracket to prevent future chafing.
• For models produced prior to the production dates specified, the knee air bag wire harness repair is covered under superseded bulletin SI B65 02 22.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair, as outlined in SIB 65 27 24, involves accessing and replacing the damaged knee airbag wiring harnesses. Technicians will perform the following general steps:

1. Conduct a vehicle test using ISTA diagnostic software.
2. Remove the center console to gain access to the Air Bag Control Module (ACSM) and its wiring connector (A11*2B), following Repair Instructions 51 16 165. The ACSM module and electrical connectors will be inspected for corrosion.
3. Remove the under-dash trim panels on both the driver's and passenger's sides, referencing Repair Instructions 51 45 184 and 51 45 195. The knee airbag connectors (B81B and B771B) will be unplugged, and the existing wiring harnesses will be cut near the connectors and tied back.
4. Unplug the wiring connector from the ACSM (A11*2B).
5. Apply felt tape (part number 54 34 7 248 700) to the edge of the center console support to protect the ACSM wiring.
6. Reference Wiring Diagram 'A11 Crash safety module SP0000064078' to confirm wire color and pin numbers before cutting the four wires for the knee air bag wiring harnesses near the ACSM connector. The cut wires are then tied back.
7. Pin two repair cables into the ACSM control unit connector (A112B) for both driver and passenger knee airbags, connecting to specific pins (ACSM Pin 25 to driver B81B Pin 1, ACSM Pin 20 to driver B81B Pin 2, ACSM Pin 5 to passenger B771B Pin 1, ACSM Pin 10 to passenger B77*1B Pin 2).
8. Wrap the new knee air bag harnesses with abrasion-resistant fabric tape (part number 61 13 6 925 452).
9. Route the new repair harnesses from the ACSM control module to both knee airbags. These new harnesses do not need to follow the exact original routing path.
10. Ensure the knee air bag wiring is protected from chafing on any support bracket with felt tape.

Required Tools or Parts

The following parts are required for this repair:

• 61 12 5 A56 386: Repair wiring for airbag system (Knee air bag) - Quantity 2
• 54 34 7 248 700: Felt strip, self-adhesive (130 x 40 x 3 mm) - Up to 4/cut to size
• 61 13 6 925 452: Fabric adhesive tape abrasion resistant (25 mm x 25 m) - Up to $5.00 (bulk supply)

Owner Action

If you are experiencing a BMW X5 knee airbag warning or any of the described symptoms, it is recommended to visit an authorized BMW service center. Provide them with the details of your vehicle's symptoms and mention Service Information Bulletin SIB 65 27 24. The repair involves specialized tools and knowledge, and should be performed by trained technicians.

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NHTSA ID: 11009002