Man, talk about feeling like a chump. Got the car, color, options and price I wanted to on the thing last week. I'm in love, really. Unfortunately, a celebratory cigarette accidentally made a burn hole in the cloth housing of the driver's side airbag. It's not big and is only noticable to the driver, but it happened during the time I was supposed to have quit smoking with my girlfriend. Ruh roh.

Any idea how much I'd be looking at to replace the housing? Or am I looking at a whole new driver's side airbag? Any DIY tips that will save me hundreds of dollars?

Sigh.

Man, talk about feeling like a chump. Got the car, color, options and price I wanted to on the thing last week. I'm in love, really. Unfortunately, a celebratory cigarette accidentally made a burn hole in the cloth housing of the driver's side airbag. It's not big and is only noticable to the driver, but it happened during the time I was supposed to have quit smoking with my girlfriend. Ruh roh.

Any idea how much I'd be looking at to replace the housing? Or am I looking at a whole new driver's side airbag? Any DIY tips that will save me hundreds of dollars?

Sigh.

Hello "McDude":

Which driver's airbag? The one in the steering wheel or the side air bag or is there one in the driver's pillar?

Hello "McDude":

Which driver's airbag? The one in the steering wheel or the side air bag or is there one in the driver's pillar?

Driver's pillar. Thanks for giving me terminology that actually makes sense! I was trying to explain this to someone and they were like, what?!

Man, talk about feeling like a chump. Got the car, color, options and price I wanted to on the thing last week. I'm in love, really. Unfortunately, a celebratory cigarette accidentally made a burn hole in the cloth housing of the driver's side airbag. It's not big and is only noticable to the driver, but it happened during the time I was supposed to have quit smoking with my girlfriend. Ruh roh.

Any idea how much I'd be looking at to replace the housing? Or am I looking at a whole new driver's side airbag? Any DIY tips that will save me hundreds of dollars?

Sigh.

Dude, that's a real bummer...I hate to tell you though that your gf probably doesn't need visual evidence to see you're sneaking a cig...she'll smell it in the car, your cloths or taste when she kisses you.

Dude, that's a real bummer...I hate to tell you though that your gf probably doesn't need visual evidence to see you're sneaking a cig...she'll smell it in the car, your cloths or taste when she kisses you.

Car still has the 'new car smell' to mask it, I change clothes when I go out to see her and ... uh ... breath mints. Also, no cigs within an hour or two of seeing her.

It was a damn stupid move. I haven't touched a pack since the 'burn', but I am f'n kicking myself over it. Sigh.

Just dip. Seemed to be a good alternative for my smoker friends. Or just quit. Good job so far staying away.

It's just my .02 but, if you're the only one that sees the burn, just leave it there as a permanent reminder of your goal to quit the habit.

Quitting's the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you.
Stay with it and good luck!

Isn't the side airbag housed in the seats? :confused

Isn't the side airbag housed in the seats?

Hmm. The driver's side pillar had an AIRBAG stamp on it, so I just assumed...

It's just my .02 but, if you're the only one that sees the burn, just leave it there as a permanent reminder of your goal to quit the habit.

You're right. It just kills me that this beautiful interior has such a stupid blemish. Just the fear of ever sullying the car again has pretty much scared me off the habit.

I think if I can get them to fix the upholstery or replace the housing for under $500, I'll go for it. I want to enjoy a 'perfect' car for a little while longer before living with dings, dents, burn and rips.

Quitting's the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you.
Stay with it and good luck!

Thanks. I have been feeling much better, since I more or less quit despite one or two indiscretions. But, I guess it only takes one to get right back on it.

If you mean the facric-covered plastic airbag cover for either the "A" or "B" pillar -- the parts list at about $23.

(I checked this because I hard-wired my radar detector and wanted to know how much in case I broke the cover taking it off.)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WB33&mospid=49513&btnr=51_6254&hg=51&fg=45

Order a new cover to match your interior color options, removal and installation will be self evident once you receive the cover.

Hmm. The driver's side pillar had an AIRBAG stamp on it, so I just assumed...

Are we talking A pillar or B pillar?

Car still has the 'new car smell' to mask it, I change clothes when I go out to see her and ... uh ... breath mints. Also, no cigs within an hour or two of seeing her.

It was a damn stupid move. I haven't touched a pack since the 'burn', but I am f'n kicking myself over it. Sigh.

No it doesn't trust me. I'm a former smoker (thankfully I finally understood it was killing me so I quit) and you cannot mask the smell, especially from someone who does not smoke. I have people at work who don't want others to know they smoke, they go out for lunch, stand outside somewhere and smoke, come back to the office chewing gum and heading to the wash room to wash their face etc - thruth of the matter is that they still reak of smoke. Everyone once in a while I'll have a cig when I'm drinking and even after a shower or two the next day I can still smell it on my hands and such, totally nasty.

With my windows up, I can usually smell the smoke from a guy smoking in a car in front of me at a stop light - it's that bad. You're not hiding it, she just isn't saying anything.

Oh yeah, and sorry about the car, maybe it was a sign that you should quit?

Yeah its not hard to smell cigs on someone even if you havent smoked in 1-2 hrs. Its stuck to your clothes, skin, breath, hair, etc.