2012-2015 BMW 6 Series Airbag Impact Sensor

Also known as

Side Crash Sensor

SRS Impact Sensor

Airbag Acceleration Sensor

Side Impact Sensor

Crash Zone Sensor

Lateral Acceleration Sensor

What this part does

The Airbag Impact Sensor detects rapid deceleration and lateral forces during a collision. Positioned securely against the vehicle's structural framework, such as the B-pillar or lower door sills, it continuously relays high-speed digital acceleration data to the main Crash Safety Module (ACSM). The control module uses this precise telemetry to determine if the impact severity meets the threshold to deploy the side curtain airbags, thorax airbags, and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

Modern BMW safety systems rely on multiple peripheral sensors to map the exact location of a collision. If this sensor suffers from water ingress, wiring corrosion, or internal electronic failure, it stops sending the expected standby signal. The vehicle will immediately log a diagnostic trouble code (DTC), illuminate the airbag warning light on the instrument cluster, and may disable the associated supplemental restraints for that specific zone until the component is replaced.

Fits these vehicles

Before you order

Airbag sensors are highly sensitive to their exact physical orientation. When installing the replacement impact sensor, ensure that the directional arrows molded into the plastic housing or printed on the label point in the exact same direction as the original unit. Incorrect orientation will cause the system to miscalculate crash forces. After installation, the vehicle's SRS module will usually require a system reset using a diagnostic scanner capable of communicating with BMW factory protocols to clear the stored hard codes and turn off the dashboard warning light.

Always disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least fifteen minutes before disconnecting or plugging in any supplemental restraint system components to prevent accidental deployment or electrical surges.