The most common causes are:
1) Something bouncing around on the passenger seat confusing the occupancy sensor.
2) Someone jambing the seat belt buckle together at an odd angle. The older e36s were notoriously sensitive to that.
3) Someone has been working on the seats or the doors and turned the key on while something was unplugged.
4) Something is actually wrong in the system (rare).
The normal response is to read the code, reset the SRS system, and see if the light returns. Usually, it won't.
The bad news is that BMW changed their SRS system in the 2004 model year, and the aftermarket scanners won't reset a 2005. The dealer may gouge you to reset the light. A well-equipped independent shop can do it.
When I foolishly turned on the key to test my work on a window regulator on the wife's 2004 330, the BMW dealer wanted $180 to reset the SRS light. My favorite independent mechanic reset it for free. I took him a box of pastries from my favorite bakery.
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