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EnglishControls and features -> Airbags for your BMW 3 Series 1997-2006
Passenger safety systems
Airbags
57
The side airbags in the rear pas-
senger area* of your vehicle may
dismantle the steering wheel. Unpro-
fessional attempts to service the sys-
already have been deactivated either at tem could lead to failure in an emer-
the time of manufacture or by a BMW gency or undesired airbag activation,
center. You may have them activated if either of which could result in personal
you desire to do so. Please contact
your BMW center for additional infor-
mation.<
injury. Do not touch the individual com-
ponents directly after the system has
been triggered, as otherwise there is a
danger of burns.<
The airbags will not be triggered in
the event of a minor accident, cer-
tain vehicle rollover situations or colli-
sions from the rear.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
1 Front airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides
Do not apply adhesive materials to dren and adults using the safety belts.
the cover panels of the airbags, Never let an occupant's head rest near
cover them or modify them in any other or on a side airbag because the inflating
way. Do not attempt to remove the air- airbag could cause a serious or fatal
bag restraint system from the vehicle. In injury. Please note that the word Airbag
the event of a malfunction, deactivation imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
or triggered activation – as a response
to an accident – of the airbag restraint
system, consult your BMW center for
inspection, repair or disassembly. Mod- is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ifications may not be made on either ting in the rear seat and not properly
the wiring or the individual components restrained may place his or her head on
in the airbag system. This includes the
upholstered covers on the steering
wheel, the instrument panel, the side
trim panels of the doors and front roof
pillars and on the sides of the front
2 Side airbags on the driver and pas-
senger sides – front and rear*
Protective effect
The front airbags protect the driver and
passenger in the event of a head-on
collision where the protection provided
by the safety belt alone would not be
adequate. The side airbags help pro-
vide protection in the event of a colli-
sion from the side. Each of the side air-
bags is designed to help support the
seat occupant's upper body.
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile
or near the side airbag, if so equipped.
For example, a child – even though
belted – may fall asleep with his or her
head against the side airbag. It may be
difficult for a driver to ensure that chil-
For information on the correct sitting
position, refer to page 48.
headliner. Do not attempt to remove or dren in the rear seat will remain prop-
58 Airbags
erly positioned at all times and not
place their heads on or near the side
airbag. Therefore, we recommend that
the rear seat side airbags, if provided,
be deactivated if you plan to transport
children in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the
time of manufacture or by a BMW cen-
ter. Labels in the door opening should
indicate the status of your rear-seat
side airbags. If you are uncertain of
their status, or wish to have the airbags
activated or deactivated, please con-
tact your BMW center.<
This is the right way a child should sit in This is the right way a larger child
a child-restraint when rear side airbags, should sit wearing the seat belt when
see arrow, are provided.
rear side airbags, see arrow, are pro-
vided.
Even when all these guidelines are
observed, there is still a small residual
risk of injuries to the face, hands and
arms occurring from airbag deployment
in isolated instances.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the
operational status of the airbag
system when the ignition key is
in position 1 or higher.
The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild temporary hearing loss
in extremely sensitive individuals.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when the ignition key is turned to
position 1 or higher.
Airbag warning information is also pro-
vided on the sun visors.
System malfunction:
>Indicator lamp does not come on or
>indicator lamp lights up continuously.
Airbags
Transporting children safely
59
If there is a system malfunction, there is
a risk that the airbags will not be trig-
gered within their normal response
Leave the rear safety belts in the
holders if they are not needed to
avoid unwanted movement from the
range, even if the level of impact would safety belts at high speeds.<
normally have triggered them.
Commercially available child seats
complying with the legal standard are
Have your BMW center inspect the sys-
tem immediately.
designed to be secured with a seat belt
or with the seat belt portion of a combi-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint sys-
tems can increase the risk of injury to
children. Always read and follow the
instructions that come with the system.
Child-restraint system with tether
strap
If you use a child-restraint system with
a tether strap, two additional tether
anchorage points have been provided –
refer to the arrows in the illustration.
