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EnglishControls and features -> Airbags for your BMW 5 Series 1995-2003
54nSafety belts
Airbags
The side airbags in the rear
passenger area* of your vehicle
may already have been deactivated,
either at the time of manufacture or by a
BMW center. You may have them acti-
vated if you desire to do so. Please
contact your BMW center for additional
information.<
Child restraint systems*
Never install a rear-facing child
restraint device on the front
passenger seat. Otherwise, injuries
could occur when the airbag is trig-
gered in the event of an accident.
Children should always ride in the rear
and the restraint systems should be
secured with the outer belts.
The center seat belt should only be
used when it is necessary to secure
three child restraint systems.
Do not attempt to modify child restraint
systems. If you do this, the protection
provided by these systems could be
impaired.<
1 Front airbags on the driver and
passenger sides
2 Head airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear*)
3 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear*)
Protective effect
The front airbags protect the driver and
passenger in the event of a severe
frontal collision in which the protection
afforded by the belts alone may no
longer be sufficient. The head protec-
tion and side airbags help provide
protection in the event of a collision
from the side. Each of the side airbags
is designed to help support the upper
body.
Airbags
55n
Functional status
Sitting correctly with airbags
The indicator lamp in the instru-
For your own safety, please
observe the following precautions
ment cluster displays the opera-
tional status of the airbag
system with the ignition key in position protective function may be impaired
concerning airbags. If you do not, their
1 and higher.
and your personal safety in jeopardy.
This information applies to all vehicle
occupants:
System operational:
> The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
Even though there is an airbag, wear a
safety belt every time you get in the
vehicle, because airbags enhance
safety by providing added protection.
Make sure you are seated comfortably
in your seat in such a way that you
always maintain control, and are not too
close to the steering wheel.
System malfunction:
> The indicator lamp fails to come on.
> The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting
up again.
The illustration schematically depicts
the primary directions of vehicle impact
that initiate an airbag deployment.
A system malfunction could prevent
the system from responding to an
impact occurring within its normal
response range.
Always hold the steering wheel by the
rim to keep any chance of injury to
hands or arms to an absolute minimum
should the airbag be deployed.
No one and nothing is to come between
the airbag and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
front passenger-side airbag as a
storage area.
The airbags will not be triggered in
the event of a minor accident, a
vehicle roll-over, or an impact from the
rear.<
Have the system checked by a
BMW center immediately.
56nAirbags
Never tape the airbag cover panels,
cover them over or alter them in any
other way.
At all times, occupants should sit Therefore, we recommend that the
upright and be properly restrained rear-seat side airbags, if provided, be
(infants and small children in appro-
priate child restraint systems; larger
children and adults using the safety
deactivated if children will be travelling
in the rear seat.
The rear seat side airbags may already
Do not install a rear-facing child
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle. Children under
13 years of age and children less than
belts). Never let an occupant's head rest have been deactivated, either at the
near or on a side airbag because the time of manufacture or by a BMW
5 ft (150 cm) tall should only ride in the inflating airbag could cause a serious or center. Labels in the rear door opening
rear seat.
fatal injury. Please note that the word
"Airbag" imprinted on the door trim
panel indicates the airbag's location.
should indicate the status of your rear
seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of
their status, or wish to have the airbags
If your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags in the rear passenger area, be
sure that child restraints are mounted
correctly and provided with the
Accident research shows that the safest activated or deactivated, please
place for children in an automobile is in contact your BMW center.<
greatest-possible distance between the the rear seat. However, a child sitting in
airbags in the side trim panels. Do not
allow children to lean out of the child
seat in the direction of the side trim
panels. Otherwise, serious injuries
the rear seat and not properly restrained
may place his or her head on or near the
side airbag, if so equipped. For
example, a child – even though belted –
could occur if the airbag is triggered (if may fall asleep with his or her head
activated per customer request).<
against the side airbag. It may be diffi-
cult for a driver to ensure that children in
the rear seat will remain properly posi-
tioned at all times and not place their
heads on or near the side airbag.
Airbags
57n
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.
The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild temporary hearing loss
in extremely sensitive individuals.
Airbag warning information is also
provided on the sun visors.
For additional information concerning
the airbag system, refer to pages 151
and 176.
This is the right way for a child to sit in This is the right way for a larger child
a child restraint when rear side airbags to sit wearing the safety belt when rear
(arrow) are provided.
side airbags (arrow) are provided.
