Get Controls and features -> Airbags Guide for BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (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.

Controls and features -> Airbags for Your BMW 5 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (1995-2003)

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