Get Controls and features -> Airbags Guide for BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (2001-2007)

Airbags

57n

The side airbags in the rear pas-

senger area* of your vehicle may

already have been deactivated either at

the time of manufacture or by a BMW

center. You can have them activated if

you desire to do so. Please contact

your BMW center for additional infor-

mation.<

1 Front airbags for driver and front

passenger

The illustration depicts schematically

the primary directions of vehicle impact

which initiate an airbag deployment.

2 Side impact head protection system

(front and rear*)

3 Side airbags (front and rear side*)

Protective effect

The front airbags supplement the three-

point safety belts by helping to provide

additional protection for the front-seat

occupants in the event of a severe fron-

tal collision in which the protection af-

forded by the belts alone may no longer

be sufficient. The head protection and

side airbags help provide protection in

the event of a severe collision from the

side. Each of the side airbags is de-

signed to help support the upper body.

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group

⁵⁸ⁿAirbags

Never allow any objects to obstruct the

area between the airbag and an occu-

pant.

Indicator lamp

Sitting correctly with airbags

The indicator lamp indicates the

operational readiness of the air-

bag system from ignition key

For your safety, comply with the

following instructions for the air-

bags. If you do not, the airbags may not passenger-side airbag as a storage

Do not use the cover panel above the

positions 1 and 2.

be able to provide their maximum pro-

tection. All passengers in the vehicle

should be aware of and comply with

this information:

area.

System operational:

Never tape the airbag cover panels,

cover them over or alter them in any

other way.

> The indicator lamp comes on briefly

then goes out.

The airbags are supplemental restraint

Do not install a rear-facing child re-

System malfunction:

devices designed to provide extra pro- straint system in the front passenger

tection; they are not a substitute for seat of your vehicle.

> The indicator lamp fails to come on

> The indicator lamp comes on briefly

before going out and then lighting up

again.

safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all Infants or small children should never

times. The airbags will not be triggered be held on the lap of a passenger.

in the event of a minor accident, a vehi- If your vehicle is equipped with side air-

cle roll-over, or collisions from the rear. bags in the rear, be sure that child

In these situations, the safety belts pro- seats are installed correctly and with

A system malfunction could prevent the

system from responding to an impact

occurring within its normal response

range.

vide optimal protection.

the greatest possible distance from the

side trim panels. Do not allow children

to lean out of the child's seat in the di-

rection of the side trim panels. If they

do so, serious injuries could occur if the

airbag is triggered.<

Airbags are located under the cover

panels in the steering wheel, in the in-

and repair the system as soon as possi- strument panel, in the side trim panels

Please have your BMW center inspect

ble.

in the front and rear*, and in the wind-

shild pillars and the sides of the head-

liner.

Select a seat position that is comfort-

able and allows the greatest possible

distance from each of the airbags in

your seating area.

Hold the steering wheel at the rim

(hands at the "9 o'clock and 3 o'clock"

positions) in order to avoid injuries to

the hands or arms if the airbag is trig-

gered. Do not place your hands on the

center pad.

Online Edition for Part No. 01 41 0 004 597 - © 08/99 BMW Group

Airbags

59n

At all times, occupants should sit up- Therefore, we recommend that the rear Even when all these guidelines are ob-

right and be properly restrained (infants seat side airbags, if so equipped, be served, there is still a small residual risk

and small children in appropriate child

restraint systems; larger children and

adults using the safety belts). Never let

an occupant's head rest near or on a

side airbag because the inflating airbag

could cause a serious or fatal injury.

Please note that the word "Airbag" im-

printed on the door trim panel indicates

the airbag's location.

deactivated if children will travel in the

rear seat.

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.

The rear seat side airbags may already

have been deactivated, either at the

time of manufacture or by a BMW

center. Labels in the rear door opening

should indicate the status of your rear

Airbag warning information is also pro-

seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of vided on the sun visors.

their status, or wish to have the airbags

For additional information concerning

the airbag system, refer to page 161

and 188.

Accident research shows that the saf-

est place for children in an automobile

is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-

ting in the rear seat and not properly re-

strained may place his or her head on

or near the 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 diffi-

cult for a driver to ensure that children

in the rear seat will remain properly po-

sitioned at all times and not place their

heads on or near the side airbag.

activated or deactivated, please con-

tact your BMW center.

Controls and features -> Airbags for Your BMW 7 Series 4 Door Fourth Generation (2001-2007)

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