deactivate airbag BMW 330Ci COUPE 2002 E46 Owner's Manual

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Mirrors AirbagsInterior rearview mirror with
automatic dimming feature
*
This mirror automatically responds to
ambient light and headlamp glare from
following vehicles by dimming through
an infinitely-variable range and auto-
matically reverts to its clear, undimmed
setting whenever you select reverse.
To ensure that the mirror continues to
operate efficiently, ensure that the
photocells remain clear and unob-
structed. One photocell is integrated in
the mirror's lens (arrow), while the other
is located at an offset position on the
rear of the mirror. Refrain from
attaching stickers to the windshield in
the area immediately in front of the
mirror.
1 Front airbags on the driver and
passenger sides2 Side Impact Head Protection System on
the driver and passenger sides (front)3 Side airbags on the driver and
passenger sides (front and rear
*)
Protective effectThe front airbags supplement the three-
point safety belts by providing addi-
tional protection, in the event of a
severe frontal collision in which the
protection afforded by the belts alone
may no longer be sufficient. The Head
Protection System 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. For information on the
correct sitting posture, refer to page 40.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp indicates the
operational status of the airbag
system when the ignition key
position 1 or 2.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
when you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or 2.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine has been started, or
comes on again during normal
driving.
Please respond to any malfunctions in
the system by immediately having it
inspected at your BMW center; other-
wise the airbag could fail to respond to
an accident in which both the angle and
the severity of the impact would
normally trigger airbag deployment.
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.<

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbags
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor collisions, rear
impacts and certain kinds of vehicle
rollover.<
For your safety, comply with the
following instructions for the
airbags. If you do not, the airbags may
not be able to provide their maximum
protection. All passengers in the vehicle
should be aware of and comply with
these directions:
The airbags are supplemental restraint
devices designed to provide extra
protection; they are not a substitute for
safety belts. Wear your safety belt at all
times. The airbags will not be triggered
in the event of a minor accident, a
vehicle rollover, or collisions from the
rear. In these instances, the safety belt
provides optimal protection.
Airbags are located under cover panels
in the steering wheel, in the instrument
panel, in the side trim panels in the
front and rear
*, in the roof panels, and
in the sides of the inside roof lining.
Adjust your seat to a position that
provides maximum distance between
you and the steering wheel, the instru-
ment panel and the door while still
allowing comfortable and safe access
to all vehicle controls.
To avoid sustaining hand and arm inju-
ries, always grasp the steering wheel
on the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions. Do not place your
hands on the center pad.
Never allow any objects to obstruct the
area between the airbag and an occu-
pant.
Do not use the cover panel above the
passenger-side airbag as a storage
area.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them
or modify them in any other way.
Do not install a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Children under 13 years of age and less
than 5 ft (150 cm) tall should ride only in
the rear seat. Infants or small children
should never be held on the lap of a
passenger.
If your vehicle is equipped with side
airbags in the rear passenger area
*, be
sure that child restraints are mounted
correctly, with the greatest-possible
distance between the airbags in the
side trim panels. Do not allow children
to lean out of the child's seat in the
direction of the side trim panels. If they
do so, serious injuries can occur if the
airbag is triggered. always sit upright and be properly
restrained (infants 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: in
the event of deployment the airbag
could cause a serious or fatal injury.
Please note that the word Airbag
embossed on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the
safest place for children in an automo-
bile is in the rear seat. However, a child
sitting in the rear seat and not properly
restrained may place his or her head on
or near the airbag, if one is installed.
For example, a child Ñ even though
belted Ñ may fall asleep with his or her
head against the side airbag. It may be
difficult for a driver to ensure that chil-
dren in the rear seat will remain prop-
erly positioned at all times and do not
place their heads on or near the side
airbag.
Therefore, we recommend that the
rear-seat side airbags, if installed, be
deactivated if children will be riding in
the rear seat.
The rear-seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated, either at the

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Airbagstime of manufacture or by a BMW
center. 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
contact your BMW center.<
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 induce a mild
temporary hearing loss in sensitive indi-
viduals.This is the right way for a child to sit in a
child restraint when rear side airbags
(arrow) are provided.
This is the right way for a larger child to
sit wearing the safety belt when rear
side airbags (arrow) are provided.