deactivate airbag BMW Z4 2.5I 2005 Owners Manual

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
33
Transporting children safely
Children on the passenger's
seat
Deactivating/reactivating passenger
airbags
The passenger airbags must be deacti-
vated before using a rear-facing child-
restraint system on the passenger seat, refer
also to page34 for explanation.
BMW also recommends that the passenger air-
bags be deactivated if a child is transported in a
front-facing child-restraint system, regardless
of the age of the child. If you transport a child in
the passenger seat, not an infant in a rear-fac-
ing seat, who is properly seated and seat-belted
at all times, the potential benefits of airbags
deploying in an accident generally outweigh the
risks of the child being injured by the force of a
deploying airbag.
Therefore, you should deactivate the passen-
ger airbags only if you find it difficult to ensure
that the child will remain properly seated and
seat-belted at all times.
Always position the passenger seat as far back
as possible and at the lowest level.
The above warning and recommendations are
compatible with regulations established by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
NHTSA, permitting the deactivation of passen-
ger airbags by means of an on-off switch for
members of certain at-risk groups.
Specifically, the at-risk groups are:
>Infants in rear-facing infant seats
>Persons with certain medical conditions
>Children aged 12 and under in the passen-
ger seat.
NHTSA provides this information via their web-
site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov, or via their Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-800-424-9393 or 366-0123
in Washington, D.C. area.<
The concept
Passenger airbags can be deactivated/reacti-
vated with the vehicle ignition key. The key
switch is located on the outer passenger's side
of the instrument panel.
The passenger airbags can only be deactivated
or reactivated with the vehicle standing still,
ignition off and the passenger door open.
Deactivation
Deactivation of the passenger airbags system
deactivates the passenger front, knee and side
airbag. The airbags on the driver side remain
active.
Using the vehicle ignition key, turn the key
switch to the OFF position. Note, the passenger
airbags will remain deactivated with the switch
in this position.
As soon as the reason for the deactivation
of the passenger airbags no longer exists,
you must reactivate these airbags so that they
can deploy in an accident within their normal
deployment range.<
Reactivating
Using the vehicle ignition key, turn the key
switch to the ON position.
All airbags in the vehicle are activated and will
be triggered under appropriate conditions.

Transporting children safely
34
Passenger airbags lamp
The center console contains one of the indica-
tor lamps shown in the illustration.
The system checks that the airbag system is
functioning properly when the ignition key is
turned, and the indicator lamp in the central
console lights up for several seconds.
>The indicator lamp lights up continuously
when the passenger airbags are deacti-
vated
>If the passenger airbags are activated, it
goes out after several seconds
The passenger airbags are deactivated
when the key switch is in the ON position
and the passenger seat is unoccupied. The
indicator lamp is not lit.<
At all times, occupants should sit com-
fortably upright and be properly
restrained: infants and small children in appro-
priate child-restraint systems; larger children
and adults using the safety belts. Please note
that the word Airbag imprinted on the door trim
panel indicates the airbag's location.<
Seating position for children
This is the correct way a larger child no longer
using a child-restraint system should sit wear-ing the safety belt, when the airbag system is
activated.
Installing child-restraint
systems
Before installing any child-restraint system or
child seat, read the following:
Never install a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the passenger seat of this vehi-
cle, unless the passenger airbags have been
turned off and the indicator lamp in the center
console indicates that the passenger airbags
are deactivated. For a child, not an infant, cer-
tain precautions should be taken. Position the
passenger seat as far back as possible and at
the lowest level. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance between the
airbags and the child. Younger children should
be secured in an appropriate forward-facing
child-restraint system that has first been prop-
erly secured. Older children should be tightly
secured with a safety belt, sitting with their back
against the vehicle seat back. Always ensure
that all occupants, of all ages, remain properly
and securely restrained at all times.<
Always follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions concerning installation and use;
otherwise the system's protective function
could be impaired. After an accident, have all
parts of the affected safety belt system
inspected and/or replaced by your BMW cen-
ter.<
Commercially-available child-restraint systems
are designed to be secured with a lap belt or
with the lap belt portion of a combination lap/
shoulder belt. Improperly or inadequately
installed restraint systems can increase the risk
of injury to children. Always read and follow the
instructions that come with the system.

Technology for safety and driving convenience
54 For information on the correct seating position,
refer to page27.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attempt to
remove the airbag retention system from the
vehicle. Never modify or tamper with either the
wiring or the individual components in the air-
bag system. This category includes the uphol-
stery in the center of the steering wheel, on the
instrument panel, and the side trim panels on
the doors. Do not attempt to remove or disman-
tle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
If you note any indication of system malfunc-
tion, if you desire to have an airbag deactivated,
or if the airbag retention system is triggered in
response to an accident, you should always
entrust all inspection, repair and dismantling
operations to your BMW center.
Unprofessional attempts to service the system
could lead to failure in an emergency or to
undesired airbag activation, either of which
could result in personal injury.
To ensure compliance with official safety regu-
lations, please also entrust disposal of airbag
generators to a BMW center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided on
the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the
passenger airbags
Before transporting a child on the pas-
senger seat be sure to observe the infor-
mation/instructions under Transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page33.<
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the pas-
senger's seat, the system detects whether or
not the seat is occupied by a child in the child-
restraint system or an adult.
>When a child is seated in the child-restraint
system or in an empty seat, the front, side
and knee airbags are automatically deacti-
vated on the passenger's side>When an adult is traveling in the passen-
ger's seat, the front, side and knee airbags
remain active on the passenger's side.
Although not desired, it can occur in the
case of heavier children that the passen-
ger airbags remain active or, in the case of very
light adults or young persons, that the passen-
ger airbags are deactivated. The condition of
the passenger airbag system will be shown by
the indicator lamp in the central console, refer
to Passenger airbag status lamp below. If the
indicator lamp indicates that the passenger air-
bags are active and you want them to be deac-
tivated, the airbags have to be deactivated with
the vehicle ignition key and the key switch on
the outer passenger's side of the instrument
panel. Apart from passengers, do not place any
additional objects on the passenger seat. Do
not fit seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the passenger seat
unless they are specifically recommended by
BMW. Do not place any items under the seat.
Otherwise, the function of the seat occupation
detection could be impaired.<
Operational readiness of the airbag
system
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness of
the entire airbag system and the safety belt ten-
sioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few sec-
onds.
Airbag system malfunction
>The indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>The warning lamp lights up continuously.