2009 BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I deactivate passenger airbag

Transporting children safely
48
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger
themselves and/or other persons by opening
the doors, for example. <
Children on the passenger seat
Always transport children under the age
of 13 or smaller than 5 ft/150 cm in a
child-restraint system suitable for their age,
weight and size, and with the passenger airbag
deactivated. Otherwise, there is an increased
risk of injury in the event of an accident or if the
airbags deploy. <
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no
longer is any child-restr aint system that is
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the passenger airbags refer to page 86.
Installing child-restraint
systems
After installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger seat, make sure that the
front and side airbags for the passenger are
deactivated; otherwise, there is an increased
risk of injury if the airbags deploy.
Observe the child-restraint system manufac-
turer's instructions when selecting, installing
and using child-restraint systems. Otherwise
the protective effect may be diminished. <
Standard child-restraint systems are designed
to be secured with a lap be lt or with the lap-belt
section of a lap-and-shou lder belt. Incorrectly
or improperly installed child-restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always follow the installa tion instructions for
the system with the greatest care.
On the passenger seat
After installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger seat, make sure that the
front and side airbags for the passenger are
deactivated, otherwise there is an increased
risk of injury if the airbags deploy. <
Seat position
Before installing a child-restraint system, move
the passenger seat as far back and up
* as pos-
sible to obtain the best possible position for
the belt.
Backrest width*
The backrest width of the passenger's
seat must be at its widest possible set-
ting. Do not change the setting after installing
the child seat. Otherwise the child seat's stabil-
ity on the passenger's seat is limited. <
1. Adjust the backrest width to its widest set-
ting, refer to page 43.
2. Install the child seat.
Child seat security
The safety belt for the passenger can be locked
to prevent it from being pulled out when it is
used to secure child-restraint systems.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
86
Do not attempt to remove
the airbag retention
system from the vehicle. Do not modify the indi-
vidual components of the system or its wiring in
any way. This includes the upholstered covers
of the steering wheel, the dashboard and the
seats. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle
the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, remo val and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW center
or a workshop that works according to repair
procedures of BMW with correspondingly
trained personnel and th at has the required
explosives licenses. Unprofessional attempts to
work on the system could lead to failure in an
emergency or to undesi red airbag activation,
either of which could resu lt in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the
passenger airbags
The system determines whether the passenger
seat is occupied by meas uring the resistance of
the human body. Front, knee and side airbags
on the passenger side ar e activated or deacti-
vated accordingly.
Make sure that the passenger keeps his
or her feet in the footwell; otherwise, the
passenger airbags may not function properly. <
The indicator lamp above the interior rearview
mirror shows the current status of the passen-
ger airbags, deactivated or activated, refer to
Status of passenger airbags below.
Before transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, see page 48.
Malfunction of the automatic
deactivation system
The front, knee and side airbags can also be
deactivated by adolescents and adults sitting in
certain positions; the in dicator lamp for the pas-
senger airbags comes on. In such cases, the
passenger should change his or her sitting
position so that the pa ssenger airbags are acti-
vated and the indicator la mp goes out. If the
desired airbag status cannot be achieved by
changing the sitting posi tion, do not transport
the passenger in the vehicle.
To make sure that occupa tion of the seat cush-
ion can be detected correctly:
> Do not attach seat covers, seat cushion
padding, ball mats or other items to the pas-
senger seat unless they are specifically rec-
ommended by BMW.
> Do not place any items under the seat which
could press against the seat from below. <
Status of passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the passenger airbags
shows the functional status of the passenger's
front, knee and side airbags in accordance with
whether and how the passenger seat is occu-
pied. The indicator lamp shows whether the
passenger airbags are activated or deactivated.
> The indicator lamp lights up when a child
who is properly seated in a child-restraint
system intended for that purpose is
detected on the seat or the seat is empty.
The front, knee and side airbags for the pas-
senger are not activated.
Most child seats are detected by the sys-
tem, especially child seats required by the
NHTSA at the time of vehicle production.

Controls
87Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
After mounting a child seat, ensure that the
indicator lamp for the pa ssenger airbag is lit.
It indicates that the child seat has been
detected and that th e passenger airbags
are deactivated.
> The indicator lamp does not come on as
long as a person of sufficient size and in a
correct sitting position is detected on
the seat.
The front, knee and passenger airbags for
the passenger are activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
As of radio readiness, refer to page 50, the
warning lamp comes on br iefly to indicate that
the entire airbag system and the belt tensioners
are operational.
Airbag system malfunction
> Warning lamp does not light up at radio
readiness or beyond.
> Warning lamp remains permanently on.
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
have it checked without delay, otherwise
there is the risk that th e system will not function
as intended even if a sufficiently severe acci-
dent occurs. <