107
Technology for driving comfort and safety
Controls
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1
Front airbags
2 Coupe: head airbags
3 Side airbags in the seat backrests
4 Convertible: knee airbags
Protective action
Observe the adjustment instructions on 
page 47 to ensure the best possible per-
sonal protection. <
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety  belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restrain t. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered in every collision si tuation, e.g. not in 
minor accidents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and windows on the front 
passenger side clear, i. e. do not cover with 
adhesive labels or coveri ngs, and do not attach 
holders such as for navi gation instruments or 
mobile phones.
Do not attach seat cove rs, cushions or other 
objects not specifically approved for seats with  integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not 
hang items of clothing such as coats or jackets 
over the backrests. Do 
not attempt to remove 
the airbag retention system  from the vehicle. Do 
not modify the individu al components of the 
system or its wiring in any way. This includes 
the upholstered covers on the steering wheel, 
instrument panel, seats  and roof posts, as well 
as the sides of the roof  lining. 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 faults, immobilization, or after the 
airbag system has been triggered, have the 
testing, repair, or disassembly and scrapping of 
gas generators performe d only by your BMW 
center or a workshop that has the required 
explosives licenses. Unprofessional attempts to 
work on the system could  lead to failure in an 
emergency or to undesired 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 front 
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impr ession in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and 
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passe nger are activated or 
deactivated by the  system accordingly.
Online  Edition  for Part  no. 01 40 2 609  333 - \251  08/11  BMW AG