BMW 840Ci Owner's Handbook Manual page 44

Seat belts
For your own safety, please note:
Make sure that other occupants of the
car also wear their seat belts.
Seat belts should not be twisted and
must run firmly across the pelvis and
shoulder. They should not pass over
hard or fragile objects in your pockets.
The seat belt must not pass across
the neck, become trapped at any
point or chafe against any sharp
edges.
The belt should be as close to the
body as possible; therefore avoid
wearing thick and heavy clothing.
Take up slack regularly by pulling up
the belt at the shoulder.
a
For the following reasons, it is
essential for the belt not to be worn
slack:
In the event of a head-on collision, the
lap belt could otherwise slide over the
hips and injure the lower part of the
body. Furthermore, excessive belt
slack delays the restraining action.
Pregnant women are also advised to
wear the seat belt at all times, making
sure that the lap belt is low down over
the hips and does not press against
the abdomen.
Never restrain more than one person
with each seat belt.
Babies or small children must not
travel in the car on the lap of another
occupant.c
Child restraint systems*
Children up to the age of 12 who are
below 150 cm (approx. 5 feet) in
height must be protected by a suit-
able, approved child restraint system.
Babies up to 18 months can travel on
the rear seat in a suitable cot or shell
facing rearwards and retained by the
standard seat belts.
BMW Service can supply suitable
child restraint systems for the various
age groups.
a
Child restraint systems are not
to be attached to the front passenger
seat.c
To permit a child's restraint system to
be retained securely with the seat
belt, your BMW is equipped with a
lockable automatic seat belt reel.
Pull the belt out fully. Allow it to retract
until the child restraint system is held
securely.
After releasing the belt and allowing it
to retract fully, the automatic reel will
again operate normally.
In no circumstances are seat-belt or
child restraint systems to be modified.
The seat belt reel will lock:
d if pulled out rapidly,
d during sudden braking or acceler-
ating,
d when the car is cornered sharply,
d if the car is tilted at a considerable
angle.
a
Drivers should ensure that their
passengers also comply with the rele-
vant requirements and instructions
concerning seat belts.c
For care of belts, see Page 141.
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 9 790 191 - © 12/98 BMW AG
43