Transporting Children Safely - BMW Z4 2005 Owner's Manual

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 page 34 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.<
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 158 704 - © 10/04 BMW AG
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.
33