BMW 318i Owner's Handbook Manual page 78

On the right: sharp braking while the rear fog
*
lights are off .
Airbags
There are the following airbags beneath the
covers indicated:
1 Front airbags for driver and front passenger
2 Head airbags in the front and rear
3 Side airbags in the seat backrests
Protective effect
Comply with the instructions on page 32,
or there will be greater risks to personal
safety.<
The front airbags protect the driver and front
passenger in the event of a head-on collision, if
the protective action of the seat belts alone
would be insufficient. The head-level and side
airbags provide protection in the event of a
side-on collision. The side airbag has the effect
of supporting the upper body from the side. The
head-level airbag supports the head of the
seat's occupant.
The airbags have been designed to not be trig-
gered off in every collision situation, e.g. not in
minor collisions or if the car is struck from the
rear.
Never attach any material to the airbag
covers with adhesive, place material over
them or modify them in any other way. Do not fit
seat covers, cushions or other objects not spe-
cifically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
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rests. Do not dismantle the airbag occupant
restraint system. Do not modify the individual
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 remove the steering wheel.
Avoid touching the system's components
immediately after it has been triggered off, as
there is a risk of sustaining burns.
If the airbag occupant restraint system malfunc-
tions, is to be decommissioned or has been trig-
gered, have it checked, repaired, dismantled
and the airbag generators scrapped only by
BMW Service or a workshop that operates to
BMW specifications and has appropriately
trained personnel and the required permits for
handling explosives. Otherwise, work per-
formed incorrectly can lead to failure or inad-
vertent triggering of the system and to inju-
ries.<