Rear Side airbags
01-31-2005, 01:53 PM
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I did some searching through the forum but didn't seem to find what I was looking for ... should a car have rear side airbags if they have childern riding in the rear under the age of 12 years?
01-31-2005, 02:00 PM
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My Ride: MY05 545i Jet Black with Auburn interior. SMG, Logic7, Sport Package, Comfort Seats, Navigation.
I did not opt for the rear air bags because I have 2 kids under 4 year.
It wasn't the $350 buck I was trying to save, but the car seat's side bolster may pertrude the deployment of the airbags.
The salesman wouldn't give me a definite yes or no answer regarding this, due to high litigious nature of our society. So the best advice is "buyers beware" (can't remember that latiin word for it".
It wasn't the $350 buck I was trying to save, but the car seat's side bolster may pertrude the deployment of the airbags.
The salesman wouldn't give me a definite yes or no answer regarding this, due to high litigious nature of our society. So the best advice is "buyers beware" (can't remember that latiin word for it".
01-31-2005, 02:02 PM
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If they are very young and in child restraint seats, the air bags are fine. The potential for trouble is as they get older and may end up leaning against the door, say if they fall asleep in the car. The deploying air bag at that close range has the potential to injure the child. But I seem to recall that these side air bags (different than the side curtain that all E60s have) don't intrude into the cabin as much as the frontal air bags do, so maybe not quite as dangerous.
I too opted not to get them with a 5 and 3 yr old, though both are still in car seats. The dealer warned me that if I did order them, they would require me to sign a waiver as I would be using w/ small children in the back seat. You can order them and have them turned off until the kids are big enough though.
I too opted not to get them with a 5 and 3 yr old, though both are still in car seats. The dealer warned me that if I did order them, they would require me to sign a waiver as I would be using w/ small children in the back seat. You can order them and have them turned off until the kids are big enough though.
01-31-2005, 02:04 PM
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My Ride: 535d Sport (M sport steering, M sport sills, M sport suspension, 18inch M style wheels) Carbon black, black nasca, dark wood, dechromed, folding mirrors, extended lights, sun protect glazing, grad tinted winscreen, servotronic steering, heated, ventilated active comfort seats, extended voice control, hi-fi speakers, hud, active cruise, split folding rear seats, rear electric blind, rear manual blinds visbility pack (xenons, adaptive headlights), media pack (6 CD, prof nav, bluetooth with telematics and assist)
Caveat emptor - I didn't go for rear airbags for the same reason - I would imagine that they would make this quite clear if it was really a problem though.
01-31-2005, 02:06 PM
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i didn't wanted the rear air bags because my girl is around 9 months...
01-31-2005, 02:25 PM
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I have three kids under 8 and passed on the rear bags for the same reasons as other posters.
When I asked my dealer about them, they told me the devices need to be "activated" upon delivery and, because of liability risk, that they would not perform the activation. I would have to elsewhere and pay for it.
When I asked my dealer about them, they told me the devices need to be "activated" upon delivery and, because of liability risk, that they would not perform the activation. I would have to elsewhere and pay for it.
01-31-2005, 02:33 PM
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Here's a link to a some posts that have some good information on this subject... (keep in mind that I'm linking to a few posts buried in the middle of a longer thread about crash test ratings, etc.)
Unless you have kids leaning/sleeping against the door, the bags shouldn't pose any major problems. If your kids are able to sleep against the door, then they may not be properly restrained in the first place.
I opted to have them activated on my last three cars. I wanted full protection for adults who may ride in the rear as well as my (properly restrained) children...
Unless you have kids leaning/sleeping against the door, the bags shouldn't pose any major problems. If your kids are able to sleep against the door, then they may not be properly restrained in the first place.
I opted to have them activated on my last three cars. I wanted full protection for adults who may ride in the rear as well as my (properly restrained) children...
01-31-2005, 02:42 PM
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I asked the question to BMW customer service and their response was a "No, they would not recommend". They also did not provide a response of how much force the bags deploy with. Some manufaturers (like Audi) would provide that information and more willing to state "yes, as long as the child is properly restrained".
When in doubt, I agree with the others and just don't get the option.
When in doubt, I agree with the others and just don't get the option.
01-31-2005, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by macct' date='Jan 31 2005, 06:42 PM
I asked the question to BMW customer service and their response was a "No, they would not recommend".? They also did not provide a response of how much force the bags deploy with.? Some manufaturers (like Audi) would provide that information and more willing to state "yes, as long as the child is properly restrained".
When in doubt, I agree with the others and just don't get the option.
When in doubt, I agree with the others and just don't get the option.
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01-31-2005, 03:10 PM
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Yeah, it's definately the lawyers talking when you get BMW's response. 
The question you have to ask yourself is, and this is not easy since we don't know the exact force of the airbags, what kind of injurie is worse? The one from the airbag, or the one from the intrudiong car, tree or whatever. I personally think the airbag is the lesser evil, and can safe a life... can... So I would have them activated. But this is a tough decission...
The question you have to ask yourself is, and this is not easy since we don't know the exact force of the airbags, what kind of injurie is worse? The one from the airbag, or the one from the intrudiong car, tree or whatever. I personally think the airbag is the lesser evil, and can safe a life... can... So I would have them activated. But this is a tough decission...