|
 |
BMW Safety Timeline |
Here are some major milestone events for BMW's Safety Program (continued):
|
1996 |
Driver and Passenger Side Airbags
BMW's ASAP (Advanced Side Airbag Protection) system employs a large-area inflatable bag in each front door.
Front side airbags protect the thorax in side impacts. Introduced with the 1995 model year 7 Series, side airbags are now standard on all BMW models.
|
|
1994 |
Dual Threshold Deployment of Front Airbags
BMW was the first in the United States to offer the dual-threshold deployment system, an "intelligent" safety
system. When the safety belt is used, the airbag will not deploy at a lower crash severity, but only at the higher crash severity, where airbags are more effective. The
"intelligent" safety system also knows if the passenger seat is occupied; if not, its airbag will not deploy, saving repair and insurance costs.
Passenger Seat Occupancy Recognition
A sensor in the passenger seat recognizes if the seat is occupied or not. If the seat is not occupied, the
airbag won't go off in the event of a collision, thus saving the expense of unnecessary replacement.
Interlocking Door Anchoring System
In each of the four doors there is a diagonal aluminum reinforcement bar. The rear end of this bar is
anchored to a hook-like member that, in the event of a serious side impact, "grabs" the body pillar. Thus the front door is "hooked into" the B-pillar, and the rear door into
the body's rear quarter, helping to hold the body side together as a unit for significantly increased strength. The system is designed so that after most impacts, elastic
"snap-back" of the system releases the hooks so the doors can be opened. First introduced on the 1995 model year 7 Series, the system is now standard on all BMW sedans and the
new 3 Series coupes.
|
|
1992 |
Front Passenger Airbag
The passenger's airbag is located at the top of the instrument panel. It has dual gas generators and inflates
to more than twice the volume of the driver's airbag to provide restraint in the event of a frontal collision.
[More]
 |
|
|
|
