e65 - Disabling rear passenger side airbag
Discussion
Afternoon Folks,
In the next few weeks I'll be fitting a baby seat into the back of the 7 series. Does anyone have experience of whats involved in disabling the side airbag? Just off the phone to the main dealer who was less that helpful and added further confusion. I was thinking it would be a quick trip to the dealer who would plug it in and disable that particular airbag.
However there seems to be some form filling (dealer has to request the forms from BMW?) I can appreciate the need for these things to be controlled and authorised. However the chap I spoke to at the dealer than went on to talk about other parts which may need to be ordered, seat belts etc.
Anyone with any experience in this, I'm sure its not specific to the 7 series.
Thanks,
C
In the next few weeks I'll be fitting a baby seat into the back of the 7 series. Does anyone have experience of whats involved in disabling the side airbag? Just off the phone to the main dealer who was less that helpful and added further confusion. I was thinking it would be a quick trip to the dealer who would plug it in and disable that particular airbag.
However there seems to be some form filling (dealer has to request the forms from BMW?) I can appreciate the need for these things to be controlled and authorised. However the chap I spoke to at the dealer than went on to talk about other parts which may need to be ordered, seat belts etc.
Anyone with any experience in this, I'm sure its not specific to the 7 series.
Thanks,
C
Not done this for a little while now, but to disable any airbag the car has to be coded . The only way to obtain the correct code is to fill a form in from the dealer and they fax it to BMW and they email the code back to dealer.
Some models require seatbelt to be replaced as there are different part numbers for cars with/without airbags in the rear. If you have and are using isofix this wont be a problem.
Some models require seatbelt to be replaced as there are different part numbers for cars with/without airbags in the rear. If you have and are using isofix this wont be a problem.
TWOKWACKS said:
Not done this for a little while now, but to disable any airbag the car has to be coded . The only way to obtain the correct code is to fill a form in from the dealer and they fax it to BMW and they email the code back to dealer.
Some models require seatbelt to be replaced as there are different part numbers for cars with/without airbags in the rear. If you have and are using isofix this wont be a problem.
Just an update on this and a further question. My main dealer has came back to me and said that BMW don't do a kit for the 7 serioes and cannot disable the side airbags. I'm a bit shocked at that to say the least!! I'm going to call another main dealer just to make sure I'm not being brushed off. Some models require seatbelt to be replaced as there are different part numbers for cars with/without airbags in the rear. If you have and are using isofix this wont be a problem.
Could I fit the baby seat in the middle of the back seat while the side airbags are still active?
Thanks again,
C
Where's this recommendation come from, and is it applicable to rear-facing baby seats or any child seat? I have a toddler in a front-facing seat in the back of my E65 and whilst I'm aware of the risk that air bags pose in the front passenger seat it's never occured to me that the rear ones could, or should be disabled too. I don't recall reading as such in the manual either.
I have an e66 with reclining rear seats. The 'joy' of the e66 is my little one has not been able to kick the back of my seat. I fitted a universal bracket as the BMW ones are for a fixed seat (although manual says the recliners can be parked, I find the move). Now though she wants the windows open, at threat of puking otherwise, even on a motorway. She can see more from a front seat and doesn't get so car sick. However, there is no front passenger airbag off switch as on the e60/61 models.
In the e66, there are three different stickers on B and C pillars left and right, and one says refer to the manual.
The front passenger sticker is a simple diagram showing a red slash through a rear facing seat. However, I want to fit a front facing booster. The manual says it is possible but airbags must be turned off......The programming bit.
But I can't keep having it reprogrammed booster normal booster normal.
BMW have to have all these disclaimers because of the hundreds of thousands of cars they sell and somebody might have an accident while having a child seat. They have to require it be done at a BMW dealer (who will charge a princes ransom) because only one or two will go in and a tech will have to read up on the correct procedure before making some log of what he has done and get it signed off on pink and yellow by a supervisor and recorded on the system with owner disclaimer.....
BMW could put disable switches on all door pillars and warning lights in every dash because 90% of people have children and so 99% of cars will at some time carry a children but that involves understanding how a car is used in real life beyond marketing BS and requires 99 BMW accountants to sign it off. Answer - sack the accountants and put 3 Isofix in every car.
I suppose the sensible thing is to call a taxi as booster seats not a legal obligation and you can sue them.
Practical thing is to move the seat all the way back, drive defensively and not to have an accident.
In the e66, there are three different stickers on B and C pillars left and right, and one says refer to the manual.
The front passenger sticker is a simple diagram showing a red slash through a rear facing seat. However, I want to fit a front facing booster. The manual says it is possible but airbags must be turned off......The programming bit.
But I can't keep having it reprogrammed booster normal booster normal.
BMW have to have all these disclaimers because of the hundreds of thousands of cars they sell and somebody might have an accident while having a child seat. They have to require it be done at a BMW dealer (who will charge a princes ransom) because only one or two will go in and a tech will have to read up on the correct procedure before making some log of what he has done and get it signed off on pink and yellow by a supervisor and recorded on the system with owner disclaimer.....
BMW could put disable switches on all door pillars and warning lights in every dash because 90% of people have children and so 99% of cars will at some time carry a children but that involves understanding how a car is used in real life beyond marketing BS and requires 99 BMW accountants to sign it off. Answer - sack the accountants and put 3 Isofix in every car.
I suppose the sensible thing is to call a taxi as booster seats not a legal obligation and you can sue them.
Practical thing is to move the seat all the way back, drive defensively and not to have an accident.
I can’t see any reason to disable side airbags- the only time you would plan to disable an airbag is when you have a rear facing child seat on the front passenger seat.
Most modern cars have a key switch in the car - normally in the door shut or glove box to disable just this one airbag for this. None of the other airbags would need to be disabled as they do not pose the same risk
Most modern cars have a key switch in the car - normally in the door shut or glove box to disable just this one airbag for this. None of the other airbags would need to be disabled as they do not pose the same risk
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