RONALD E. MOORE
University of Extrication Editor
BMW has introduced its new 7-series sedan loaded with the greatest number of airbags ever for a vehicle in the U.S. If all standard and optional airbag equipment is installed on a new 745i or 745iL model, there will be a total of 12 airbags in a single vehicle. In addition to having a dozen airbags, there are a host of other safety-related features that may confront responders at an emergency scene.
Photo By Ron Moore
The 2002 model-year BMW 745i or 745iL sedan can be equipped with a total of 12 separate airbag systems.
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Two of the newest airbag additions are knee bags for the driver and front passenger. Until now, the Kia Sportage was the only vehicle sold in the U.S. with a knee bag. The Sportage knee bag, available since the 1996 model year, is provided for the driver only. The new BMW 7-series vehicles are the first to have dual knee airbags as standard equipment; one for the driver and one for the front passenger.
Referred to as the “Active Knee Protection” system, each knee bag is positioned low on the instrument panel, behind a dashboard panel. During a frontal collision, the airbags deploy and push the padded panel against the knees of the driver and front passenger. The knee airbag IDs are clearly visible, but are low on the knee bag panel and are the same color as the instrument panel itself. The stored gas inflator modules for the knee bags are located behind the knee bag panels.
Photo By Ron Moore
With the door open, three of the 12 airbags are visible; driver’s door, steering wheel and the new driver’s knee airbag positioned behind the panel below the steering column.
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In addition to the new BMW knee bags, the 7-series models are equipped with a driver and passenger frontal airbag. Both of these airbags are “SMART” bags. They employ dual-stage, dual-threshold technology. When a seatbelt is used, the bags deploy only at a higher crash speed. Dual-stage means that the airbag has two inflator modules inside it. One is a lower charge than the other. The two inflators fire off together or one after the other to vary the speed at which the front airbags deploy. The speed of the airbag deployment depends upon the severity of the impact.
Each front door comes standard with side-impact airbags. These stored gas units are concealed behind a tear-through upholstery panel. There is also a roof-mounted Head Protection System (HPS) airbag for the driver and front seat passenger as standard equipment. The tubular design of this roof airbag has been modified this year with what BMW refers to as a “sail.” The sail feature is a single-thickness nylon panel that extends upward from the deployed HPS airbag to the roofline.
Photo By Ron Moore
The airbag ID for each knee bag is the word “AIRBAG” stamped into the panel. The ID is the same color as the interior trim. The inflation zone is five inches outward from the instrument panel on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides.
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A stock model 2002 BMW 745 vehicle has a total of eight airbags in it; two frontal, two knee bags, two door airbags, and two roof airbags. If the owner desires, an optional roof-mounted HPS airbag system can be provided for each outboard rear seat occupant along with the addition of airbags in both rear doors. This brings the total of airbags in this one vehicle to 12.
Besides the 12 airbags, there can be pyrotechnic charge seatbelt pre-tensioner systems installed at all four lapbelt/shoulder harness seat positions; driver, front seat passenger, and the two outboard rear seat passengers.
Other safety features worthy of note include the BMW “Safety Terminal” battery cable. This metal sleeve is mounted in the battery power cable that supplies power to the starter. When the frontal airbags deploy, the explosive charge inside the Safety Terminal fires, disconnecting power only to the starter, but leaves 12-volt power to the rest of the vehicle. In addition, the fuel supply is automatically cut off by yet another safety system. Frontal airbag deployment automatically turns on the four-way flashers, unlocks the doors, turns on the interior dome light, and if a cell phone system is installed, will contact the BMW Call Center with a “Mayday” message. The vehicles’ GPS system will pinpoint the vehicle’s location for the Call Center operator.
Photo By Ron Moore
From the passenger’s side, the second knee airbag panel is visible. The knee bags do not touch against the front occupants as a normal airbag does. The knee bags push the padded panel against the knees of the occupants during the frontal collision.
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Two more pyrotechnic gas generator charges are located within the front seats as part of the BMW “active head restraint” system, a new system designed to minimize whiplash-type injuries of the cervical spine. When two special sensors detect a rear-end collision, the headrests rapidly and automatically pivot forward, supporting the driver’s and front-seat occupant’s heads.
The steering column has a newly added fiberglass section that allows the upper column and steering wheel to collapse, absorbing a portion of the impact energy and helping to protect the driver. The doors have the BMW ‘door hook’ feature to minimize their crushing inward during a side impact. The 7-series vehicle can also be ordered with BMW’s break-resistant “Security Glass,” an option that installs laminated glass in all window openings; windshield, side windows and rear window.
This new vehicle from BMW offers the broadest array of state-of-the-art safety features yet available in a vehicle sold in the U.S.
Task: Identify all 12 locations for airbags that are available in a 2002 model-year BMW 7-series sedan (745i, 745iL)
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