Restraint System - Transportation of Infants/Children

Group 72
Safety Restraint Systems

Bulletin Number
72 06 96

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
September 1996
Product Engineering

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION; IT SHOULD ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL SALES STAFF.

SUBJECT:
Transportation of Infants and Children in all BMWs including Z3

MODEL:
All

Situation:

In view of the tremendous success of the Z3, we have received numerous inquiries regarding the transportation of children in the front passenger seat, since the vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag.

We would like to direct you again to the warnings provided in the BMW Owner's Manual, the labels on the sun visor, and the new owner audio cassette which describe in detail the precautions to be taken with respect to the transportation of infants and small children.

To re-emphasize:

^ Many state laws and common sense dictate that infants and small children should never be carried on the lap of an adult.

^ A Rear-Facing Child Seat should never be used in the front passenger seat, because the passenger airbag can place an extremely high load on a rear-facing child seat in the event of deployment.

^ Also, BMW strongly recommends against the use of a forward-facing child seat in the front passenger seat.

If it is absolutely necessary for a child to be transported in the car (i.e. emergency), follow the instructions of the child seat manufacturer for proper installation and always move the vehicle seat as far back as possible. Be sure to lock the belt according to the instructions on the belt label and in the BMW Owner's Manual.

^ Further, BMW recommends against small children that have outgrown child seats from riding in the front passenger seat.

However, if a child must ride in the front passenger seat, the proper use of both the shoulder and lap portions of the safety belt must be assured. If the shoulder belt portion of the safety belt does not fit correctly, the child should sit on a booster seat with the vehicle seat moved as far rearward as possible and the safety belt properly adjusted.