BMW Retailers Letter

December, 1996

To: All BMW Retailers
The automotive industry and the federal government are in discussions about airbag safety concerns, especially as they relate to the potential for serious or fatal injuries to small children. In response to this important issue, BMW has developed a campaign to communicate critical safety messages to its owners and we urge you to take every opportunity to do the same.

We've created a special Visionwerke program on airbag safety and will broadcast it several times in the next two months, beginning in mid-December We urge you to look for announcements on this important program, record it and encourage all employees to view it immediately. In addition, we suggest that you make viewing mandatory for employees who come in contact with BMW owners.

BMW also has established a special toll - free telephone number to answer owners concerns about airbag safety. The number for the BMW Airbag Information Line is 1-800-595-4050.











Later this month, BMW will mail letters with safety information materials to owners of all BMW vehicles equipped with passenger airbags. Together with a letter explaining the need for airbag safety awareness, the mailing will include a laminated BMW Safety Tips card and labels for the interior of their vehicles. Owners of the new BMW Z3 will get a separate cover letter addressing the special concerns associated with that two - seater model. Samples of both letters and all safety materials are enclosed.

Labels for your inventory are at the printer now and will be sent to you separately. An S.I. bulletin (# 72 07 96) will be mailed along with the labels, giving instructions for application. An airbags question and answer sheet has been developed for use in answering questions about airbags and that will be sent to you shortly, too.

Finally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to evaluate the legality of temporarily disconnecting airbags. While there may be special circumstances that would support a serious measure such as this, it is generally not recommended by BMW.

Even if NHTSA reverses its decision and permits disconnection, this is not an action that should be taken without careful consideration. While there may be special circumstances that support temporarily disconnecting an airbag, BMW recommends that its owners carefully weigh both drawbacks and benefits before having this done. To help with this, an information sheet discussing the issues involved in airbag disconnection is available for BMW owners and retailers.

Airbags have been demonstrated to be effective life - saving and injury - preventing safety devices. With a few precautions, described in the customer letter and on the BMW Safety Tips card, airbags should not present a hazard to children and small stature occupants.

BMW vehicles feature some of the most advanced and effective automotive safety technology available to consumers with new systems scheduled for introduction midyear.

As you know, BMW began to introduce one of the industry's first dual - threshold airbag systems more than two years ago, in early 1994. BMWs have a dual deployment threshold for belted and unbelted occupants. If the safety belt is used, the airbag will not deploy at a lower crash severity, but only at the higher crash severity, where airbags have been demonstrated to be beneficial in helping to prevent harm to occupants. If the safety belt is not used, the airbag will deploy at the lower crash severity. Therefore, it is important to always wear the safety belt.

Working together, we can reassure our customers the safety technology on their BMW is the best in the industry and educate them in the safest, most effective way to utilize it.