The occupation of the seat is detected by evaluating the impression on the occupied seat surface of the front passenger seat.

The front and side airbags on the front passenger side are activated or deactivated accordingly by the system.

The indicator lamp above the interior rearview mirror shows the current status of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or activated, refer to Front passenger airbag indicator lamp below.

Leave feet in the footwell
Make sure that the front passenger keeps his or her feet in the footwell; otherwise, the front passenger airbags may not function properly.◀

Child restraint fixing system in the front passenger seat
Before transporting a child on the front passenger seat, refer to the safety notes and instructions under Children on the front passenger seat

Malfunction of the automatic deactivation system

When transporting older children and adults, the front passenger airbags may be deactivated in certain sitting positions. In this case, the indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights up.

In this case, change the sitting position so that the front passenger airbags are activated and the indicator lamp goes out.

If it is not possible to activate the airbags, have the person sit in the rear.

To make sure that occupation of the seat cushion can be detected correctly:

▷ Do not attach seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or other items to the passenger seat unless they are specifically recommended by BMW.
▷ Do not place objects under the seat that could press against the seat from below.

Indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags

Indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags

Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the arrangement of the switches and indicator lamps may differ somewhat.

The indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags indicates the operating state of the front passenger airbags.

The lamp indicates whether the airbags are activated or deactivated.

▷ The indicator lamp lights up when a child in a child restraint fixing system intended for the purpose is properly detected on the seat. The airbags on the front passenger side are not activated.
▷ The indicator lamp does not light up when, for example, a correctly seated person of sufficient size is detected on the seat. The airbags on the front passenger side are activated.
▷ The indicator lamp does not light up when the seat is empty. However, the airbags on the front passenger side are not activated.

The system generally detects children seated in a child seat, especially in the child seats that were required by NHTSA when the vehicle was manufactured. After installing a child seat, make sure that the indicator lamp for the front passenger airbags lights up. This indicates that the child seat has been detected and the front passenger airbags are not activated.