Airbag — buffer system Airbag (BMW 5 Series E28)

The Airbag buffer system protects the driver in the event of a frontal collision.

In the event of an impact, the airbag absorbs the sudden forward movement of the driver's body and protects the upper body.

The Airbag buffer system is triggered when a precisely defined frontal collision force occurs.



The illustration shows the impact direction zone in which the system is triggered.

In minor accidents, if the car rolls over, or in side or rear impacts, your safety is ensured only by the seat belt.

The presence of an airbag in a car does not relieve you from the obligation to wear seat belts.

Airbag indicator light in instrument cluster

The indicator shows that the system can be used from the moment the ignition key is turned to position 1.

The system is ready for operation:

• the Airbag inscription lights up for approximately 6 seconds and then goes out again.

System is faulty:

• the inscription does not light up;
• the inscription lights up for about 6 seconds, goes out for a short time and lights up again;
• the inscription flashes while driving for 5 minutes and then lights up continuously.

In this case, there is a risk that the system will not work in an accident. Contact your BMW service immediately and ask for a check.

System activation

The airbag, located under the soft decorative steering wheel cover, fills with air, ruptures the programmed destruction site and inflates above the steering wheel.

The whole process takes only a few fractions of a second.

When the airbag is deployed, the driver does not feel the impact - on the contrary - the bang, rapid inflation and release of air, due to the short reaction time, are lost in the bustle of the emergency event.

The driver should sit on the seat at an appropriate distance from the steering wheel, as the airbag is filled with air with considerable speed and force. While driving, the head and upper body should be kept as far away from the steering wheel as possible.

When the Airbag system is activated, working gas and a small amount of smoke gas are released. These gases are not harmful to health and do not indicate a fire in the vehicle.

Safety precautions

It is prohibited to make any structural changes to the electrical wiring or individual components of the device.

This also applies to the decorative steering wheel trim, which must not be glued, re-covered, modified or processed in any way, as well as the steering wheel itself, the removal of which is prohibited.

Repair work on the Airbag system can only be carried out at a BMW service centre.

Work carried out improperly may result in failure or accidental activation of the system, resulting in injury.

When disposing of an airbag generator, be sure to follow the safety instructions provided by BMW, which can be found at any BMW service center.



To ensure reliable operation of the system, be sure to comply with the inspection and testing periods indicated on the self-adhesive label in the glove compartment.