Side airbag retrofit?

[clumpymold]

Hey all,

Just wondering if this was possible for us pre-1998 E36 M3 owners. If it's not too difficult to do, I would like to do this (preferably for a 2 door but 4 doors are fine too). Can you just swap door panels or something? I'm sure it's more complicated than that since it requires electrical wiring and the like. :dunno

Anyway, anyone on here done it (or know someone that has)? I tried a search but couldn't find anything. :(

Thanks all!

Curtis

clumpymold@sbcglobal.net

[EEEEeeee36]

On previous cars that I have owned, the side airbag actually comes out of the seat from a pouch on the side and creates a balloon in front of the door in between the passenger/driver and the door... is that not the same for BMW?

[clumpymold]

On previous cars that I have owned, the side airbag actually comes out of the seat from a pouch on the side and creates a balloon in front of the door in between the passenger/driver and the door... is that not the same for BMW?
I'm not sure. I thought I saw one on a car before and it was only in the door panels. :dunno

[G. P. Burdell]

I wouldn't want to drive or ride in a car that's had airbags retrofitted. I doubt that many shops would even touch that kind of work for liability reasons.

While wiring up the new airbags, you'd have to convince your car's SRS computer that there are additional airbags and crash sensors for it to think about. It would be difficult to know if the retrofit worked until you're in a crash. Plus, you could face a heap of liability if you're carrying passengers, get into a crash, and the airbags don't deploy when needed.

Better to just drive defensively and hope for the best, or get a car that came with side-impact airbags from the factory.

[RDD]

I'm not sure. I thought I saw one on a car before and it was only in the door panels. :dunno

Mine are in the door panels.

[CarbonBlkE36]

mine always comes out the door panel too............

i don't think bmw ever has insalled bags into the seats

[clumpymold]

I wouldn't want to drive or ride in a car that's had airbags retrofitted. I doubt that many shops would even touch that kind of work for liability reasons.

While wiring up the new airbags, you'd have to convince your car's SRS computer that there are additional airbags and crash sensors for it to think about. It would be difficult to know if the retrofit worked until you're in a crash. Plus, you could face a heap of liability if you're carrying passengers, get into a crash, and the airbags don't deploy when needed.

Better to just drive defensively and hope for the best, or get a car that came with side-impact airbags from the factory.
I see, that would make sense. I would hope/think that this install/retrofit would be pretty easy. Just swap door panels. Not sure about the wiring though.

It's not like this is on my high priority list of things to do. I was just curious. :D

[Imperialduckm3]

You would need to get a complete door from an 1998 M3 and change the SRS DME to accompdate the new sensor. It could be done, but just becareful not to deploy the airbag :D Can you say ouch :eek:

[clumpymold]

You would need to get a complete door from an 1998 M3 and change the SRS DME to accompdate the new sensor. It could be done, but just becareful not to deploy the airbag :D Can you say ouch :eek:
Ahh, the entire door? Including side-view mirrors? And what if I disconnect the battery? Will the airbag still accidentally deploy?