Tells you how good a stock airbag system works after

[Erick]

So you're saying you need the front to be pushed into the interior so the airbag would be deployed?

Seriously, that hit does look like it required the deployment of the airbag.

[Charlie]

So you're saying you need the front to be pushed into the interior so the airbag would be deployed?

Seriously, that hit does look like it required the deployment of the airbag.

No, I'm saying there would have to be a lot more deformation on the front end of the car, IE: a higher speed wreck to deploy that bag. The allignment on that car doesn't even look like it was knocked off. At worst, that was probably a 10-15 mph hit.

-Charlie

[M-technik-3]

Airbags were made to deploy at 10-15 mph. That was main complaint when the first came to market and early BMW's had first gen bags correct?

[nando]

okay, done some reading.. looks like most airbags are designed to deploy in a crash of about 12-16mph. not sure if this applies to our cars though. also, occupants should sit at least 10" away from the airbag, and avoid putting your hands/fingers in front of one (duh).

The primary benefit of an airbag is to keep your face from smashing into the steering wheel (another duh). This definetly helps idiots who don't wear a seatbelt, but how hard of a crash would I have to be in to smash my face into my steering wheel? My sport seats are all the way back and my face must be a good 2 feet from the steering wheel (my arms are around 18", guesstimated from my typical seating posistion with hands at 9 and 3, elbows 2-3" from my chest). I also noticed when I looked at crash test photos, the seats would move way forward during the crash. I just don't see a sport seat moving that far, unless you're really cooking..

so basically, unless you sit close to your steering wheel (close enough to smash your face into it if you're in an accident), or you don't wear a seatbelt (or you wear a broken one, lotta good that does), the airbag won't really do much for you (the goverment will claim otherwise). I mean, if I'm in an accident where my steering wheel moves 2 feet I don't think the airbag is going to do a lot for me.

I guess my question now is, how far does the seat belt let you move before it locks? I guess a panic stop in my car will tell me that...

[Erick]

I slammed my brakes once and I did not move out of my seat. The seatbelts held me to the seat without any worries.

Plus, that was NOT a 10-15mph accident, unless it collided with something also travelling at the same speed in the opposite direction. I had a 10-15mph accident already and the damage doesnt even begin to resemble that of the 318iS there.

[Ryan Stewart]

I thought it was those two sensors on the frame rails that were mounted to a spot where the rail is supposed to buckle. Instead of a potentiometer they were simple switches that tripped when that crumple zone broke.

[BS87]

I dont have to worry about this, simply because my hinker didnt come with an airbage. Few years to young :D

[Ryan Stewart]

fo shizzle. No airbag or ABS. its all Me baby!

[aaron_silva]

I slammed my brakes once and I did not move out of my seat. The seatbelts held me to the seat without any worries.

Plus, that was NOT a 10-15mph accident, unless it collided with something also travelling at the same speed in the opposite direction. I had a 10-15mph accident already and the damage doesnt even begin to resemble that of the 318iS there.

I wouldnt compare slamming on the brakes to getting in a head on collision. Remember F=ma. Your acceleration (decceleration in this case) is much greater in a crash than slamming on your brakes.

Aaron

[Erick]

Very true.... but the only other ways to REALLY test out the seat belts arent really cost-effective, so I rather slam the brakes and take a rough estimate ;)

....unless you dont give a damn for your whole front end and.... then more power to ya... I'll see you at the next concrete wall :roll: :P

[nando]

I wouldnt compare slamming on the brakes to getting in a head on collision. Remember F=ma. Your acceleration (decceleration in this case) is much greater in a crash than slamming on your brakes.

Aaron

very true. but with more force (collision vs brakes), would your seatbelt let you move more or less before it locked? I'd hope less, but I'm thinking it's probably more.

[AdamF 88iS]

Just FYI on how E30 crash sensors work:

Inside that little orange box there is a weight that works against a clock spring. When the car declerates the weight swings foreward. Under a hard enough deceleration, the weight will swing forward far enough to touch the front of the orange box. The trigger circuit is closed when the weight (+) contacts the front of the case (-) then boom.

-Adam

[MikesJo]

That hit doesn't look like it would be hard enough to deploy the bag.

-Charlie

Yea i agree.

[bimmerphile]

yeah I've seen that thread, not much more than some anecdotal information, I want some cold hard facts..

The NaN3 burns, and the thumb being torn off were all testimonials I read at either Edmunds or NIHS's website, regarding accidents in 90-92 E30's and E34's.