BMW 5 Series: Safety belts

Number of safety belts and safety belt buckles

The vehicle is fitted with five safety belts to ensure occupant safety. However, they can only offer protection when adjusted correctly.

The two outer safety belt buckles of the rear seats are intended for the persons sitting on the left and right.

The center safety belt buckle of the rear seats is intended for the person sitting in the middle.

General information

Always make sure that safety belts are being worn by the occupants before driving off. The airbags supplement the safety belts as an additional safety device. The airbags are not a substitute for safety belts.

The upper shoulder strap's anchorage point will be correct for adult seat occupants of every build if the seat is correctly adjusted.

Safety information

Warning

Use of a safety belt to buckle more than one person will potentially defeat the ability of the safety belt to serve its protective function.

There is a risk of injuries or danger to life. Do not allow more than one person to wear a single safety belt. Infants and children are not allowed on an occupant's lap, but must be transported and secured in designated child restraint systems.

Warning

The efficacy of safety gear, including safety belts, can be limited or lost when safety belts are fastened incorrectly. An incorrectly fastened safety belt can cause additional injuries, for instance instance in the event of an accident or during braking and evasive maneuvers. There is a risk of injuries or danger to life. Make sure that all occupants are wearing safety belts correctly.

Warning

With a rear backrest that is not locked, the protective function of the middle safety belt is not guaranteed. There is a risk of injuries or danger to life. If you are using the middle safety belt, lock the wider rear seat backrest.

Warning

The efficacy of safety gear, including safety belts, may not be fully functional or fail in the following situations:

• The safety belts or safety belt buckles are damaged, soiled, or changed in any other way.
• Belt tensioners or belt retractors were modified.

Safety belts can be imperceptibly damaged in the event of an accident. There is a risk of injuries or danger to life. Do not modify safety belts, safety belt buckles, belt tensioners, belt retractors or belt anchors and keep them clean. Have the safety belts checked after an accident at the dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

Correct use of safety belts

• Wear the safety belt twist-free and tight to your body over your lap and shoulders.
• Wear the safety belt deep on your hips over your lap. The safety belt may not press on your stomach.
• Do not rub the safety belt against sharp edges, or guide it or jam it in across hard or fragile objects.
• Avoid thick clothing.
• Re-tighten the safety belt frequently upward around your upper body.

Buckling the safety belt

1. Guide the safety belt slowly over shoulder and hip to put it on.

2. Insert the tongue plate into the safety belt buckle. The safety belt buckle must engage audibly.

When the safety belt is fastened, the driver's and passenger's belt straps are automatically tightened once after driving away.

Unbuckling the safety belt

1. Hold the safety belt firmly.

2. Press the red button in the safety belt buckle.

3. Guide the safety belt back into its roll-up mechanism.

Safety belt reminder for driver's seat and front passenger seat

Display in the instrument cluster

The indicator light lights up and a signal sounds. Make sure that the safety belts are positioned correctly. The safety belt reminder can also be activated if objects are placed on the front passenger seat.

Safety belt reminder for rear seats

General information

The safety belt reminder is automatically activated each time the engine starts.

The safety belt reminder is also activated when a passenger unbuckles a rear seat safety belt during the trip.

Display in the instrument cluster

The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates after the engine is started.

Green: the safety belt is buckled on the corresponding rear seat.

Red: the safety belt is not buckled on the corresponding rear seat.

Safety mode

In critical situations, for instance during an emergency stop, the front safety belts tighten automatically.

If the situation passes without an accident occurring, the belt tension relaxes.

If the belt tension does not loosen automatically, stop the vehicle and unbuckle the safety belt using the red button in the safety belt buckle. Fasten the safety belt before continuing on your trip.

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