|
 |
| Front and side impact rating |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Pedestrian test rating |
 |
|
|
|
Test Scores: Front 10(63%) Side 15(83%) Overall 25(74%)
|
|
|
|
Euro NCAP allowed
BMW to retest the 3-series after it improved side impact protection
and attended to a door latch release problem. Even so, the car only
just did well enough to merit a four-star rating. The driver risked
chest injury in the frontal impact, and protection for his legs was
mediocre. In the side impact, he risked abdominal injury. Finally,
protection for pedestrians was also disappointing. |
Impact
Protection
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Driver
Front Impact |
Passenger
Front Impact |
Driver
Side Impact |
|
Frontal
Impact
|
|
|
| The
front seat belts were fitted with load limiters and pre-tensioners.
But despite these the driver suffered a quite high chest loading.
The knee impact area had hard points that could damage his knees and
thighs. The centre rear belt was lap-only and provided inferior
protection to that of a three-point belt. . |
Side
Impact
|
|
|
| The
driver’s head and pelvis were well protected, but the load on his
abdomen was high. The rear of the door-mounted thorax airbag did not
fully deploy which allowed his two top ribs to be loaded by the side
wing of the seat, while his abdomen was loaded by the thoracic
airbag, supported by the seat wing. A head protection airbag
‘tube’ is fitted as standard and this performed well in the pole
test. A rear door latch released and Euro NCAP allowed a retest
following a process change to correct this. |
Child
Restraint
|
|
|
| The
3-series has a passenger’s front airbag as standard, which poses a
danger for a child placed in a rear-facing restraint on the front
seat. There was no clear and permanent warning of this danger and
BMW needs to take this matter more seriously. BMW Junior-Seats with
ISOFIX fittings were used. These failed to contain the children’s
heads in the tests with the exception of the younger one’s in the
frontal impact. The ISOFIX mountings were designed to prevent the
seats being used with only one side engaged, to discourage misuse.
However, the belt routing labels were incorrectly coloured and not
permanent. |
Pedestrian
Protection
|
|
|
| The
3-series did little to protect pedestrians: its front was very
uncompromising. Only the bonnet where a child’s head would most
likely strike gave any cushioning. |
| Model
history and safety equipment
The
current 3-series was launched during May 1998. Standard
equipment includes dual frontal airbags, side airbags
(thorax), head - protecting airbag (tube), front belt pre -
tensioners and load limiters, and ABS. A three-point centre
rear belt is an option.
| Make,
model and hand of drive |
BMW
3i6i LHD |
| Body
type |
4-door
saloon |
| Model
year |
2000/2001 |
| Kerb
weight |
1330
kg |
| VIN
and date when rating applies |
316i,
model code: ER11, VIN: KC16362 318i, model code:
AY71, VIN: FZ41627, CJ67330 |
| Cars
built on the same platform |
none |
|
|
|
