Optional rear side air bags in 325i

[tandoori]

I'm about to buy a new 2004 325i. I have a two-and-a-half year old child (real big for his age, about 44 pounds) who will sit in a child car seat in the right rear. I'm a very safety-conscious person.

Here's my question: should I order the optional rear side air bags for the car? My research on the web returns mixed results. Some sources say that such a feature might be more dangerous than safe for children under 60 or 70 pounds. Others say that you must consult the manufacturer. I called BMW today and they seemed virtually clueless about it.

In the future, I might have another kid - so there would be an infant riding in the car as well.

I'm grateful for your help. I really enjoy reading these forums, and have learned a lot.

[325isBaby]

If you are ordering your car you can have the rear airbags deactivated, it's just a matter of signing a waver saying that you understand the conciquences..blah blah blah...once you are sure you arent having any more children/the children are big enough to not be at risk of injury you can have the air bags re-activated....Now your next question about airbags being a danger...the new ones have been viewd not to be as big of a risk as the older system....it's your choice and you do have many options. Good luck

[beyonce_boy]

I opted to not get them when I ordered my car in 2002. The dealer (and my rep was a personal friend who knows his stuff) told me that I could order them and that they would come de-active from the factory. I would sign a waiver to have them go active, but (and this is where it sounds like me and '325isbaby' have different info) he told me that once they were active they could never be turned off and that it could effect the resale value of the vehicle.

Personally, I didn't get them because I never knew if there would be kids in the car. What a bummer to have that kind of restriction.

[325isBaby]

Actually in the new BMW line with GenII airbag system the air bags come activated from the factory and can be deactivated upon customer request...you need to have access to proper SI information (at the dealership level on the technitian end) to know this....take it or leave it it's your choice.