Safety of E30s

[Dr Firefly]

Been some good threads on this, just been looking through the search section.

It was mentioned that some very late E30s had airbags as an optional extra? Anyone know anything about this? Be interested in retrofitting one, and also whether you can still get the airbag renewed. Just I've done a fair few A&E shifts recently, and some paramedic shifts, and consequently as I'm driving I'm starting to look at my steering column as less of a control device, and more as a spear aimed directly at my heart...

Here's a good link too comparing E30 statistics in accidents to pretty much every other make. Recent data too.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/used-c ... odels.html

[HairyScreech]

interesting some of the cars that are worse than average, and it seem some much lager safer cars seem in the same bracket as the e30.

[darkchild]

I've only ever seen 1 E30 with an airbag and that was a Hartge Alpine White Touring (no idea if it was a genuine Hartge but it had the ugly 4 spoke airbag wheel thats in some M5's). Sure theres a few more about though.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I seem to remember there's an ugly Tech 2 airbag wheel available somewhere...

[Cotty]

Here's a good link too comparing E30 statistics in accidents to pretty much every other make. Recent data too.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/used-c ... odels.html

Dont know why but im slightly disapointed by the "How seriously is your vehicle likely to harm another road user?" = "Less harm than average"

Sorry im drinking please ignore me

[DanThe]

E30 + airbag = wrong

[maxfield]

The steering column has something in it, so that it won't be directed at you.

I learned it at college but can't remember the name of it.

[Cotty]

I've done a fair few A&E shifts recently, and some paramedic shifts, and consequently as I'm driving I'm starting to look at my steering column as less of a control device, and more as a spear aimed directly at my heart...

On a more serious note, if you are that worred then buy a later 3 series with all the airbags, crumple zones, passenger safety zones etc that you want

I used to race karts that did 80mph with none of the above. If I was ever afraid of my own mortality I would never have pushed so hard or had so much fun.

[DanThe]

The steering column has something in it, so that it won't be directed at you.

I learned it at college but can't remember the name of it.

Im pretty sure the steering wheel would stop the column spearing you

When I trashed my Henna red chromie the column mounting bolts sheared and it dropped down.

[maxfield]

Yeah that's another safety feature of steering columns. They're called shear bolts, I think.

Just can't remember the other name

[nickso]

even if the column didnt shear, an airbag is not going to stop a steering column going through your chest, its not what its designed for.

loads of army blokes lost their lives whilst crashing willy's jeeps in various wars cos the steering column was famous for planting your upper organs in the back seat.

[DanThe]

Yeah that's another safety feature of steering columns. They're called shear bolts, I think.

No max, shear bolts are a security feature, the head shears off giving it a set torque and makes it difficult to remove

[Speedtouch]

No Citroens in that list I notice! 2CVs are apparently pretty lethal (mine was, anyway!)

[march109]

Thought all steering colums were calapsable! I seem to remember that they are at least or used to be, since when building kit cars we were alwas required to fit a calapsable column to pass SVA and we just used the sierra column as it did the job.

Air bags are over rated, my sister, my girlfriend and every other woman I have ever known sits too close to the steering wheel for it to be much use any way. If my gurlfriend was in an accident and the bag went off it would be a trade off between the damage from the accident and being crushed against the seat as the airbag went off.

In the states it was said they kill more people than the save, though that was before many states made the wearing of seatbelts compulsary.

[DanThe]

If you have an airbag its in your best interests to wear a seat belt!

[Speedtouch]

Air bags are over rated, my sister, my girlfriend and every other woman I have ever known sits too close to the steering wheel for it to be much use any way. If my gurlfriend was in an accident and the bag went off it would be a trade off between the damage from the accident and being crushed against the seat as the airbag went off.

Who needs 'em, when you have:

[Gibson]

Ford Capri 89-94 Small Significantly worse than average Less harm than average


Ha.... uhoh.

The ETK shows airbags for late model E30s....

[Benho]

Air bags are over rated, my sister, my girlfriend and every other woman I have ever known sits too close to the steering wheel for it to be much use any way. If my gurlfriend was in an accident and the bag went off it would be a trade off between the damage from the accident and being crushed against the seat as the airbag went off.

my girlfriends mum sits with literally 4 inches of space between her and the wheel. you need to sit like arms length away at least with a belt on. however, it does depend what you hit. hitting a mini wont be too bad, hitting a buss would be lol

[Dr Firefly]

I've done a fair few A&E shifts recently, and some paramedic shifts, and consequently as I'm driving I'm starting to look at my steering column as less of a control device, and more as a spear aimed directly at my heart...

On a more serious note, if you are that worred then buy a later 3 series with all the airbags, crumple zones, passenger safety zones etc that you want

I used to race karts that did 80mph with none of the above. If I was ever afraid of my own mortality I would never have pushed so hard or had so much fun.

Not that worried, just been thinking about it seeing car after car with dead drivers. But then they had more modern cars and the airbags hadn't worked for them, so probably best not to crash in the first place!

Still an airbag could hardly be a negative thing to retrofit surely? Anyway it looks like no-one's done it? Must say I'd hate to lose my Mtec1 wheel - love it.

[bmwe30mtech]

I've done a fair few A&E shifts recently, and some paramedic shifts, and consequently as I'm driving I'm starting to look at my steering column as less of a control device, and more as a spear aimed directly at my heart...

On a more serious note, if you are that worred then buy a later 3 series with all the airbags, crumple zones, passenger safety zones etc that you want

I used to race karts that did 80mph with none of the above. If I was ever afraid of my own mortality I would never have pushed so hard or had so much fun.

Karts dont have seatbelts because they dont have a roof. When you crash you get thrown out of it, ususally into tires or grass and not too seriously injured. If you were strapped in and it flipped you would land on your head!

[march109]

I've done a fair few A&E shifts recently, and some paramedic shifts, and consequently as I'm driving I'm starting to look at my steering column as less of a control device, and more as a spear aimed directly at my heart...

On a more serious note, if you are that worred then buy a later 3 series with all the airbags, crumple zones, passenger safety zones etc that you want

I used to race karts that did 80mph with none of the above. If I was ever afraid of my own mortality I would never have pushed so hard or had so much fun.

Not that worried, just been thinking about it seeing car after car with dead drivers. But then they had more modern cars and the airbags hadn't worked for them, so probably best not to crash in the first place!

Still an airbag could hardly be a negative thing to retrofit surely? Anyway it looks like no-one's done it? Must say I'd hate to lose my Mtec1 wheel - love it.

Sorry don't agree with retro fitting such a precise safety device.

If installed improperly it could kill you, or potentially be a lethal weapon waiting to go off even in the event of no collision. And that would be of less use than no airbag at all really, even in the biggest smash there has to be some etreme circumstance for you to die if you are wearing a seat belt and your car is structurally sound. Citroen 2cv's were not structurally sound when new!

In recent years it has been found that the older generation of airbags need replacing and repacking anything form 5 to 10 years after original instalation, and there have been cases (in older systems) of the charge in the airbag not deploying the bag but instead causing fires and or spraying the driver with burning powder. Because the lining of the air bag has perished.

I personally would not retrofit an explosive device, designed to explode in the event of a collision, directly pointed at my head mere inches from my face, but thats me.

Newer gas systems are probably safer but still use a smaller charge to begin the inflation of the bags.

Plus its not really a system you can test once you've fitted it.

I don't know if companies offer it as a service but if they do 'd reccomend the professionals do the install.

[Benho]

depends what sort of guy you are, would you sacrifice looks for safety. tbh, mtec with a bag? no thanks lol

[march109]

well mtec2 steering wheels allready looks like it has a bag - though I can't confirm wether it does or not since my sport is the early 1989 and although a tech 2 came with the tech 1 wheel.

[Dr Firefly]

depends what sort of guy you are, would you sacrifice looks for safety. tbh, mtec with a bag? no thanks lol

Hmmm.... alive with a bad looking wheel, or splattered over a stunningly beautiful limited edition M3 evo suede wheel....

Actually, I see your point! Those suede wheels are gorgeous - as long as the blood stains come out.

Seriously tho, I take people's points about retrofitting an old airbag wheel yourself - would be ludicrous. Would have to be a professional, but then where are you going to find a professional that will guarantee the fitment of a 15 year old airbag design? Not to mention the difficulties of finding a new replacement airbag to put in the wheel.

Overall maybe a difficult thing to do then... my ideal would be to put a recent E46 wheel on, especially as they're less ugly, but I'd imagine they have different inputs from the collision sensors, not to mention the different spline sizes, but the volume controls etc would then be able to work with the BMW CD player I've got currently installed. Maybe the whole E46 steering column and airbag sensor system could be installed? Or is that just too complicated and a flight of fantasy? Can't really imagine it would all be compatible. Sorry if I'm not making sense, had a bit to drink - like Cotty!

[march109]

Not as stupid an idea as it seems IMO, the e36 rack is nearly a direct replacement for the E30 one so dont' expect the e46 one to be hugely different, the stereo controls would work if you installed a appropriate stereo. And the sencers can't be 'too' hard its the wiring that would confuse me, I expect the airbag also either has its own control module or is possibly these days controlled through the cars ecu which then scuppers the plan.

I just wouldn't bother personally I don't rate airbags. Correctly adjusted head rest (which is really a head stop!)Side impact bars (at a push), rust free sills (where the seatbelt mounts), and a secure seat and I would be perfectly happy.

[march109]

Sorry that post reads really negative, its just my personal opinion that airbags arn't as important as manufacturers today make them out to be.

As a motorbike rider though cars seem pretty safe to me anyway.

[Dr Firefly]

Sorry that post reads really negative, its just my personal opinion

That's what the zone's about, feel free to voice your opinion. Just seen a lot of people with serious injuries from hitting the steering column recently that's all. But to be fair most of them are in small cars where the actual "occupent cage" as it's called has collapsed after a heavy impact, so I can't see where the airbag was much use in most of the accidents. Like I said, best thing is not to crash, which is where the E30 is quite good, as it's agile, has decent visibility, and decent brakes.

Always wanted to have a motorbike (one of those beautiful old 50s Indians) before I started studying medicine - but been put off by the number of accidents I've seen. Do a fair bit of jetskiing though, which is kind of similar without the danger, though water feels like concrete over 30mph!

[Simon13]

the air wheel is a truly minging thing best avoided. Like said the E30 is a tough old nail and we aren't as tough. If you want a bit more safety a newer car is the best bet but @70mph plus you're in trouble no matter what your driving!

[Dr Firefly]

the air wheel is a truly minging thing best avoided. Like said the E30 is a tough old nail and we aren't as tough. If you want a bit more safety a newer car is the best bet but @70mph plus you're in trouble no matter what your driving!

Pretty much what I was beginning to think. Better just stick to 10mph then! Did you see the news about that woman driving along the motorway at 10mph with a sign saying "I don't like going fast, please overtake?" Mad

OK I think I won't bother with the E30 airbag wheel - sounds like it's ugly, out of date and unreliable with age. With the extensive rebuild planned for my car I might look into the practicality of transplanting a whole section of an E46 in, partly just so I can control the stereo from the wheel (it has a remote input feed that's currently empty). Doubt it'll be a simple one though.

[Simon13]

just use blue tac and buy a head unit with a remote?

[DanThe]

Car radio remotes...

[Benho]

just wear a crash helmet, make you feel like Michael Schumacher

[bottlecapE30]

I don't know about you guys in the uk but I had an air bag on my 1991 325i, and my 1989 325xi. It was a four spoke wheel.

I was rear ended in the 325i and the air bag never went off. I'm sure if you wanted the parts for it they would be easy to find here in the states. the problem would be making it fit on the RHD set up, or maybe it might just drop in.

Personaly i like the helmet idea.

[march109]

I don't know about you guys in the uk but I had an air bag on my 1991 325i, and my 1989 325xi. It was a four spoke wheel.

I was rear ended in the 325i and the air bag never went off. I'm sure if you wanted the parts for it they would be easy to find here in the states. the problem would be making it fit on the RHD set up, or maybe it might just drop in.

Personaly i like the helmet idea.

It wouldn't go off if you are rear ended, the sencers even in modern cars are at the front, in the event of a rear end collision our head would be thrown back which should be cushioned b the properly adjusted head rest.

When you hit something in frint your head is thrown forwards, due to the sudden deceleration of the car, Newton's First law! An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force, the car decelerates in the accident, and your head continues at the speed of the vehicle until your neck has a chance to oppose the force. The air bag protects your head from smacking the steering wheel.

[Morat]

E30s do seem to be pretty solid for what they are, but there has been an awful lot of progress on this front in the last 20 years. I think the biggest thing to avoid is driving like a tw*t and punting yourself off the road. You only need a solid wall or oncoming traffic to make a nightmare come true.