2010 BMW 3 series

Rating applies to 2006-11 models built after November 2005

Tested vehicle: 2006 BMW 325i 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The BMW 3 series was redesigned for the 2006 model year. Beginning with 2006 models manufactured after November 2005, changes were made to the side airbags and door trim panels to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door). The tested car was manufactured after the modifications had been made.

Overall evaluation

G

Structure and safety cage

A

Driver injury measures

Head/neck

G

Torso

A

Pelvis/leg

A

Driver head protection

G

Rear passenger injury measures

Head/neck

G

Torso

G

Pelvis/leg

G

Rear passenger head protection

G

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Action shot taken during the side impact crash test showing the driver dummy’s head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID
CES0603

B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm)
-10.0

Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID
CES0603

Head HIC-15
214

Neck

Tension (kN)
0.9

Compression (kN)
0.4

Shoulder

Lateral deflection (mm)
33

Lateral force (kN)
1.6

Torso

Maximum deflection (mm)
47

Average deflection (mm)
38

Maximum deflection rate (m/s)
4.11

Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)
0.78

Pelvis

Iliac force (kN)
2.1

Acetabulum force (kN)
3.5

Combined force (kN)
5.3

Left femur

L-M force (kN)
1.2

L-M moment (Nm)
186

A-P moment (Nm)
23

Passenger injury measures

Test ID
CES0603

Head HIC-15
61

Neck

Tension (kN)
0.6

Compression (kN)
0.2

Shoulder

Lateral deflection (mm)
9

Lateral force (kN)
0.6

Torso

Maximum deflection (mm)
35

Average deflection (mm)
24

Maximum deflection rate (m/s)
2.98

Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)
0.42

Pelvis

Iliac force (kN)
0.7

Acetabulum force (kN)
1.8

Combined force (kN)
2.4

Left femur

L-M force (kN)
0.9

L-M moment (Nm)
90

A-P moment (Nm)
-16