BMW Heaven - The Knowledge Base 2.0

Superior comfort and safety on all four seats.
Carrier structures able to take high loads, generous and clearly defined deformation zones front and rear, side impact protection integrated in the doors and rear side panels, and an extremely stiff passenger cell maintaining its function as the occupants’ survival area even in a severe collision – all these components form the basic structure for the outstanding, very high level of passive safety within the BMW 6 Series.
Other features fitted as standard are a steering column deforming in a defined process in the event of a severe head-on collision and highly efficient restraint systems.
All seats come with three-point inertia-reel seat belts equipped with belt force limiters. Belt latch tensioners are fitted additionally at the front, tightening the belts whenever necessary.
The driver and front passenger are protected by both frontal and side airbags, the frontal airbags inflating in two stages as a function of collision intensity and speed. In a severe collision, therefore, a second ignition stage inflates the airbag completely even faster than in a less severe collision.
The BMW 6 Series Coupé comes additionally with the Advanced Head Protection System (AHPS) providing an exceptionally broad safety area along the side windows. The BMW 6 Series Convertible, on the other hand, features rollbars moving up automatically whenever required. In the event of a rollover, the rollbars move up from a module behind the rear-seat headrests within fractions of a second, locking firmly and securely in position.
This rollover protection is supplemented on the Convertible by the A-pillars made of high-strength steel and a windscreen frame made of profile elements receiving their contours optimised for loads and forces in an inner high-pressure moulding process.
All passive safety elements in both the BMW 6 Series Coupé and the BMW 6 Series Convertible are masterminded by BMW’s innovative Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM). This high-tech system evaluates all signals coming in from the sensors for precise detection and recognition of crash conditions, activating the restraint systems and – in the Convertible – the rollbars both quickly and precisely where required.



Active headrests for an even higher standard of occupant safety.
The BMW 6 Series Coupé and the BMW 6 Series Convertible come as standard with electrically adjustable seats for the driver and front passenger including a triple memory function. The sports seats available as optional extras and also adjustable electrically have firmer upholstery, give the body even better support particularly in dynamic curves and bends, and offer adjustable thigh support.
The front seats on the BMW 6 Series Convertible boast a fully integrated belt system, while in the BMW 6 Series Coupé appropriately positioned belt anchoring points allow comfortable use of the restraint systems at any time. Easy Entry, finally, ensures convenient access to the rear seats whenever necessary, the two individual seats at the rear being separated from one another by an elevated cushion in between. And the sporting contours of the seat backrests, finally, ensure optimum safety at all times.
Newly developed active headrests on the front seats raise the level of passive safety in the new BMW 6 Series to an even higher standard. These headrests develop their protective effect in the event of a collision from behind by automatically reducing the distance to the driver’s and passenger’s head, thus preventing any rapid movement or rotational forces on the occupant’s head, in the process significantly reducing the driver’s and front passenger’s risk of upper spine injury.
To provide this special safety effect, the headrests are moved forward by 60 millimetres or 2.36´´ and upward by 40 millimetres or 1.57´´, whenever the airbag control unit registers an impact against the rear end of the BMW 6 Series and transmits a signal for pyrotechnical activation of the system.
This, in turn, releases two springs moving the upholstered sections of the headrests into position. This cushions the occupant’s head in good time, setting off any violent movement caused by impact energy acting on the car and thus minimising any forces around the driver’s or front passenger’s neck.
The bottom line offered by this improvement is a significant reduction of the risk of spinal injury and the phenomenon commonly referred to as whiplash trauma.