1999 BMW 528I

MY CAR WAS HIT (BROAD-SIDED AT A PERPENDICULAR ANGLE) BY A 16 YO IN AN 1989 CAMARO. MY BMW VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING BENDING OF THE CAR-FRAME, BLOW-OUT OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW (THAT LANDED ON THE PASSENGER, LACERATING HIS LEG), AND SEPARATION AND RUPTURE OF THE BODY SIDE DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY AND DOOR SHELL. I SUSTAINED BLUNT LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES AND BRUISING FROM IMPACTING THE PILLAR, AND ALSO BACK/LEG INJURIES. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT (THAT MADE BOTH LEFT-SIDE DOORS INOPERABLE), NEITHER THE SIDE NOR THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIRBAG SYSTEMS DEPLOYED, AND THE EMERGENCY CENTRAL UNLOCKING SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AMERICA, WHO AFTER WEEKS OF UNHELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. THE ENGINEERS' REPORT (WHICH TO DATE, HAS NOT BEEN SHARED WITH ME DESPITE MY REPEATED REQUESTS), STATES THAT THE IMPACT "WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE DEPLOYMENT" OF THE AIRBAGS. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SUCH INSTANCES OF FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA? IN THE BMW ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PASSIVE REASTRAINT SYSTEM, THE SIDE (AND HEAD) AIRBAGS ARE CLEARLY CLAIMED TO BE DEPLOYED DURING SIDE IMPACTS OF LESSER SEVERITY THAN THE ONE I EXPERIENCED. ALL BMW AND MERCEDES SALES PEOPLE AND MECHANICS WHO HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WERE OF THE OPINION THAT THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE DAMAGE WITH PHOTOS. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE TRANSMISSON FAILURE NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND I WAS NEALRY HIT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE HORN FAILURE NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN A WOMAN BEGAN TO DRIVE INTO THE SIDE OF MY VEHICLE - I HAD A CAR BEHIND ME SO I COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKES INSTEAD I SAW MYSELF CLEAR AND CROSSED DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINES ON TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC SIDE IN ORDER TO AVERT AN ACCIDENT. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIMEI EVER HAD TO USE THE HORN IN THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT WORK. *AK