jglaze

I'm considering getting the kit so my 4 year old can occasionally ride in the front of the car. He's happy in the back seat (and safer) with his booster, but it would be nice for track days when there are parade laps or other quick jaunts around town when I feel it's safe for him to be up front.

My questions for folks who have used the kit:

• How hard was it to install?
• Can you turn the airbag on/off for when adults ride in the front, or is it an all or nothing modification?

Thanks,

-jg

3Series

You can turn the airbag on/off. You use your key and there is a slot installed on the passenger side somewhere.

997.2 here and the deactivation is auto based on weight.

jglaze

Should have clarified, 997.1. No key slot on these earlier cars, that I'm aware of, thus the need.

ManoTexas

Understand your concern. Won't get into discussion on govt information and issues.
I believe if you research, you'll find injury/death risk in front seats is associated with rear facing child seats that put the kid close to the airbag. Children in booster seats are normal distance and the risk factor from airbag deployment could be same as faced by adults.

Your decision. Just suggesting research to help you with it.

Spiffyjiff

i had it installed when new in '06 but not sure how hard it is - stealership did it. key slot on side of passenger dash where it meets the (closed) door to turn on and off and anchors in the seat.

3Series

I was answering your original question. To clarify you will have a key slot after the installation of the airbag deactivation kit.

The 997.2 doesn't have a key slot as standard, you also get if you install the airbag deactivation switch. The 997.2 has a weight sensor to determine whether or not to disable the airbag. If you want to disable it and you are over the weight, then you'll need to install the deactivation kit.

jglaze

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification.

For the limited use I'd expect for this thing (parade laps at track days mostly), it seems like a waste of money and an unneeded hassle. Kid, you're sittin in the back!

Petza914

I bought one of these for my '05 but never installed it. I will make you a deal on it if you want to do it. Comes with latch hook for the front passenger seat as well.

jglaze

Thanks for the offer, but I've decided against going this route. Besides, I don't believe the '05 will work on '06 and later due to a change in the airbags...or so it seems based on the Suncoast site.

-jg

Petza914

I believe in '06 is when they changed to the weight sensitive airbag deactivation. In '05 it was always on - this kit lets you use a key to manually turn it off at the side panel of the dashboard.

LastMezger

In case you're still interested I had the kit installed in my 2006 C4S as well as my 2011 GT3. On each occasion the kit was around $700 CDN and I think it was $300 or so for them to install. I don't think it's the kind of thing you can do yourself.

Tcc1999

Think about this, because your kid won't be four (and small) "four-ever". My point is, if you plan on keeping your car for several years your son will reach a point where he will be big enough to sit in the front - but the airbag will be a danger. Another issue is making sure the seatbelt sits properly across his chest. In my '08 C2S, with passenger airbag on/off I engineered a booster for my eight-year daughter so she could sit in the front, be belted in and not have the airbag go off.