To read down the list of 2000 3 Series safety attributes and features is impressive enough: These include:

• An ultra-rigid, energy-managing body structure
  
• Interlocking side doors for enhanced side-impact resistance
  
• An elaborate 2-section energy-absorbing steering column
  
• Height-adjustable front safety belts with automatic tensioners and force limiters
  
• Dual front-impact airbag Supplementary Restraint system with not only a dual-threshold deployment system, but a 2-stage "smart" passenger-side airbag - further enhancing the adaptation of restraint-system deployment to actual impact conditions
  
• BMW's unique Head Protection System for front-seat occupants
  
• Side-impact airbags for front-seat occupants
  
• Available side-impact airbags for rear-seat occupants
  
• Battery Safety Terminal - In case of severe impact, a tiny pyrotechnic charge servers the high-voltage connection between battery and starter.

Yet BMW can say even more about the inherent safety design of this new-age Series of automobiles.  Once again we refer to the German magazine auto motor und sport, which actually conducts its own crash tests. auto motor und sport has now run its independent test of the E46 3 Series sedan, and published the results in a recent issue.  Both the offset front-impact test at 64 km/h (almost 40 mph) and the magazine's new side-impact test at 32 km/h (12.6 mph) against a massive iron pole were survived by the BMW :"occupants" (instrumented test dummies) largely without injury.  "Occupant protection in the new 3 Series is at such a high standard that only marginal improvements are conceivable."