The newer BMWs including the E70 have rear side curtain airbags that descend from the headliner. The front passengers have curtain and seat-mounted airbags.

Door-mounted side airbags have lost in popularity. The only remnant of this is the E83 X3, which not coincidentally, is also the last "old generation" BMW. Today, the X3 still has front and (optional) rear door-mounted side airbags, in addition to the curtain airbags for all front and rear passengers.