Quote:
Originally Posted by zoner  The 'foam blocks' are actually a structural/crash protection feature that are probably required on USA spec. cars per some DOT/NHTSB/or other govt. mandate.... |
I have not read anything that they are a government mandate, but I have not looked very hard.
The E36 tested poorly with regards to knee protection, see for example,
here. That may have been enough. An American BMW mechanic we talked to, said he would not take out the foam, given the crashed E36s he had seen, some involving drivers who were wearing their seat belts (he could see the belts had been stretched).