Child Seats in M3 Sedan

[Slimjim8201]

Originally Posted by georgere

Good luck with that. However every time we complain about comfort in a car, I recall my childhood. No seat belts, no airbags, 5 adults in a tiny sedan (Corolla size) and we kids on parents lap. The only safety feature that was there was that kids before 12 were not allowed in the front seat. You can fit as many pple in the back as you could....
Bottom line it will be tight, but all it is about comfort is just 1st world problem

My wife is a pediatric emergency doc. I can assure you that my kids will be rear facing until the child seat specs dictate that they are too large to be rear facing. I'm just lucky she let me get this car. I've been planting seeds for almost three years.

My test drive went like this:

1. Bullshit for 30 minutes with SA
2. Drive DCT M3
3. Drive 6MT M3
4. Spend the next 20 minutes shoehorning three car seats into a 30 Jahre M3 to be sure they fit. I offered to just test fit them in a standard F30, but the SA said, "Whatever, its already out here. Might as well try it in this."

Fortunately, my car is not our primary people mover and my almost 2 year old is MASSIVE and will likely be forced to go forward facing around 3.

[jstnstr]

Does anyone know how to get one of these stateside? I know they are designed for Europe but if it's good enough to keep their kids safe...

[Fatandre]

I love that chair. Looks so good

[996ttelise]

Originally Posted by Slimjim8201

My wife is a pediatric emergency doc. I can assure you that my kids will be rear facing until the child seat specs dictate that they are too large to be rear facing. I'm just lucky she let me get this car. I've been planting seeds for almost three years.

My test drive went like this:

1. Bullshit for 30 minutes with SA
2. Drive DCT M3
3. Drive 6MT M3
4. Spend the next 20 minutes shoehorning three car seats into a 30 Jahre M3 to be sure they fit. I offered to just test fit them in a standard F30, but the SA said, "Whatever, its already out here. Might as well try it in this."

Fortunately, my car is not our primary people mover and my almost 2 year old is MASSIVE and will likely be forced to go forward facing around 3.

I see this and I think fuuuuuu . . . better you than me.

[Love2Apex]

The Diono RXT is the best! Narrow profile, built like a BMW, although forward facing only. Rear facings it can be HUGE and not fit well, even in the middle. What kind of Diono do you have there in the middle? ^^

[geneatals]

has anyone found a backless booster seat that isn't too wide/requires some extra effort to buckle the seat belt?

[RichP]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Seat protector is a must no matter the seat. Go for the prince lionheart one. It's fantastic.

I have the same, it makes all the difference in keeping the leather form getting deformed.

I've got one of these right now.. My son (almost 6) outgrew the back portion recently, so now I am just using the lower booster. Its a good looking seat with better quality fabric.. appropriate for ///M

[RichP]

Originally Posted by Xtabi

I highly recommend http://seatbeltextenderpros.com if your little ones are having trouble buckling. I have used them four times for two different cars (including the M3). Their quality and service is 10/10.

Dude! Thank you! Like others on here, the seat belt buckle being hard to access will be an issue for me (disclosure my M3 is a few weeks away, but I have had plenty of F30 loaner cars to know what everyone on here is talking about)

Just ordered one ;-)

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by RichP

Dude! Thank you! Like others on here, the seat belt buckle being hard to access will be an issue for me (disclosure my M3 is a few weeks away, but I have had plenty of F30 loaner cars to know what everyone on here is talking about)

Just ordered one ;-)

[Slimjim8201]

Originally Posted by Love2Apex

The Diono RXT is the best! Narrow profile, built like a BMW, although forward facing only. Rear facings it can be HUGE and not fit well, even in the middle. What kind of Diono do you have there in the middle? ^^

It's an RXT

[drroc]

Originally Posted by RichP

Dude! Thank you! Like others on here, the seat belt buckle being hard to access will be an issue for me (disclosure my M3 is a few weeks away, but I have had plenty of F30 loaner cars to know what everyone on here is talking about)

Just ordered one ;-)

I bought one a few weeks ago, and my 6 year old can now buckle up himself. Before that, it was always a yoga exercise filled with silent expletives.

[RichP]

Originally Posted by drroc

I bought one a few weeks ago, and my 6 year old can now buckle up himself. Before that, it was always a yoga exercise filled with silent expletives.

I can imagine. I had a 3 sedan for almost a month when my i3 had a major issue; I just got into the habit of snapping him in myself when we got into the car from the back rather than trying to do it from the front.

[spumoni1984]

Originally Posted by Slimjim8201

I'll be taking delivery of my F80 in about a month and will be going three-wide in the back seat. The plan is as follows:

• 4 year old behind the driver in a forward-facing Diono Radian RXT
• 2 year old in the middle in a rear-facing Diono Radian RXT
• New arrival (due date of early March) behind the passenger in a Keyfit 30

I'm 6'3" with long legs so it's going to be tight. Here's to the family sport sedan.

I'm 6'2" and I can make it. 5yr in the middle booster, 3yr behind the driver in a car seat, and the 1yr old in a keyfit30 behind the passenger. I find I need to move the passenger seat up a bit to get the keyfit in, but nothing to the point where the passenger is kissing the dashboard.

Where in pittsburgh do you live? I can show you my setup if you have questions.


Edit: just saw the updated pics - looks like you've got it figured out!

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by geneatals

has anyone found a backless booster seat that isn't too wide/requires some extra effort to buckle the seat belt?

My youngest is in the booster only mode and unlike my e90, the f80 seats make it bvery hard for my son to buckle the belt with your "popular convertible boosters". Luck had it I was at Wally World buying supplies for school functions and I came across the perfect f80 booster seat. Made by harmony, it has a tapers bottom and fits easily in the rear contours of the back seat and super easy to buckle. My son was ecstatic when I picked him up from school and he jumped in the car to buckle his seat.

May be a shit company but is only a booster, how much safety could be built into a booster. Seems to be built the same as the other super brands

[SrunDMC]

Originally Posted by Xtabi

I highly recommend http://seatbeltextenderpros.com if your little ones are having trouble buckling. I have used them four times for two different cars (including the M3). Their quality and service is 10/10.

Awesome tip! I have a Diono Cambria booster that is just too wide and makes it too hard to buckle. Hopefully with the 5" extension, it will be easy for my daughter to buckle herself in.

I checked Diono's instruction booklet and there isn't anything in there restricting use of seat belt extenders.

[Kankles]

Originally Posted by geneatals

has anyone found a backless booster seat that isn't too wide/requires some extra effort to buckle the seat belt?

We really like the Clek Oobr. It's a modular (can remove the back and just use booster seat as the kid grows), front-facing seat with a metal sub-structure.

I got the black one, have had it in an F30 and F80 and fits great and is relatively stealthy (even against the SO interior). I have no problems attaching the latch strap in the F80 as some have mentioned having.

http://clekinc.com/oobr/

https://www.amazon.com/Clek-Oobr-Ful...ords=clek+oobr

[theroadrunner]

+1 for the Clek Oobr booster. Fits great in the F80, attaches with latch. It has an adjustable headrest with deep side wings, belt guides that easily position the seatbelt correctly and converts to a backless booster when they outgrow it. Our 5 year old loves it.

[itrocks4u]

Originally Posted by RichP

Dude! Thank you! Like others on here, the seat belt buckle being hard to access will be an issue for me (disclosure my M3 is a few weeks away, but I have had plenty of F30 loaner cars to know what everyone on here is talking about)

Just ordered one ;-)

What type of extender do I order? There are so many options and sizes? This is particularly for M3.

Then there's option for window or center? Are they really different?

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by itrocks4u

What type of extender do I order? There are so many options and sizes? This is particularly for M3.

Then there's option for window or center? Are they really different?

You want the rigid version of the extender.

[04cobra]

Originally Posted by Slimjim8201

My wife is a pediatric emergency doc. I can assure you that my kids will be rear facing until the child seat specs dictate that they are too large to be rear facing. I'm just lucky she let me get this car. I've been planting seeds for almost three years.

My test drive went like this:

1. Bullshit for 30 minutes with SA
2. Drive DCT M3
3. Drive 6MT M3
4. Spend the next 20 minutes shoehorning three car seats into a 30 Jahre M3 to be sure they fit. I offered to just test fit them in a standard F30, but the SA said, "Whatever, its already out here. Might as well try it in this."

Fortunately, my car is not our primary people mover and my almost 2 year old is MASSIVE and will likely be forced to go forward facing around 3.

This makes me happy, I have a 3rd on the way, and thought I would be stuck with a 3rd row SUV

[04cobra]

Note on seat belt extenders. You need to check with the Car Seat manufacturer and the vehicle manufacturer, before adding extenders. Many car seats say NOT OK to use seat belt extenders.

While I know you all want to protect your car/seats/leather and make it easier, I think the safety of your children come over what works best for your vehicle.

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by itrocks4u

What type of extender do I order? There are so many options and sizes? This is particularly for M3.

Then there's option for window or center? Are they really different?

You want the rigid version of the extender.