Rear facing car seats in F80

[ES_TRADER]

Those of you who use it as a family car, do these fit ok? Can they be attached to the center rear seat instead of behind the driver or passenger?

I just installed the rear facing seat in my X5 and had to push the passenger seat all the way forward or the carrier wouldnt fit because the back of the carrier would be squished in between.

F80 family car is on order so I've no idea if this will fit or not. Can those of you who have tried it chime in?

Also for sedans are there metal latches in the rear seats for center installation? i only saw latches on the left or the right...

[ThomasM4]

Yes, you can put the seat in the middle and use the inner latches from each side seat. My wife has a 2013 328i and that's how we do it so the front seats don't have to be moved forward and the center is the safest for the baby. I researched it a lot ahead of time. The latches just need to be something like 11 inches apart or more to be used properly. I measured the two inner latches at about 12 inches apart.

[SOM3]

You'll have no problem hooking up a baby seat inside your M3. If you do it behind the shotgun seat there will be sufficient space for your wife up front unless she is of beastly size. Also stroller fits in the trunk without a problem.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ThomasM4

Yes, you can put the seat in the middle and use the inner latches from each side seat. My wife has a 2013 328i and that's how we do it so the front seats don't have to be moved forward and the center is the safest for the baby. I researched it a lot ahead of time. The latches just need to be something like 11 inches apart or more to be used properly. I measured the two inner latches at about 12 inches apart.

I think this is a question for BMW to answer.

Certainly there is an upper limit to how far apart the anchors can be while still being able to safely secure the seat. Now twelve inches may very well be within that limit, but I would defer to BMW on this.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by SOM3

You'll have no problem hooking up a baby seat inside your M3. If you do it behind the shotgun seat there will be sufficient space for your wife up front unless she is of beastly size. Also stroller fits in the trunk without a problem.

Not on a rear facing seat.

[JL M3]

Originally Posted by ThomasM4

Yes, you can put the seat in the middle and use the inner latches from each side seat.

I would double check this...this could be right or wrong, but if wrong, it could be VERY dangerous advice.

In all my other cars, including BMWs, the manual states not to use the outside latches for a car seat in the middle. I haven't checked my M3 manual yet.

[Jaymax85]

I am thinking of ordering an m4..... expecting having kids in the next 1-2 years.. am i crazy for not going m3? the m4 looks so much better but I am concerned regarding the rear facing seat....

[BigMo]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

I am thinking of ordering an m4..... expecting having kids in the next 1-2 years.. am i crazy for not going m3? the m4 looks so much better but I am concerned regarding the rear facing seat....

I had a rear facing infant seat and convertible in my CTS coupe. My daughter was only in my car twice a month tops, so I was able to pull it off. I had it behind the passenger seat and no way could anyone comfortably fit in the passenger seat pushed that far up. So if this is going to be an every day transporter of a child, you will have struggles. Now that I have baby number two on the way I have to go with a sedan.

[phantomF80]

Originally Posted by BigMo

I had a rear facing infant seat and convertible in my CTS coupe. My daughter was only in my car twice a month tops, so I was able to pull it off. I had it behind the passenger seat and no way could anyone comfortably fit in the passenger seat pushed that far up. So if this is going to be an every day transporter of a child, you will have struggles. Now that I have baby number two on the way I have to go with a sedan.

Good idea on the 4-door. My daughter don't like to sit down, so it can take up to 15 minutes to convince her to sit down. Imagine having to climb back there every day and find a way to get the kid to sit down, especially if you are in a tight parking spot where you can't open the longer door of M4 all the way out.

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Not on a rear facing seat.

Yes, rear facing seat with base fits with ample amount of room for the front passenger. My wife has easily more room than our B6 A4.

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

I am thinking of ordering an m4..... expecting having kids in the next 1-2 years.. am i crazy for not going m3? the m4 looks so much better but I am concerned regarding the rear facing seat....

You'll be fine. Also you can always sell the M4 then and pick up something bigger if it becomes a pain in the ass.

[Jaymax85]

Thanks for the advise guys!

[Gac101177]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

I am thinking of ordering an m4..... expecting having kids in the next 1-2 years.. am i crazy for not going m3? the m4 looks so much better but I am concerned regarding the rear facing seat....

Go for it I have and M4 as a daily driver I'm the main caregiver my daughter its 3 and my son will be born in 2 weeks, I had a convertible before and had no issues with my daughter, and if to bad you can always trade in love my AY M4, you should see the looks I get from the soccer moms priceless.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by SOM3

Yes, rear facing seat with base fits with ample amount of room for the front passenger. My wife has easily more room than our B6 A4.

Sorry, we're going to disagree on this one. Either you have a really small seat or your wife is very short.

All the cars I've had our rear facing seat in significantly compromised my wife's legroom. Granted she's tall, but it was to the point where even someone shorter would have noticed.

I can't even imagine something like a Graco seat in a B6 S4 behind the passenger. That's one small seat if you were even able to get someone in front of it.

[OrangeD1sco]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Sorry, we're going to disagree on this one. Either you have a really small seat or your wife is very short.

All the cars I've had our rear facing seat in significantly compromised my wife's legroom. Granted she's tall, but it was to the point where even someone shorter would have noticed.

I can't even imagine something like a Graco seat in a B6 S4 behind the passenger. That's one small seat if you were even able to get someone in front of it.

Perhaps there is a lot of variation between baby seats? Our rear-facing Graco seat fits great in the back. I'm 5'11" and didn't have to adjust my seating position with it behind the seat.

[ES_TRADER]

so can we confirm if on the rear facing seat we can use the two inner latches and stick the baby seat in the middle so neither driver or passenger leg room gets compromised?

my f30 ended up getting lemoned before i had the car seat so no way to confirm

[stuka]

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

those of you who use it as a family car, do these fit ok? can they be attached to the center rear seat instead of behind the driver or passenger?

i just installed the rear facing seat in my x5 and had to push the passenger seat all the way forward or the carrier wouldnt fit because the back of the carrier would be squished in between..

f80 family car is on order so ive no idea if this will fit or not. can those of you who have tried it chime in?

also for sedans are there metal latches in the rear seats for center installation? i only saw latches on the left or the right...

Buy a smaller seat.

We have the Combi Coccoro and it fits great. It's designed specifically for small cars like Civic, so it should give you plenty of room. We had it in our E46 M3 and E90 M3 and there were plenty of room.

http://www.amazon.com/Combi-8220105A...=combi+coccoro

[Kuwen]

Chicco car seat fit best of the several we tried, and fits better in the M3 than the X3.

[ES_TRADER]

Too late I already have a nuna pipa

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Sorry, we're going to disagree on this one. Either you have a really small seat or your wife is very short.

All the cars I've had our rear facing seat in significantly compromised my wife's legroom. Granted she's tall, but it was to the point where even someone shorter would have noticed.

I can't even imagine something like a Graco seat in a B6 S4 behind the passenger. That's one small seat if you were even able to get someone in front of it.

The seat/base I use is called Summer Fuze and that must be the difference. My wife is 5' 8" so not short, I even jumped in there to see what's up and I would say at 6' 2" leg room is a little tight but overal I think I could mange a meduim distance trip.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by SOM3

The seat/base I use is called Summer Fuze and that must be the difference. My wife is 5' 8" so not short, I even jumped in there to see what's up and I would say at 6' 2" leg room is a little tight but overal I think I could mange a meduim distance trip.

Yeah, that seat looks tiny compared to most Graco and Britax products I've seen.

[SOM3]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Yeah, that seat looks tiny compared to most Graco and Britax products I've seen.

Well, now you see the error of your ways.