Retrofit isofix - is it as safe?

Retrofit isofix - is it as safe?

Author
Discussion

Lois

Original Poster:

14,706 posts

253 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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After lots of research I really want my daughters next car seat to be isofix, unfortunately my 2007 focus doesn't have it.
So I'm currently torn. I could buy a new car that has isofix or I could buy genuine ford parts and fit isofix, but is this as safe as it is as standard?

ouch

132 posts

161 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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If it's designed to fit the car, and not fitted by a total chimp then I'd say it probably is.

wemorgan

3,578 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Typically OEM isofix brackets bolt through on to existing nuts welded to the underside on the seatpan.
The Ford parts dept will be able to show you an exploded diagram of the fitment to confirm this.
If this is the case, then it's 100% OK to use - otherwise Ford would not be selling such parts that have to conform to various legislation.

kinabalu

240 posts

200 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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I'm just considering the same thing for a 10 year old volvo s60, having researched I've sourced the bars req'd, not expensive, just need them bolting to boot floor, I'm thinking that's got to be better than not all all?

Pickled Piper

6,344 posts

236 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
wemorgan said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Typically OEM isofix brackets bolt through on to existing nuts welded to the underside on the seatpan.
The Ford parts dept will be able to show you an exploded diagram of the fitment to confirm this.
If this is the case, then it's 100% OK to use - otherwise Ford would not be selling such parts that have to conform to various legislation.
This exactly. If it is an official Ford retrofit, it will be fine.

pp

dave_s13

13,814 posts

270 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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I retro-fitted iso fix points into my old Volvo V70.

Dead simple - just 2 bolts (included in the kit) into the floor pan.

The only "risk" is if you don't tighten them up to the manufacturers recommended torque settings. I don't own a torque wrench though and just did them up to the universal "be reet" setting ie. tight, then a bit more.

They were cheap from Volvo too, only about £25 quid IIRC - cheaper than changing cars!

kentmotorcompany

2,471 posts

211 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
I did this to an Audi of ours.

ISOFIX was not standard, but it did have fixing points already in place and I simply bought the brackets from Audi and bolted them in. 5 min job, and as good as factory fit.


As above, if the mounting points are in your car then no problem. If not the ISOFIX brackets will have nothing to be fixed to and the parts department probably shouldn't even sell you the part.

Krikkit

26,541 posts

182 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:
wemorgan said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Typically OEM isofix brackets bolt through on to existing nuts welded to the underside on the seatpan.
The Ford parts dept will be able to show you an exploded diagram of the fitment to confirm this.
If this is the case, then it's 100% OK to use - otherwise Ford would not be selling such parts that have to conform to various legislation.
This exactly. If it is an official Ford retrofit, it will be fine.

pp
As long as it's using decent parts (i.e. not 50p kits from eBay) I wouldn't be worried about a retrofit kit from any manufacturer - it's just a few steel loops bolted into the chassis after all. Back to the OP: If it's sold by Ford, it'll be 100% safe to use.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

210 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
As long as it's using decent parts (i.e. not 50p kits from eBay) I wouldn't be worried about a retrofit kit from any manufacturer - it's just a few steel loops bolted into the chassis after all. Back to the OP: If it's sold by Ford, it'll be 100% safe to use.
Hell it will be the same part that is bolted on to the more expensive or better speced models in the range.

LeoSayer

7,308 posts

245 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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In the past, an Audi main dealer refused to do this work due to the potential liability if they get it wrong and the car was in an accident.

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

189 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
As above, simple to do yourself. Only time it may be an issue is if it was an option which had to be 'welded in' - though this is unusual.

On my 306 I didn't think ISOfix was a possibility, as it's such an old car. But it was, and it was dealer-fit only on later models. The bars were still available to buy from Peugeot, but at £250+ each (not kidding) I sourced some from somebody stripping out a GTi6 to be a track car (as you tend not to take children on trackdays).

4 bolts later and jobs a good'un.

papercup

2,490 posts

220 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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Anyone managed this in a pre-2003 BMW E39?

BMW just told me there was no kit available....

Dids444

417 posts

221 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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OP,

I have a similar aged CMAX and I did the ISOFIX retrofit in mine. In my case all it involved was buying the kit from Ford which comes with a template for cutting the holes in the seat fabric and the little black plastic surrounds. The ISOFIX chassis fixing points were already in place and just hidden by the seat fabric - yours might well be the same?

cheers
p


rallycross

12,813 posts

238 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Perfectly safe have done this on a number of cars including focus mk1 and mk 2 - it bolts directly to the floor they come ou the factory ready to fit. Can be a bit fiddly to fit on the mk2 focus but not difficult.

Lois

Original Poster:

14,706 posts

253 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Thanks. Will definitely make sure it's a genuine ford part. Fingers crossed nonegreen isn't a chimp!

ShiresV2

36 posts

168 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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papercup said:
Anyone managed this in a pre-2003 BMW E39?

BMW just told me there was no kit available....
The E39's ISOFIX hooks are factory welded. I won't admit to it being impossible to retrofit but quite a bit more difficult that some of the other cars mentioned I'd imagine.

FFC1987

1 posts

58 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2019
quotequote all
Dids444 said:
OP,

I have a similar aged CMAX and I did the ISOFIX retrofit in mine. In my case all it involved was buying the kit from Ford which comes with a template for cutting the holes in the seat fabric and the little black plastic surrounds. The ISOFIX chassis fixing points were already in place and just hidden by the seat fabric - yours might well be the same?

cheers
p
Got a link or part number for C Max kit (2005 model)?

Croutons

9,894 posts

167 months

Wednesday 3rd July 2019
quotequote all
Five and a half years later hehe