ISOFIX Connections on an e46 - how do they work?

[andrewturner]

Hi all,

My wife has just bought an 318ci coupe which has isofix connections - we're trying to work out how you connect a child seat to them.

does anyone know? have a picture etc - As I have no idea looking at the rear bench, it just looks like my rear bench in my 330ci without the isofix connections.

cheers.

[Olf]

Okay so what child seat do you have. Does the base of it have two prongs (parts c): sticking out of the back ready to latch into the car ISOFIX fittings (part e):

[andrewturner]

we dont have a child seat - nor a child - just working out how to fit a seat for our nephews which we often take out. _ i assumed all seats came with isofix?

Really couldnt see where the seat fixed in, so i thought i'd ask the question.

cheers

[Olf]

No, there are actually only a couple of seats that are ISOIFX. Maxi Cosi and Britax do one base each I think and then some of the car makers do them. BMW does.

Not every seat is ISOFIX.

How old is your nephew?

[Olf]

Sorry I'll just answer that question rather than asking it! If you nephews are older than a year they are too heavy for ISOFIX anyway and should be using seat belt secured child seats. The new one from Maxi Cosi are superb. Priory XP we use.

[Zod]

Olf said:

Sorry I'll just answer that question rather than asking it! If you nephews are older than a year they are too heavy for ISOFIX anyway and should be using seat belt secured child seats. The new one from Maxi Cosi are superb. Priory XP we use.

ISOFIX is fine for up to 18kg.

[andrewturner]

nephews are 18months and 3.5 years old.

thanks for the help./

[smartie]

Britax do the (I think) Isofix Duo Plus, though it's pricey (£160 ish?) For a child 9 months to 4 years, but if your 3.5 year old is abig lad he might not fit!

Jane make a booster seat that is ISOFIX, but only in so much as this holds the base in the car, the seatbelt still goes round the (seat and) child.

[Olf]

Zod said:

Olf said:

Sorry I'll just answer that question rather than asking it! If you nephews are older than a year they are too heavy for ISOFIX anyway and should be using seat belt secured child seats. The new one from Maxi Cosi are superb. Priory XP we use.

ISOFIX is fine for up to 18kg.

I got conflicting advice on this then.

[Zod]

Olf said:

Zod said:

Olf said:

Sorry I'll just answer that question rather than asking it! If you nephews are older than a year they are too heavy for ISOFIX anyway and should be using seat belt secured child seats. The new one from Maxi Cosi are superb. Priory XP we use.

ISOFIX is fine for up to 18kg.

I got conflicting advice on this then.

that's from the manual for my son's seat. Apparently 18kg is the EU legal limit for ISOFIX.

[Olf]

Zod said:

Olf said:

Zod said:

Olf said:

Sorry I'll just answer that question rather than asking it! If you nephews are older than a year they are too heavy for ISOFIX anyway and should be using seat belt secured child seats. The new one from Maxi Cosi are superb. Priory XP we use.

ISOFIX is fine for up to 18kg.

I got conflicting advice on this then.

that's from the manual for my son's seat. Apparently 18kg is the EU legal limit for ISOFIX.

I don't doubt it. I think the benefit of ISOFIX for the larger seats is limited however. For us, ISOFIX was for safety and the practicality of being able to just press a button and lift baby out of car leaving the ISOFIX base behind. It's a magic piece of kit for keeping No.1 asleep. On the larger seat the safety element is still there but the practicality is gone, how often do you swap seats around? I just bought one for both cars. The seat belt pretensioners on the Priory XP also feel very very secure.

[smartie]

The 2x Forward facing ISOFIX seats we've had are an absolute pain in the bum to fit - only get taken out of the car when really necessary.