[MWA]

Hi..

Isofix..
My E93 Convertible had Isofix in the front seats as well as the back seats... In the back seats it was very clear to access. Now to my frustration, thinking jumping from a sports car to a family 4 door saloon it would be more family oriented? NO!

The f30 has no isofix in the front seats? why? when there is in the convertible e93?

The isofix in the f30 is hidden away and very difficult to reach?

When I put the isofix and baby seat (Maxi Cosi Pebble) The arm rest in the back doesnt go down.. Because the isofix is fixed so the seat almost sits in the middle of the back and not far out next to the door. so its hard to sit 2 people in the back when there's a car seat...

Any recommendation on an 'ideal' baby seat for the f30?

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by MWA

Hi..

Isofix..
My E93 Convertible had Isofix in the front seats as well as the back seats... In the back seats it was very clear to access. Now to my frustration, thinking jumping from a sports car to a family 4 door saloon it would be more family oriented? NO!

The f30 has no isofix in the front seats? why? when there is in the convertible e93?

The isofix in the f30 is hidden away and very difficult to reach?

When I put the isofix and baby seat (Maxi Cosi Pebble) The arm rest in the back doesnt go down.. Because the isofix is fixed so the seat almost sits in the middle of the back and not far out next to the door. so its hard to sit 2 people in the back when there's a car seat...

Any recommendation on an 'ideal' baby seat for the f30?

Sounds like you have the ideal seat, but should of looked at a 5 series for the wider rear seat and so more space. We have a maxi cosy Isofix seat and are in the same boat as you as the seat fixes near the middle of the rear seat.

[Defero]

Originally Posted by MWA

Hi..

The isofix in the f30 is hidden away and very difficult to reach?
Any recommendation on an 'ideal' baby seat for the f30?

Do you have the spilt folding seats in the F30? I think you need the split folding seats to have the easy access ISO points:

My F31 has easy access to the ISO fix points:


Both the ISO fix units we have fit into the F31 easily, I have had 4 adults in the car and my daughter in her Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, it was a tight fit in the back but they got in


Sorry for the poor quality images.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by ukbeemerboy

Sounds like you have the ideal seat, but should of looked at a 5 series for the wider rear seat and so more space. We have a maxi cosy Isofix seat and are in the same boat as you as the seat fixes near the middle of the rear seat.

Am just hoping when little man grows I can get him the BMW seat with built in ISOFIX and that should fix the issue.

[jimboss]

I doubt any will work due to their bulk, but at a push you can squeeze two adults in back plus baby. We have tried it on a number of occasions. There is a specialist place in Milton Keynes called the in car safety centre that sells only car seats which you can test any model out at the shop before buying...one may suit. We bought ours before getting the f31 and it is bloody massive ie rear facer until 4yrs!

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Defero

Do you have the spilt folding seats in the F30? I think you need the split folding seats to have the easy access ISO points:

My F31 has easy access to the ISO fix points:
Attachment 960493

Both the ISO fix units we have fit into the F31 easily, I have had 4 adults in the car and my daughter in her Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, it was a tight fit in the back but they got in
Attachment 960494

Sorry for the poor quality images.

Thanks Defero!

Don't have the split fold rear seats, and from your pic, those easy access were on my e93 very identical and very accessible.

The issue I have is, I am not always carrying the baby with me, so quite often I disconnect the ISOFIX base and put it in the boot, to put it back in, it's an absolute nightmare, especially in the dark.

If I knew the split fold rear seats came with easy access I would have specced them. Years ago, used to has an e46 330ci and every time I floored it or harsh braked, the back seat came loose, (must have been a faulty henge) but ever since I stayed away from them.

[Eccles Ken]

As a Grandad I've always used Maxi Cosi seatsfor the little ones without trouble but never used the ISOFIX, just the seat belts. I think they were Maxi Cosi XP and the other for older children was the Rodi.

Except for short "torture" journeys I've never seen the possibility of two adults in the back with the car seat cos they're so inflexible. Mine had very large sturdy wings which took a lot of space.

This question was frequently asked on the Skoda forum without much of a satisfactory answer.

Only suggestions I can make are to ask at Mothercare or John Lewis for advice. Incidentally the F30 is 2" wider than the Octavia so you're better off than me. Alternatively the Which report on car seats may cover this or a MUMSNET forum.

A not very helpful observation I can make is that the Range Rover Evoque is about 6" wider than most saloons but unless you love your offspring or passengers overmuch, buying a car to go with a car seat is a bit OTT.

Best of luck on your quest!

[nordberg]

Anyone got two I isofits in a F31? I never tested this as I just assumed it would be ok....I rarely have anyone in the middle, but definitely need that flexibility!!

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Eccles Ken

As a Grandad I've always used Maxi Cosi seatsfor the little ones without trouble but never used the ISOFIX, just the seat belts. I think they were Maxi Cosi XP and the other for older children was the Rodi.

Except for short "torture" journeys I've never seen the possibility of two adults in the back with the car seat cos they're so inflexible. Mine had very large sturdy wings which took a lot of space.

This question was frequently asked on the Skoda forum without much of a satisfactory answer.

Only suggestions I can make are to ask at Mothercare or John Lewis for advice. Incidentally the F30 is 2" wider than the Octavia so you're better off than me. Alternatively the Which report on car seats may cover this or a MUMSNET forum.

A not very helpful observation I can make is that the Range Rover Evoque is about 6" wider than most saloons but unless you love your offspring or passengers overmuch, buying a car to go with a car seat is a bit OTT.

Best of luck on your quest!

Thank you for all the info Sir

My wife and I love the idea of isofix's (Plug and Play) no fiddling about with seat belts on the side of the road.. Saying that, we're looking for a car with a must of isofix.. The Maxi's are pretty good and the wife likes the idea taking the seat off and plugging it into the base of her pram..

Now we're looking for a car for her, the F30 would be just for till little man is a little older

[rjberry]

We use Maxi Cosi Pebble and Pearls with the Familyfix Isofix bases. The isofix points are positioned so that I don't think it matters what goes on them, it'll always be a squeeze to get two other passengers in the back.

Go with what you've got is my advice. Maxi Cosis are great seats and until you get to booster seats you'll probably have the same problems no matter which seats you use

This time I ordered the rear folding seats just to get the isofix ports. The first car didn't have them and it was a headache each time. A front isofix point would have been very useful. At the moment I can only take two out of our three kids out. Any more and we're in the wife's S-Max

[MWA]

Originally Posted by rjberry

We use Maxi Cosi Pebble and Pearls with the Familyfix Isofix bases. The isofix points are positioned so that I don't think it matters what goes on them, it'll always be a squeeze to get two other passengers in the back.

Go with what you've got is my advice. Maxi Cosis are great seats and until you get to booster seats you'll probably have the same problems no matter which seats you use

This time I ordered the rear folding seats just to get the isofix ports. The first car didn't have them and it was a headache each time. A front isofix point would have been very useful. At the moment I can only take two out of our three kids out. Any more and we're in the wife's S-Max

Thanks RJ.. Wish I had known, I needed folding seats to get the isofix ports another example of how useful the BWM salesmen are..

Just got the one kid at the moment and he's more than enough for now
Guess we're going to stick with what we have, as it is one of the best and safest seats around! thanks for the info

[PopeHamish]

I think the back seats in the F30 are poor full-stop, regardless if you have split folding option. I have this option and yes, the isofix points are more easily accessible, but they're still positioned too close to the middle of the back seats - meaning it really limits room, yet there is nearly a foot of room between the car seat and the door!

Even taking away the child seats, it's really difficult to get 3 adults in the back comfortably as the side seats are also so far away from the door meaning you can just about fit a really skinny person in the middle, and even then they're breathing in.

It's really poorly designed, so pay no attention to the width of the car as this is really deceiving - you'll find that there's more room between the passengers and each door than you'll ever need.

[nordberg]

Sounds like the F30 has issues with placement of the isofit anchors, but what about the F31? Does it suffer in the same way? I'm concerned because I have and isofit seat at either side for the next couple of years at least....

[MWA]

Originally Posted by PopeHamish

I think the back seats in the F30 are poor full-stop, regardless if you have split folding option. I have this option and yes, the isofix points are more easily accessible, but they're still positioned too close to the middle of the back seats - meaning it really limits room, yet there is nearly a foot of room between the car seat and the door!

100% agree with you there,

A positive way of looking at it, is that in an impact God forbid, babies are safer due to that gap between their seats and the car door..

[Rich9600]

Originally Posted by MWA

100% agree with you there,

A positive way of looking at it, is that in an impact God forbid, babies are safer due to that gap between their seats and the car door..

Also, it may be to give some distance from the curtain air bags. Air bags seem dangerous to kids in most other situations... So, it would follow that there may be a need for their seats to be mounted slightly more inboard to give distance and so protection from the side and curtain airbags.


http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

[nordberg]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

Also, it may be to give some distance from the curtain air bags. Air bags seem dangerous to kids in most other situations... So, it would follow that there may be a need for their seats to be mounted slightly more inboard to give distance and so protection from the side and curtain airbags.


http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

Excellent point....

[DazC]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

Also, it may be to give some distance from the curtain air bags. Air bags seem dangerous to kids in most other situations... So, it would follow that there may be a need for their seats to be mounted slightly more inboard to give distance and so protection from the side and curtain airbags.


http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

Think you may have hit the nail on the head there.

[MWA]

Originally Posted by Rich9600

Also, it may be to give some distance from the curtain air bags. Air bags seem dangerous to kids in most other situations... So, it would follow that there may be a need for their seats to be mounted slightly more inboard to give distance and so protection from the side and curtain airbags.


http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

Spot on

[matx1982]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Anyone got two I isofits in a F31? I never tested this as I just assumed it would be ok....I rarely have anyone in the middle, but definitely need that flexibility!!

Yes, my F31 has 2 x isofix seats in the rear , you won't get anyone in the middle though.

At a push, one seat in the front (seat belted), and one in the back isofixed. You can get 2 people in the car.

Mat

[nordberg]

Originally Posted by mlepyro

Yes, my F31 has 2 x isofix seats in the rear , you won't get anyone in the middle though.

At a push, one seat in the front (seat belted), and one in the back isofixed. You can get 2 people in the car.

Mat

Seriously? No one?