Fathers HELP!! child seat troubles

As the baby's arrival approaches, we are finishing the final preparations that goes with having a baby. Yesterday, my wife and I were trying to fit the car seat base and seat in the ol' 525i. Now, the e34 is by no means a compact car. Therefore, I was surprised that the car seat wouldn't fit in the middle of the back seat. We ended up putting it in the rear passenger-side, but the front seat is so far up that it would be uncomfortable for a normal-sized person to sit in.

Do any fellow 5er fathers have any tips for a dad-to-be?? Also, how did you solve the seatbelt slack problem?? It just doesn't seem to be tight enough to seem safe. Thanks.

gamjohn2

i know that i not what you wanted to hear, but we went through the car seat thing 3 years ago with the e30. pa state police child seat specialist told us that some seats just do not fit properly into some cars. as for getting the seat tight. you will need to adjust the "H" clamp & try clicking it in by sitting on the seat. at least this is what i did & have no problems with the seat moving. my local state police dept. have child seat check days were you can have them check your seat & show you how to install properly. you should check with your local police dept. also keep in mind that child seat requirements are different from state to state. we are in the process of looking at newborn seats again since we found out last weekend we are going to have another.
tim s.

Some thoughts:

If you put it in the middle, you really wrench your back trying to get it out especially if trying to keep junior asleep. This is true of any car when you're using the base/carrier system.

If Mom is going to be the main driver, set it up on the rear passenger side so she can get an arm back there if need be, without pulling over. Otherwise put it behind the driver side, so she can get to it from the passenger seat.

As for the base/belt setup. If you're talking about the kind where the belt goes though the bottom of the base, we put it through and buckled it, with the base resting on a towel to protect the leather. Then you pull on the upper part of the belt until you've really got that thing torqued down. Then, we used a belt cincher (metal thingee, like the kind to adjust length on a backpack strap), to basically fuse together the upper and lower belt where it comes out of the base.

edit: Tim S has good points. H clamp- thats the word I was looking for, not 'belt cincher.' Also, about the seat itself- If it doesn't fit right, you may have the wrong one. Get another one before the wife talks you into getting a minivan.

If I had to do it again, I'd take the rear seat off, and fit that center belt (without the shoulder) on one of the sides. You did see the center belt, didn't you? It's just a regular old fashioned lap belt, perfect for base attachment, often hidden way, way under the rear seat deck.

Although it was much more secure in my Ford Explorer, it was secure enough in the 525i. Right rear seat is where it fit. We have friends with an E36 325i that put the same system in the rear center. It was a tight squeeze to get the infant carrier locked into the base in that position, but they were adamant about wanting it there. I put a drop cloth under the base, that was smooth on one side and soft cloth on the other, to prevent wear to the seat from chafing. Installed it snugly, then put a knee in the center to pull it down, snug up the H-clip, then press the buckle into the receiver with all my might. It held quite securely. Not as good as the Explorer, mind you.

Now we're in forward-facing seat, and Evenflo makes a good one (don't know model, will investigate.) We have an Eddie Bauer in the 525 now, and it's a little loose, but the tether strap takes care of any movement. I can shoot you a photo of the setup maybe later this evening, if you like.

Please post any pics, if possible, as I am not very good at visualizing things. Also, where exactly can I get an H bracket and what does it look like. Babies R Us sells a ratcheting seat belt tightener thing for like $20+, but I'm sure there has to be a cheaper (but not more unsafe) alternative.

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Originally Posted by gamjohn2

Please post any pics, if possible, as I am not very good at visualizing things. Also, where exactly can I get an H bracket and what does it look like. Babies R Us sells a ratcheting seat belt tightener thing for like $20+, but I'm sure there has to be a cheaper (but not more unsafe) alternative.

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Here's a few links. We have the metrolite travel system pictured.

metrolite travel system

locking clip/H-bracket

Congrats on your new arrival....I remember well that time three years ago when birth of our twins was imminent....panic and freaking out would be putting it mildly.

H clip: scour your baby car seat and the base, it's usually tucked into a bracket that's molded into the seat. If not, most places that sell kid's stuff sell them for $2. Or, contact the seat's mfgr, they will ususally just mail you another.

The H clip is critical, because E34 seatbelts (at least up to '93 - don't know about later models) DO NOT LOCK. On later vehicles, once you fully extend (pull out) the lap/shoulder belt, and let it begin to retract, you cannot extend it again. That is, once fully extended and slightly retracted, it locks when pulled on. This feature - lacking on E34's - locks the baby seat in place. Without this feature - like on your E34 - you must use the H clip to "lock" the lap belt portion to the shoulder belt portion, by threading the two "stacked" belts (shoulder and lap) together JUST ABOVE THE BUCKLE.

A lot of info, but your seat's mfrg. directions will include all the detail you need, it's quite easy. If you don't have the little instruction booklet that came with the seat, first scour the seat/base, because often it too is stuffed in somewhere. If not, again, call the seat mfgr. and they will send (even fax) another instruction booklet.

$20 tensioner: They work, and in my opinion are a good idea, I've used them on twins' seats. It removes the extra bit of slack that is nearly impossible to remove, esp. when using the H-clips. If you ever find your way to the Highway Patrol/ local police's seat installer (a great free service you should look into) they will always tell you that your seat is too loose. Worth every penny (sounds corny, but can you spend too much money on child's safety?).

Good luck on your wild ride of fatherhood!
Bill in Oakland
'93 Touring
'81 745i (x2 - want one?)
'71 Ranchero GT (for sale)
'95 Montero (former twin hauler - for sale)

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Originally Posted by gamjohn2

As the baby's arrival approaches, we are finishing the final preparations that goes with having a baby. Yesterday, my wife and I were trying to fit the car seat base and seat in the ol' 525i. Now, the e34 is by no means a compact car. Therefore, I was surprised that the car seat wouldn't fit in the middle of the back seat. We ended up putting it in the rear passenger-side, but the front seat is so far up that it would be uncomfortable for a normal-sized person to sit in.

Do any fellow 5er fathers have any tips for a dad-to-be?? Also, how did you solve the seatbelt slack problem?? It just doesn't seem to be tight enough to seem safe. Thanks.

gamjohn2

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We used the Prego snap and go base system and had no problems securing it to the center seat. I like the center better because you don't have to use an H clip, and it's a more traditional seat belt that you can really tighten. The best way to get it tight is to get in and put your knee on the base with all your weight. buy a second base for your wife's car...or at least put two on your baby shower list (great buy for dad's to contribute > than baby sheets )

Get a snap n go stroller and your infant seat will snap straight into it, which is key to moving the kid around w/o waking him/her up.

Right Start kidstore has a blue rubber mat that you can fold in such a way to 1) protect your bench seat and 2) to level the back part of the base.

I know it's harder to get the carrier in and out of the center position, but statistically it's the safest position and if you have rear head rests, you can put a mirror back there that's large enough to see if your kids asleep while driving.

We bought Britax's for when he grew out of the infant system, and they are awesome (not exactly cheap tho). They have clamps on either side of the seat which eliminates the need for the H clip. My wife's (92 535) rear seats are shoulder strap inside to buckle on door, and my touring (94 Euro) are vice versa. Remember to always climb in and put your knee and all your weight on the seat when fastening...kindof a kiddee pre-load.

The rubber mat is essential. It really makes the seat fast, and levels everything. For your infant base, go to a water ski place and get a foam noodle and cut it to the width of your base. That made everything level and perfect. Also, the place you buy the seat from (if it's not baby'sR us) might give an instruction class.

pics are tough, but I might be able to snap a host a few.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gamjohn2

As the baby's arrival approaches, we are finishing the final preparations that goes with having a baby. Yesterday, my wife and I were trying to fit the car seat base and seat in the ol' 525i. Now, the e34 is by no means a compact car. Therefore, I was surprised that the car seat wouldn't fit in the middle of the back seat. We ended up putting it in the rear passenger-side, but the front seat is so far up that it would be uncomfortable for a normal-sized person to sit in.

Do any fellow 5er fathers have any tips for a dad-to-be?? Also, how did you solve the seatbelt slack problem?? It just doesn't seem to be tight enough to seem safe. Thanks.

gamjohn2

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Been there done that.

I believe that what you are referring to is the reverse car seat that faces backwards for newborns. This is indeed a bulky contraption.

There wasn't any easy way around it for me. The front seat went way forward, and adjusted height and so on so that a small person could fit up there. Otherwise, people sat in the back beside the seat.

Later, when you use the forward facing seat, things get back to normal.

Don't forget to put the tether in on the parcel shelf.

Good luck.
Rod

Here is my 91 E34 M5 with three car seats. The E34 rear seat does not work well for a single child seat centered on the rear seat where the arm rest would be in the down position, it simply is un-even. The two other seats held the center seat upright especially around tight turns.

You have to place it directly behind the driver or passenger. You can use a towel or blanket on either side of the seat to make up the difference

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/ivanc/3%20baby%20seats.jpg

You will probably need to remove the rear door ashtrays! At some point little one may discover they can be opened and closed repeatedly while going down the road and then discover they can be removed and lost on the floor. Don't ask how I know this....
Congrats on the little one!
John R. :D

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Originally Posted by JR'Z 525

You will probably need to remove the rear door ashtrays! At some point little one may discover they can be opened and closed repeatedly while going down the road and then discover they can be removed and lost on the floor. Don't ask how I know this....
Congrats on the little one!
John R. :D

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I looked back yesterday while driving my wife's 525i with my son in the back seat, and he had the ashtray out of the door and in his hand...headed for his mouth!

Yuck!

Thank you guys very much for the advice and well wishes. Believe it or not, the advice that I got here was a lot more helpful than what my wife got when she posted this dilemma in her baby chat forums. Go figure.

get a britax seat instead of whatever else you might have...you've got a great car , now get a great seat to protect the little one. oh an djust a thought the center , although might be mopre difficult to get a baby in and out of is much more safer in the event of a side impact....especially now that wetter weather is coming around.
just an idea.

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Originally Posted by icm5er

Here is my 91 E34 M5 with three car seats. The E34 rear seat does not work well for a single child seat centered on the rear seat where the arm rest would be in the down position, it simply is un-even. The two other seats held the center seat upright especially around tight turns.

You have to place it directly behind the driver or passenger. You can use a towel or blanket on either side of the seat to make up the difference

http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/ivanc/3%20baby%20seats.jpg

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We have the Britax Booster for our 5 year Old. Its the safest seat on the market. And it works in the BMW e34 - JT