Well, at the risk of entering a debate that may have already gone over the edge....

Meister, I think you need to calm down. Your tone is insulting.

BMW refers to child restraint devices in the generic sense in the manual. They don't give the reason for not putting children in child restraint devices in the third row, but they make clear that the third row doesn't include tether anchors (yes, I know what they are, and I do know that they represent the T in laTch, so your claim that LATCH and tethers have nothing to do with each other is nonsense). Lower anchors don't matter, as seatbelts do the same function. Top tethers do matter and they are what the 3rd row is missing.

You can either use individual judgement and conclude that if your car seat doesn't have a tether you are OK in the third row. Or, you can pedantically read the manual and conclude things from it that may be extrapolations at best. Or, you can read the manual and decide what the German words translated to English by a copywriter actually meant in their first language. Or, you can keep your child out of the third row and just call it a day. Your call.

With any of the above options, dropping the swearing and overly dramatic putdowns will contribute to a happier community, IMHO (I use it to mean humble opinion, not sure where honest comes from). I refer us all back to the thread that Michelle posted, a sticky at the top of the forum, suggesting that a modicum of decorum goes a long way.

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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
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2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
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