A couple 3rd row and carseat questions...

[FSETH]

I am looking to pick up a pre-owned e70 for my wife and she really wants the third row option. We only have 1 child, so I am not sure why she thinks she needs this, but that is a different story all together. My questions are:

a) When equipped with a third row, can you safely and securely install a child seat in the middle of the second row? I know the two row X5's have a good spot in the middle of the second row where the car seat can sink into the cushion for a really secure fit. However, it appears that on third row vehicles, the middle seat in the second row has a bunch of hard plastic on the seat back. My guess is due to the fact the seat has to fold forward for third row access. This makes me think a really secure middle installation may be harder than on a two row vehicle. Does anybody here have any experience with a child seat in this spot with a third row equipped vehicle?

b) Can you still install a cargo barrier between the second row and the cargo area when equipped with a third row?

[X5 4.6is]

I have a 2012 X5 with 3rd row and can tell you that the 3rd row is best for older children and toddlers in a booster seat. It's pretty cramped space. I have two boys ages 2 & 3, and their car seats do not fit back there. The 2nd row bench is 60/40 split, so when we travel with another adult I strap the boys cars seats to the 60 bench, leaving the 40 bench for an adult and if need be that seat back pulls forward to accomodate access to the 3rd row.

With the 3rd row up BMW has a special cargo liner just for that space, but you may look into Weather Tech for a tri-fold liner to use when the 3rd row is flat.

Joe

[FSETH]

Thanks for the info Joe. We are planning on utilizing the second row for the carseat, but the plastic trim near the middle seat of the second row is what concerns me. I just want to be sure it will allow a car seat to be installed as securely as the non-3 row models that do not have this plastic stuff.

With regards to the cargo barrier, it may be better known as the luggage compartment dividing net or pet barrier. I am just checking to see if this will still fit the third row model (with the third row folded down of course). It is the vertical netting in the below photo. Since we will be hauling baby stuff, I want to make sure it stays in the cargo area if we stop suddenly or get into an accident.

[seattle]

Originally Posted by FSETH

but the plastic trim near the middle seat of the second row is what concerns me. I just want to be sure it will allow a car seat to be installed as securely as the non-3 row models that do not have this plastic stuff.

I have a 2011 with 3rd row, and I am not sure I know what hard plastic you are talking about on the 2nd row middle seat.

The only plastic trim on middle seat of 2nd row is the tray that folds down from the seat's back part.

But when the tray is folded up, there's no plastic visible whatsoever. The seat is completely flat. You cannot put a seat in the middle with the tray folded down, of course.

Originally Posted by FSETH

With regards to the cargo barrier, it may be better known as the luggage compartment dividing net or pet barrier. I am just checking to see if this will still fit the third row model (with the third row folded down of course). It is the vertical netting in the below photo. Since we will be hauling baby stuff, I want to make sure it stays in the cargo area if we stop suddenly or get into an accident.

I imagine you won't be carrying baby stuff wtih car filled all the way to the roof, so the cargo cover (horizontal one) will suffice. Always did for me (2 kids).

Without the 3rd row, you will have even more cargo space in the back, so I don't see why you would need the net.

[FSETH]

It may be hard to see in this photo, but I can't really find a better view. The plastic I am referring to in the 3rd row cars can be seen on the seat back just above where the rear-middle and rear-passenger seatbelts latch. You can also see it where the bottom and rear of the seat connect by the door jam. The non-third row X5's do not have this plastic that I am aware of.

I am not trying to make a big deal out of it or anything. It is just that we prefer to have the car seat in the middle of the back row and I wanted to be sure that the plastic wouldn't interfere with getting a really tight/secure install on the child seat. On the non-third row models (without this plastic), you can really set the child seat into the cushion and get a very secure install.

I am probably overthinking this, but as a first-time parent I would rather be told so than not research it enough.

[blue dragon]

I ran a middle car seat for about a year and a half in the second row, it works fine. Just recently I had a booster seat (works with regular seat belts), in the 3 row for my 6 year old.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

I ran a middle car seat for about a year and a half in the second row, it works fine. Just recently I had a booster seat (works with regular seat belts), in the 3 row for my 6 year old.

This is what I was hoping to hear. Thanks!

[cravin]

In the pic you posted, the plastic piece is just the cargo space cover that is completely removable. And yes, I've had child seats and booster seats all in the middle. The whole third row has the LATCH system with multiple ways of securing the seats.

[FSETH]

Update: Just a heads up to anyone who prefers to put their child in the middle position of the back seat and is looking for a third row X5: After purchasing an X5 with the third row, I can say that I am not able to safely secure a Chicco Keyfit 30 rear facing child seat in the middle seat of the second row. This is due to the plastic trim pieces BMW decided to use on the lower backrest portion of the seat. This design is different when compared to non-third row equipped X5s, which do not have this plastic trim. The hard child seat base butts up against this plastic and does not provide a very secure install regardless of how hard you pull on the seatbelt. The non-third row X5's do not have this plastic, so you can securely put a carseat in the middle position in these vehicles. We have decided to use the outboard seats and the latch system because of this.

EDIT: I just want to be clear that it IS technically possible to install a car seat in the center position. However, the fact that it is plastic on plastic means that the car seat base moves more than the 1 inch maximum suggested by my seat manufacturer. The install in the outboard seats is much more secure and the base doesn't move more than 1 inch. I wouldn't personally feel comfortable putting my child in the middle with how much the seat moved around.

[cravin]

Didn't realize that you were talking about a rear facing. I've used Britax front facing car seats in the middle with no issue. I could see how having a two part rear facing not being all that secure as you don't have the strap to latch behind the seat.