I was just researching this issue a few months back. The middle seat is safest for infant car seat. When you switch to a front facing seat, then move it to the side. The latch system on the LCI E70 X5 is only for the two side seats, not the middle. The seatbelt is used when securing the middle infant car seat. Seatbelt and latch are both just as secure, latch is easier since it simply latches on to the anchor points whereas you'll have to tug and snake the seatbelt through the holes. Once that's done, I just leave the base on there so I don't have to keep doing it. The latch does click onto the inner latch anchors from the two side seats, but I didn't do it since it wasn't approved for that and I'm not taking the risk. Only use seatbelt or latch to secure car seat, never use both.

This makes sense also. But doesn't the side seats have the dangers of side impacts?

We need a infant car seat that surrounds the baby with a force field. Kickstarter anyone?

Not always true. It depends on car seat, really.

We have 3 kids, youngest one almost 2yrs old and rides in this Chicco front-facing seat in the middle.

The "base" (not detachable from car seat) is secured with middle seat-belt. The seat itself is secured by running the dedicated belt under headrest and over the seat back and latching to the middle anchor point in this picture
http://www.bavarianmw.com/images/boo...7/index.13.gif.

Just having the car seat secured with a belt will still allow too much forward movement in case of front impact - a tip over of sorts. Having the dedicated belt latch will keep the car seat from tipping over like that.

On the other hand, the dedicated latch belt should not be used all by itself, since the base needs to be secured as well to the bottom.

The priority here is to minimise neck movement during collision I believe. Today's child seat technology is very advanced and amounts for impacts from all angles. However they cannot control what comes flying in.

Our cars are equipped with isofix latches, a nowadays common system that's pretty much in every car made from 2000 onwards. This system is the safest to use for child seats and they are placed on the side seats. When we bought our child seat we were informed of the law of where and what direction to place the seat depending on age of child...failure to comply will result in a hefty fine or worse by police. Of course the law varies from country to country.

Just think about this. In the chance of a side impact, would you rather have your child sit 1 inch from the door, or 24"? And shit flying through windshield; I mean seriously how many times have you personally seen something fly, through the center no less, if you have ever seen it at all. Compare that to how many times you have seen a side impact.

I wasn't informed by a sales team where to put mine. I asked around, did research, and then asked a firefighter friend of mine to confirm. By the way. I am pretty sure if you go to a firehouse, the guys there will help you set up a car seat.

A lot of infant seats have the lower anchors but not the tethers. LATCH = lower anchors and tethers for children. Also goes by isofix I believe.

Looking over the manual it has a vehicle belt lock-off which is where the shoulder and lap belt runs through and turns green when it's tight.

Even if the middle is a few % safer than the side seat, consider it this way...

After putting the kid in and taking him/her out 300 times, I think you might agree that having them placed in the side seat is much more convenient than having to reach way in or climb into the back seat with them to put them in their car seat or pull them out. Especially for wives using the SUV, they can't reach the middle position without climbing in.
So daily convenience counts even versus the slight chance of an accident.
Also, once the second kid comes along, you can no longer fit one seat in the middle as (in the X5) there isn't enough width. So they both need to go with the side seats. So now you have gone the extra mile providing a super safe middle position for your first born, but not your second born. Not fair!
And the more you keep having, the less energy you will have to worry about obtaining the utmost safety altogether! ;-) They'll be riding on the roof!
Congrats and Good Luck!

Yep.

The more kids you have, the better the odds. lol joke.

But I agree. I strained and suffered with the middle when my first was in infant seat, and with 2, you sort of have no choice.

Any chance of getting a picture of how it fits?
We have two (twins) Uppababy Mesa carseats in my wifes 2011 335i. I don't fit anymore, knees get pushed into dash. Looking into getting an X5 soon and want to see how they fit.
Thanks
Matt