Well, we have 2 Britax seats, so they are super fast & add more torque :thumbup: :D LOL

Page 60 of my 2001 X5 manual (in the airbag section, not the child seat section) states:

"We recommend that the rear seat side airbags, if provided, be deactivated if children will travel in the rear seat. The rear seat side airbags may already have been deactivated, either at the time of manufacture or by a BMW center. Labels in the rear door opening should indicate the status of your rear seat side airbags. If you are uncertain of their status, or wish to have the airbags activated or deactivated, please contact your BMW center."

In addition, LATCH anchors are only provided for the outboard seats; you cannot use the LATCH system if you are installing a child seat in the center of the back seat. If you use that location, use the seatbelt, which is equally safe (just a bit more labor-intensive). Some car seat manufacturers allow installation on "non-standard LATCH spacing" but the vehicle itself does not.

latch system and airbag system are completely different from the E53 so it doesn't apply.

BMW does not allow LATCH borrowing (use of the outboard LATCH anchors for the center seat) in any models.

What does it mean that BMW does not allow LATCH borrowing? My guess is that it simply means they do not want to assume liability in case anything goes wrong since there is no evidence supporting the safety of this usage.

However, I can't see why physically, it would be any different to use the outboard ones for the center seat. It is still physically attached the same way with the LATCH, the only difference might be that it is slightly longer reach than if you used the proper LATCH points. I don't see how the longer reach would compromise the safety of the car seat as if installed properly, there is absolutely no way the car seat can move or fall off.

The LATCH system is a standardized system set at a certain distance apart (280mm, or 11 inches). When set into the outboard seats, borrowing the LATCH bars for an install in the center seat means the LATCH attachments are not at the standard spacing (since the width of the center seat varies). Britax allows use of LATCH with non-standard spacing, but only when the vehicle specifically allows it. There are a few vehicles that allow it--Ford has a couple of models that allow use of center LATCH if there is only one seat in the car--but for the most part it's not allowed.

The car seat is not going to separate from the vehicle or 'fall off'--the issue is that, in a crash, the child seat can perform unpredictably and might not protect the child adequately. In a fender bender, chances are everything would be fine, but in a severe crash with lots of energy being thrown around, it might make a difference. That kind of unpredictability is what makes the car seat & vehicle manufacturers err on the side of caution and disallow it yo remove themselves from liability.

Either way, the LATCH system is provided as a convenience factor, with the idea that an easier install = better installation = a safer child. However, a seat correctly installed with the seat belt is just as safe as a seat correctly installed with LATCH (and in the case of a center install in a car without dedicated center LATCH attachments, a seat belt install would be considered safer, as using the anchors would be considered misuse).

that's complete misinformation and fallacy. None of dealer bulletins pertaining to the latch system states that in the E70.

On the contrary :)

According to The LATCH Manual, which is a compilation of LATCH information provided directly by the vehicle manufacturer, BMW does not allow the use of center LATCH in any model. :thumbup:

and I suppose Sarah Palin passed you that info or you saw it written in the sky from looking at russia? ;)

Uh, sure!

Although it does help that I have a legit source--BMW :)