Question for those with Child seats
 

My friend told me that if you have your kid in a child seat , you should turn off the side airbags next to the seat. Is this true ? If so, how do you do that on these vehicles ? I looked but have no idea. Any info is appreciated.

I read somewhere that the X5's have curtain side airbags. So, it's not a concern with young passengers. It's only the front airbags that's a danger for young or small passengers.

I think this is right. And if you do have to (I mean really have no choice) put a small child or baby in the front passenger seat, if they are below a certain weight (the seat has a scale built in), the front SRS will automatically deactivate, since it detects/weighs something light!

Yes, the side airbags are curtain. However, just keep in mind, the middle rear seat is the safest seat to put a young child, no airbag problems and smaller risk of direct impact.

Im not sure there is great info on this. A 'child seat' is safest in the CENTER of the rear seat.

I think a child seat can also be OK in the outboard position, since they are constrained to the confines of the seat.... HOWEVER, a booster seat or a young child COULD be injured by side airbags if they are laying against them when they deploy. (They are not constrained when they are no longer in a child seat...)

Now can you or should you turn off the side airbags on the X5? Dunno. My E39 had this as a 'dealer selectable' feature for the rear seats....

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Thanks a lot for the info guys. I appreciate it.

I just google'd it but I have read several articles and studies all saying the same. Center rear seat is the safest spot for the car seat.

Safest Spot for Baby's Car Seat?

Maybe...but only the rear outer seats have the super safe LATCH system, that really secure a baby, child or booster seat. The middle rear seat DOES NOT have the LATCH system, so the child seat is not as secure.

Yes. You cannot use that latch if you mount the seat in the middle.

Say what?

Is this going to be another one of those "urban legend" type of issues issues?

The "LATCH" system is NOT "super safe". It is, in fact, no safer that a properly secured standard belt. The only thing the LATCH does better with is when a moron doesn't attach the standard belt- THAT'S ALL. So it reduces user error, and therefore it marketed as being 'safer'....

So if you are a moron who cannot attach a standard belt to a car seat, by all means use the LATCH.

If you can figure out physical things and not screw it up, the center position is safer and the LATCH adds nothing.

This whole LATCH thing gets repeated like a mantra and becomes a truth....

IMO

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The Car Seat Lady - The LATCH System