third seat row
 

Hi!

My name is Chris, we are thinking of buying a X5 in nearer future.
Because of our family future plans we were wondering if it´s possible to get three children safety seats in the back of the X5 ?
Or do we need the 3rd seat row option?
The dealers in my area don´t have any X5s with the 3rd seat row.

So I was wondering if anybody here, has his X5 equiped with the 3rd seat row and can say anything about the usability and probably give some pics.
Or is the car big enough for three children in the second seat row?

Our 3er Touring won´t be big enough

Sorry for my bad english, but I haven´t been in an english speaking country for a while and so I´m a bit out of exercise

Thanks!
Chris

You can fit two child car seats in the back and still have room for one adult, but it won't be enough for three seats. Looks like you must get one w/ the 3rd row.

Your dealers dont have one? Order one!

There is a company called Sunshine Kids that sells a narrow car seat. I was able to get 3 across in my M5 using two boosters and the Radian. The Radian is expensive, rattles a bit and is heavy (21 lbs). It does work well if you need to get 3 kids in a small space. Be aware that the third row in the X5 does not have Latch anchors, and two of my kids (ages 10 and 6) hate riding back there.
Sunshine Kids Car Seats :: Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products

I'm no expert with multiple car seats, as we have just one infant right now. But won't it be difficult to access a car seat in the third row if the two carseats are fixed on both ends of the 2nd row, as it would prevent you from flipping either seatback forward?

So it seems only feasible if one of the two seats in the 2nd row is a small movable booster, or one of the carseats is small enough that both of them can be fixed on the larger side of the 60/40 split, allowing one side to flip forward....

Third row means no tether strap, and it is difficult to access to strap the child in. Just as important is that three kids usually means bringing along all their stuff (strollers, etc) and there is far less storage space behind the third row.

Three car seats means a minivan from a practicality standpoint unless you can fit them in the second row.

Actually, depending on the size of the seat, you can still flip the second row forward. I have the one Latch seat attached on the 40% side and use that as the access point. A booster is a bigger PITA to rotate forward as the seatbelt gets in the way.

Third row is really useless and you really don't want to put infants back there...

^^ kinda agree.

If everyday usage of the 3rd row is a must I would be looking at ones w/ real 3rd row seats, LR4 / Tahoe / GL / Pathfinder / etc........

I have 7 and 5 year olds, and they fit just fine in 3rd row with their booster seats. But the 3rd row is being used ocasionally. If you have, say, 4 kids, you might want to look at another vehicle :)

we have the 3rd row. It's fine for kids up to age 10 or so.

for adults or even teenagers, it's not usable. Even w/ the 2nd row all the way forward

I ordered my X5 with the 3rd row, thinking it would be useful for my 3 kids (6,4 & newborn at time) + friends. First time I put my two oldest in the 3rd row, they hated it. Even for young kids, it's a bit tight and claustrophobic. We haven't used it since.

My kids, now 8,6,3, are very comfortable sitting in the back seat. We have a carseat and booster on the sides, and put our oldest in the middle. Much more comfortable than a 5 series sedan IMO.

I'm about the order a new X5 and will be skipping the 3rd row this time.

Honestly i'd get the 3rd row even if i don't plan on putting humans back there. I love the air leveling suspension :)

I have the third row option and have since 2007 and I can say it is very useful. My kids and nephews love the third row because they feel like they are ridding in the back of the car away from the parents. Granted they ages were 3,5,7 but they all fight to see who gets to ride in the back when Uncle V is driving. We have done road trips where I put the 40% split down and one kid sits in the thirdrow and the other in the second row. Actually that is perfect because there is no fighting between the two.

i agree jdd... certainly helps with towing my race car and trailer. ;)

i must be the only one who bought 3rd row equipped X5 for trailering to track days, kids? whats that?? :)

must be a really heavy trailer.:nanana: