Infant seat in middle rear seats

I went to the police to get it check and I had the latch installed for the infant seats. They told me, they think this is incorrect. The latches are only for the right or left side (in rear seats), not the middle seat. They said most cars dont have the middle seat latches. However, it looks like the X5 does have two latch mechanisms for the middle seat.

They advised to use the middle seat belt to hold the infant seat, and to not use the latches. Do you guys know if the new X5s have this? My is a 2013 so I would think they addressed the latches.

Originally Posted by jyeh74

I went to the police to get it check and I had the latch installed for the infant seats. They told me, they think this is incorrect. The latches are only for the right or left side (in rear seats), not the middle seat. They said most cars dont have the middle seat latches. However, it looks like the X5 does have two latch mechanisms for the middle seat.

They advised to use the middle seat belt to hold the infant seat, and to not use the latches. Do you guys know if the new X5s have this? My is a 2013 so I would think they addressed the latches.

I had a public health nurse exam my car. The user manual said the X5 is designed to have a car seat in the left or right position. Not in the center. Hope this helps.

I believe they are to be used for the left and right seats only.. However, a latch is a latch and I would think it would be ok to use in the middle if used securely - make sure you secure the seat to the rear latch as well...
My waiver is that I'm not a professional so use it the way you want at your own risk..
Sounds like you've discovered a hidden feature...

Originally Posted by johnnelp

I believe they are to be used for the left and right seats only.. However, a latch is a latch and I would think it would be ok to use in the middle if used securely - make sure you secure the seat to the rear latch as well...
My waiver is that I'm not a professional so use it the way you want at your own risk..
Sounds like you've discovered a hidden feature...

The "middle" position uses a latch meant for the left and right side. As a result, the spacing is different compared to the car seats used in the left/right side. Could this cause a problem? I dont know

In both the E53 and E70, everything I've found suggests that "latch borrowing" (using outer latch anchors for a middle seating position) is not an acceptable/tested install method. Some vehicles have dedicated anchors for a middle position install - but not our X5s. More info here: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=97268 and here: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php...86&postcount=2

Although it does seem ridiculous that BMW doesn't provide anchors for the center position, I've had no issue with using the belt.

Originally Posted by macming

The "middle" position uses a latch meant for the left and right side. As a result, the spacing is different compared to the car seats used in the left/right side. Could this cause a problem? I dont know

Do you know what the spacing is between the latches on the left or right side and the spacing between the two outer latches if you placed the car seat in the middle?

We currently keep our car seat on the driver side because it's easier to maneuver in our garage, but I have thought about latching it in the middle if we had 4 adults in the car.

Raj