Installing LATCH anchor in parcel shelf?

[bstarr3]

Has anyone done this? Is there a good place to try to attach this anchor for a car seat? The X3 is the family car, but I'd like to be able to put a child seat in that's reasonably safe. I was thinking middle seat with the lap belt tightened down all the way and the latch anchor from the top to the parcel shelf. Any ideas?

[blocke]

Not safe. Don't do it. Besides, E30 has nearly zero safety features. Why would you risk carting your kid around in it?

[nando]

Not safe. Don't do it. Besides, E30 has nearly zero safety features. Why would you risk carting your kid around in it?

lol. seemed to work fine for people over the last 20+ years. It's not suddenly a death trap because you say so.

anyway - if you read the instructions that come with a child safety seat, it says to use either the anchors OR the lap-belt, but NOT both. Use the lap belt.

[Todd Black 88]

There is a factory part for mounting the tether for a child seat to the rear parcel shelf. I have it installed in my M3, and it works great. Under the parcel shelf, next to the rear passenger speaker is a threaded hole that fits the bolt that comes with the bracket.

[bstarr3]

do you have the part number?

[mach schnell]

If I was going to install a latch tether, I'd definitely want to add a large high-quality steel backing plate to help distribute the force, because you don't want the latch tether just popping itself right out of the rear shelf (which is very thin and not stressed/braced/designed for any sort of tension or resistance to pulling).

As an example, take a look at the backing plates people install under their cars when they install bolt-in rollbars. Same idea.

[Todd Black 88]

^^^its a factory designed for it location. Its part ofthe structure of the car.

I couldn't find the part number, but i will check my reciepts of parts to see if i have it. I should.

[Todd Black 88]

part numbers i used are.

72-11-7-119-896 bush
07-11-9-900-052 washer
72-11-1-922-499 bolt 5/16x35 child
72-11-8-187-598 bolt cover child se
72-11-8-187-599 support child seat

pull your rear shelf up and find the threaded hole before you punch the hole through the cardboard shelf........obviously.

Good luck.

I used mine for 4 years with my son.

[raywillet]

If I was going to install a latch tether, I'd definitely want to add a large high-quality steel backing plate to help distribute the force, because you don't want the latch tether just popping itself right out of the rear shelf (which is very thin and not stressed/braced/designed for any sort of tension or resistance to pulling).

As an example, take a look at the backing plates people install under their cars when they install bolt-in rollbars. Same idea.

He's referring to the little clip that attaches to the back of the seat, not the actual LATCH mount that attaches the seat at the base. Reinforcement is unnecessary with just the top tether, as most of the forces will be absorbed at the lap belt. That is just to keep the seat from rocking mostly, not really for restraint. Using the factory mount on the shelf should be sufficient.

Just be sure that the seatbelt latch itself is a "self-locking" type. If you can pull the seatbelt latch loose longitudinally (pulling on end that goes into reciever, like straight out) you may need a locking plate to keep the seatbelt tight. I'm not sure what type E30s have in the backseat, I've only had mine for 2 days, and I've been more worried about getting it started than using seatbelts... A locking plate is a double-c looking piece of metal that goes on the seatbelt after tightening. Should be in a bag in the box, or under the seat attached to it.

I guess my whole "Certified Car Seat Installer" that I got in Fire Academy actually does pay off occasionally....

[TobyB]

There are actually 2 bosses for this- one in each rear seating position, centered behind the
front seats.

There isn't one in the middle, like the E36.

They're plenty strong.

<I freakin' lied- there IS a center location, at least from 2/86. It's just flush with the deck, not up on a pedestal>

t

[Jack13]

Thank you for this post - I realize it's old, but I just took hold my latest e30 and a little one must fit inside.

Question - is it ok to use that rear tether with a forward facing seat in the middle position? It does seem more suited to use in the passenger seat, but I would like to try for the 'safer' middle position. Using the lap belt only doesn't provide enough twisting support.

Thanks,
Jack

[Pete_E30]

Ausssie spec, we don't have ISOFIX/Latch here (sore point) but we use the seatbelt/tether system. I have our car seat in the middle of the car in case I'm ever hit on the side - more room for the sides of the car to travel before they contact the seat. Short of the seatbelt and tether anchors ripping out, the (forward facing) seat isn't going anywhere in a rear-ender/head on. I run the same seat in my DC2R as well, except no middle mount - I feel safer for the youngest in the E30's position.

Sure neither car has impact curtains etc, but I've had 5 kids in everything from a 1964 EH Holden to '74 civics etc. Haven't lost one yet touch wood - even though one of my TA22 Celicas took a hit from behind in the '80s with an '80s car seat in it.

[george graves]

Not safe. Don't do it. Besides, E30 has nearly zero safety features. Why would you risk carting your kid around in it?

I'd definitely want to add a large high-quality steel backing plate

I love three things. Misinformation, arm-chair engineering and the internet. God bless you all.

[nando]

Thank you for this post - I realize it's old, but I just took hold my latest e30 and a little one must fit inside.

Question - is it ok to use that rear tether with a forward facing seat in the middle position? It does seem more suited to use in the passenger seat, but I would like to try for the 'safer' middle position. Using the lap belt only doesn't provide enough twisting support.

Thanks,
Jack

the lap belt isn't very good - it's really hard to get it tight enough.

I'd rather have mine in the sides just because the belts work so much better.

[Pete_E30]

the lap belt isn't very good - it's really hard to get it tight enough.

I'd rather have mine in the sides just because the belts work so much better.

I'm the opposite - I'd rather a fixed belt than a retractor because there should be no play in the seat. What I do is make the belt 4-5cm shorter than it would be to do it up. AKA I can't buckle it up. Then I put my knee on the seat and put all my weight on it to squash it into the back seat, connect the belt and the top strap. There is no way that sucker is going to move, unlike retractable belts that despite the locks etc built into the seat, do lose tension allowing the seat to move.

Cliffs: Don't tighten the seatbelt when it's done up - shorten it, squash the kiddie seat into your back seat, buckle the belt and let the rebound of the seat provide the tension.

We've never had an alternative over here.