Conflict of interest! Car v baby seat.

[Dante]

Hi All,

I will be having a new very small passenger in my 260E early on next year, and I need some help so I can keep everyone happy - my wife, who has a specific baby car seat in mind (Maxi-Cosi cabrio), me, who would like to keep the car, and the new arrival who need to be safe.

The conflict is that the Maxi-Cosi is a rear-facing type of baby seat, and when placed on the back seat, the belt isn't long enough to wrap round the back of the baby seat.

Does anyone know if replacement modern seatbelts for the rear of a w124 saloon, from Mercedes, are longer than the ones that were originally fitted? The dealer can't tell me what the length of new belts would be, same as 1986 spec or longer.

The current original seatbelts give me 79 inches (2 metres) length "at the seat" when fully extended, and I need to have another 16 inches (40cm) in addition to this.

Any ideas/ experience? (Apart from changing the brand of the baby seat)

Thanks
Daniel

 

[jeremytaylor]

Congrats on the impending arrival!

Its odd that a belt designed for large Germans won't fit round a baby seat. Are you sure you can't 'twist' the seat in like we used to? Or maybe there's a problem with the belt?

 

[Shude]

Try searching online for seatbelt extenders! I'm sure I saw a company selling extenders for plane seatbelts (for *really* big people) maybe they are available for passenger cars too.

 

[glojo]

my wife, who has a specific baby car seat in mind (Maxi-Cosi cabrio), me, who would like to keep the car, and the new arrival who need to be safe.

The current original seatbelts give me 79 inches (2 metres) length "at the seat" when fully extended, and I need to have another 16 inches (40cm) in addition to this.

Any ideas/ experience? (Apart from changing the brand of the baby seat)

Hi Daniel,
Whatever 'She that must be obeyed' feels happiest with is definitely the way to go.

It seems very strange that the seat belt will not fit over a conventional style baby seat??? I would get it checked out just to make sure there is not a problem with the belt.

Good luck with the new arrival,
John

 

[saorbust]

I'd honnestly change the baby seat - I wouldn't tamper with the car at all. Given the passenger its not worth relying on some after market extension unit which likely hasn't passed any kind of quality standard in the same way as the belt.

Sorry but my vote goes to change the seat - and I'd also get someone like Mothercare etc to fit it to your car as well so you can be sure it works.

Clarky.

 

[Satch]

Had this issue ages ago with a fancy rear facing baby seat. The entire rear interia reel mechanism would have to be swapped out by dealer (Peugeot) for special order one which had longer webbing. Belt extension would not work because it was a single webbing affair that would have only attached to the end of the belt clip, so giving a "Y" effect too far up the frame

Tried it in the back of other cars and would not fit for the same reason. Great design.

We got a different baby seat, one that did not have a stupid wrap around fitting but where the belt attached via a very solid sub frame and needed a much shorter run.

 

[glojo]

I'd honnestly change the baby seat - I wouldn't tamper with the car at all. Given the passenger its not worth relying on some after market extension unit which likely hasn't passed any kind of quality standard in the same way as the belt.

Sorry but my vote goes to change the seat - and I'd also get someone like Mothercare etc to fit it to your car as well so you can be sure it works.

Clarky.

Hi Clarky,
Don't get me wrong I 100% agree with your post.. I am querying why the belt will not fit over a conventional baby seat? I definitely would not meddle with the belt, but I would get it checked out by an expert.

If the wife wants a particular brand of baby seat, then I would move heaven and earth to try and grant her wishes, but if the seat did not fit the car in the required manner, then it is a non starter.

John

 

[nickg]

IIRC, from long researching the subject, you shouldn't under any circumstances use a seat belt extender with a baby seat.
Just find another seat that fits better.

 

[Dante]

Thanks for the feedback - I have already checked out the functioning and travel of the belts, as I was also surprised by the shortness of them - they are working correctly and do extend the maximum extent. I guess Germans weren't as big then as now. Goes for me as well though!

I found the seat belt extensions Shude, manufactured by Securon.

It struck me that I've been looking at this from the wrong end - it could be the excuse to upgrade the motor, but is upgrade the correct term when going from a rust-free W124 to a W211 !

 

[imadoofus]

Once you've had a W124, nothing is an upgrade

PJ

 

[saorbust]

Hi Clarky,
Don't get me wrong I 100% agree with your post.. I am querying why the belt will not fit over a conventional baby seat? I definitely would not meddle with the belt, but I would get it checked out by an expert.

If the wife wants a particular brand of baby seat, then I would move heaven and earth to try and grant her wishes, but if the seat did not fit the car in the required manner, then it is a non starter.

John

John - valid point. However you make the assumption that the word 'conventional' applies to baby seats !! Its precisely because it doesn't that so many makes and models exist, and the standards vary hugely. ISOFIX (as an example) is bloody expensive - but then it has to pass a large number of tests. Other standards apply to other seats.

The point is - no standard car seat exists (compare the rear of a mini with a rolls for example) so no standard child seat exists.

Hence I'd always go for personal fitment of the right seat. ISOFIX seeks to avoid this by defining the anchorage points in a different manner.

No solution is perfect, but then not having a baseline thats common doesn't help either.

 

[Dante]

The Parts dept in my local dealership has suggested that a later model W124 seatbelt would still be compatible and may be longer, but he can't tell the length from the part numbers. Could anyone who has a post-1990 W124 do me a favour and measure the length of the rear seatbelt that is available for use when its fully extended?

I agree that it may be more logical to try to change my wife's choice of "Baby Travel System" (what happened to prams?) than the seatbelt, but it's a hell of a lot harder!

Daniel

 

[Mr E]

I've had similar conversations with wifey on two occasions (2 kids). The seat might look wonderful, but if it doesn't fit in the car then it won't be any good. Use extenders at your peril........you should see in the instructions for any seat that these are considered a non-starter.

You need to work backwards - go to somewhere decent and try out a variety of seats - belt attachment is one issue, but you need to check that it sits securely and squarely on the seat as well.

 

[Pringles]

Is the car seat only compatible with the 3 point belt or can the centre lap belt be used ?
I only say this because I have secured seats ( admittedly I think it was the ones for toddlers) using this method.

I think the idea of going to a big store and trying a few would probably be best.

The only disadvantage of the W124 I find ( 3 kids in tow) is that it hasn't got much in the way of cubby holes in it. The glove box was replaced with an airbag in the later models.

Good luck for the new year !