Roamer
Active Member
Following a post from Orientdude on this site about there being a retrofit isofix kit available for the 203 chassis, I set about buying the parts and fitting them and decided to create a How To.
Important Note
This guide is written based on a UK model C32 estate, the S203. When referring to the drivers side or the offside, I mean when sitting in the car looking out the windscreen it's the right hand side. The passenger side/near side is on the left when sitting on the car looking out the windscreen.
Caveat
I don't know if all S203 models have the same seats as my C32 with the AMG leather, nor do I know is the W203 saloon/sedan models have the same squib and more importantly pre-drilled hole and bolt installed from the factory. I would suggest you check this on your own car before buying the parts.
Tools
You will need a ratchet, an extension bar for it to save your knuckles, a 13mm socket and an E12 torx bit. That's it.
Time required
Under 30 minutes.
Parts
Passenger/nearside fitting - A 203 860 10 87
Drivers/offside fitting - A203 860 11 87
These were about £38 each from the dealer.
Step 1
To give yourself more room it's best to lift up the base of the rear seat. To do that you simply lift the little handle at the side of the seat next to where the seatbelt goes to anchor. You will need to have the rear door open to do this or the seat base won't clear the armrest.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00271_zps89bc9077.jpg
Step 2
The squib between the base and the backrest of the rear seat needs to be removed. Unfortunately I forgot to take a before picture, so this is an after one.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00267_zps1090cc30.jpg
Step 3
This is the squib removed. There are three contacts points on the base, one on either side sits around a plastic post, with the one in the middle going into the silver bracket between the seatbelt catch anchor points.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1062_zpsc7dfef82.jpg
Close up of the plastic posts and catches.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1061_zpsa5901d1b.jpg
To get the squib out it has to do a sort of forward roll. It's best to ease the catches from the plastic post to help with this.
Step 4
Within the box there are only three parts. The metal bracket, a nut and a bolt as shown below.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00249_zpsebd0add5.jpg
Close up of the nut and bolt with their required sockets.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00259_zpsff8ded5d.jpg
Step 5
Locate the pre-prepared fittings on the chassis. (Again I'll point out I don't know if this is on all S203's/estates or on the saloon/sedan at all.)
This photo shows the factory installed bolt on the chassis for the nut in the parts kit to fit onto.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00250_zpsc3dd52d5.jpg
This second photo is of the pre-drilled hole on the side of the car for the bolt in the parts kit to fit into.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00253_zpsbfbb5d46.jpg
Step 6
Offer up the bracket, and install the bolt and nut from the parts kit. When done it should look like this.
Drivers side:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00261_zpsbf2d8eea.jpg
Passenger side:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1064_zps221972d1.jpg
There is no need to fit both if you just want one. I just figured while I was ordering parts and had the squib out it would save any hassle later to do both at once.
Step 7
Refit the squib, remembering to put it behind the strap of the middle seat belt.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00262_zpsa2725f3d.jpg
Then it's a forward roll in reverse to get the squib back into position. The plastic posts and catches are the tricky parts, but the catches do rotate to make it easier.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00263_zps8bf7bf83.jpg
When the catch is correctly in place it should look like this.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00264_zpsca0a92ed.jpg
You can ease in one catch at a time, but it's best to have the centre one in place when you do so.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00265_zps6ff3130d.jpg
You can then adjust each of the ends to get them in place.
Step 7
With the squib back in place fold the base of the rear seats back down and the finished project should look like this.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00269_zps763c3d97.jpg
It doesn't interfere with the seat or the seatbelts and is barely noticeable unless you are looking for it.
I hope this helps, feel free to send a pm if anything is unclear. If anyone can let me know if the W203 has the factory installed bolt and hole then I'll update the post.
Important Note
This guide is written based on a UK model C32 estate, the S203. When referring to the drivers side or the offside, I mean when sitting in the car looking out the windscreen it's the right hand side. The passenger side/near side is on the left when sitting on the car looking out the windscreen.
Caveat
I don't know if all S203 models have the same seats as my C32 with the AMG leather, nor do I know is the W203 saloon/sedan models have the same squib and more importantly pre-drilled hole and bolt installed from the factory. I would suggest you check this on your own car before buying the parts.
Tools
You will need a ratchet, an extension bar for it to save your knuckles, a 13mm socket and an E12 torx bit. That's it.
Time required
Under 30 minutes.
Parts
Passenger/nearside fitting - A 203 860 10 87
Drivers/offside fitting - A203 860 11 87
These were about £38 each from the dealer.
Step 1
To give yourself more room it's best to lift up the base of the rear seat. To do that you simply lift the little handle at the side of the seat next to where the seatbelt goes to anchor. You will need to have the rear door open to do this or the seat base won't clear the armrest.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00271_zps89bc9077.jpg
Step 2
The squib between the base and the backrest of the rear seat needs to be removed. Unfortunately I forgot to take a before picture, so this is an after one.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00267_zps1090cc30.jpg
Step 3
This is the squib removed. There are three contacts points on the base, one on either side sits around a plastic post, with the one in the middle going into the silver bracket between the seatbelt catch anchor points.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1062_zpsc7dfef82.jpg
Close up of the plastic posts and catches.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1061_zpsa5901d1b.jpg
To get the squib out it has to do a sort of forward roll. It's best to ease the catches from the plastic post to help with this.
Step 4
Within the box there are only three parts. The metal bracket, a nut and a bolt as shown below.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00249_zpsebd0add5.jpg
Close up of the nut and bolt with their required sockets.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00259_zpsff8ded5d.jpg
Step 5
Locate the pre-prepared fittings on the chassis. (Again I'll point out I don't know if this is on all S203's/estates or on the saloon/sedan at all.)
This photo shows the factory installed bolt on the chassis for the nut in the parts kit to fit onto.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00250_zpsc3dd52d5.jpg
This second photo is of the pre-drilled hole on the side of the car for the bolt in the parts kit to fit into.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00253_zpsbfbb5d46.jpg
Step 6
Offer up the bracket, and install the bolt and nut from the parts kit. When done it should look like this.
Drivers side:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00261_zpsbf2d8eea.jpg
Passenger side:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSCF1064_zps221972d1.jpg
There is no need to fit both if you just want one. I just figured while I was ordering parts and had the squib out it would save any hassle later to do both at once.
Step 7
Refit the squib, remembering to put it behind the strap of the middle seat belt.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00262_zpsa2725f3d.jpg
Then it's a forward roll in reverse to get the squib back into position. The plastic posts and catches are the tricky parts, but the catches do rotate to make it easier.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00263_zps8bf7bf83.jpg
When the catch is correctly in place it should look like this.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00264_zpsca0a92ed.jpg
You can ease in one catch at a time, but it's best to have the centre one in place when you do so.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00265_zps6ff3130d.jpg
You can then adjust each of the ends to get them in place.
Step 7
With the squib back in place fold the base of the rear seats back down and the finished project should look like this.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/... C32 Isofix retrofit/DSC00269_zps763c3d97.jpg
It doesn't interfere with the seat or the seatbelts and is barely noticeable unless you are looking for it.
I hope this helps, feel free to send a pm if anything is unclear. If anyone can let me know if the W203 has the factory installed bolt and hole then I'll update the post.
