BMW E93 + young child

BMW E93 + young child

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Discussion

Jakg

Original Poster:

3,508 posts

170 months

Monday 1st January
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I've got a three year old with a front-facing Joie i-spin 360 car seat, but I've only used it with 4 door cars.

Thinking about a convertible and an E93 is on the radar (V8, obviously), but concerned about the practicality of it with a young child, specifically getting them in and out.

The only example I could see was this video, and the idea of stepping into the rear footwell and them passing them through sounds a nightmare.

It wouldn't be the primary family car, but most journeys would involve a child.

For reference, this is it the car seat in my E91 - from I think the rear legroom is about the same size



Anyone had any experience?

Jaybmw

316 posts

83 months

Monday 1st January
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I got rid of my e92 and went for a E90 when my daughter was born.. it was a pain in the hole

Jamescrs

4,579 posts

67 months

Tuesday 2nd January
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I have some experience of getting young children into the rear of three door BMW's, albeit not an E93, my last car was an M240i and my youngest when I got it was 3,

It's doable but if its a daily thing it will wear thin quickly, I got my child to climb in first then you have to climb into the rear with your bum against the back of the front passenger seat to fasten the child in.
My current car is an F82 M4 and whilst my child is now 6 she needs assistance with fastening the seatbelt so I still do the same, thankfully my wife has a Mini Countryman which is our family car so putting the youngest in the rear of a 3 door car is rare.

dhutch

14,430 posts

199 months

Tuesday 2nd January
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We have a E46 330ci and a 2yo and its fine.

Easier in a four door car obviously, but with the Joie 360 behind the passenger seat, I just fold the drivers forward, rotate the seat to face me, and put them in and out. I do this 3-4 mornings a week to do the nursery drop off and collect most evenings. If we go somewhere as the family we take the Fiesta or the newly acquired V60.


g3org3y

20,767 posts

193 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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As you say, access is a faff.

I've done it with both my E46 330Ci and my E63 630i. Surprisingly the E46 was easier as the access with the seat folded forward was better.

Neither I'd be keen to do on a daily basis...especially on those days when my kid is being an absolute pain in the arse more challenging or it's pissing rain.


Court_S

13,366 posts

179 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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It’ll be a bit of a pain in the arse if I’m honest….but manageable.

My E92 is ok, but my lad is 9 and uses a booster. He gets in himself and puts his own seatbelt on so there’s no need to reach in. One thing that is a pain even now is that the doors are sodding massive and really noticeable when in public car parks….that be even more annoying if you’re having to clamber in to do up seat belts etc.

Not sure what they rear seats in the E93 see like but worth checks to see if they’re a difference shape to the coupe; the rear sears in my wife’s E88 were quite upright.

The rear seats in my E92 are quite sculpted and angled. You’re car seat might not sit right.

wax lyrical

888 posts

243 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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In the event of a car accident/ car fire, etc., isn't it better to be able to get a child out of the car ASAP without having to faff about with a 2-door car and tricky access?

I think a 4-door car is the only sensible option. Sorry! frown

dhutch

14,430 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd January
quotequote all
wax lyrical said:
In the event of a car accident/ car fire, etc., isn't it better to be able to get a child out of the car ASAP without having to faff about with a 2-door car and tricky access? frown
Convertible... just always travel with the top down!

Mr Tidy

22,940 posts

129 months

Wednesday 3rd January
quotequote all
My nephew loved his E46 325ti Compact, then about a year after he got it he became a Dad.

He soon got fed up with the lack of access to the child seat and replaced it with a 325i Touring!

DVandrews

1,317 posts

285 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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Have extensive experience of young children in the back of an E93, both toddler and youngster. It soon becomes a regular PITA, swapped to using the wife’s 5 door S3 instead which was much more convenient. If I had the choice again I would go with a 4/5 door every time.

Dave

Twolane

74 posts

22 months

Wednesday 3rd January
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I've ferried the grandkids around occasionally in the back of my e46 M3 and TBH wouldn't want to do it on a daily basis. Trying to squeeze myself into the rear to bolt in an unwilling toddler is no fun.
As said, two door car and access should the worst happen, not worth the risk IMO.

BUG4LIFE

2,053 posts

220 months

Wednesday
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What did you do OP?

I'm still faffing around trying to deciding what car I want next and I've spotted what could be a nice 330i E93 [with replaced injectors].

To contradict what others have said here, I don't think getting kids into the back of a two door car is that much of a problem....I might of said the opposite six months ago, but after selling my Jag STR, I've been using my Mum's 2001 Ford Puma. Tilting the front seats forward and kind of climbing into the back to strap the kids takes a few seconds [I'm 6'6" btw, so folding myself into the back is no small feat]! Fare enough if it's the main family car, 5 doors is probably a better idea but we have my Wife's Kia Sportage for that.

Rear leg room is my main problem. Hopefully I could move the drivers seat forward enough so my 6 year old could sit behind me, in his kids seat!

I need to figure out is the rear seats in an E93 work with any kind of kids seat. I guess they are more upright and smaller than in an E92?

Jakg

Original Poster:

3,508 posts

170 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
BUG4LIFE said:
What did you do OP?
I did not get a convertible.


BUG4LIFE

2,053 posts

220 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Ah yes...you got the opposite smile

I was just having a look at pics of E93's with child seats in the back and I realised, being a convertible, it doesn't have top tether points/hooks. As the seats I have for my boys have this function, I can't really buy a car without...so no convertible for me either!!

dhutch

14,430 posts

199 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Yes, one of the advantages of the Joie Spin 360 (we have a couple the non-i version) is no top tether requirment.

Jakg

Original Poster:

3,508 posts

170 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
BUG4LIFE said:
I was just having a look at pics of E93's with child seats in the back and I realised, being a convertible, it doesn't have top tether points/hooks. As the seats I have for my boys have this function, I can't really buy a car without...so no convertible for me either!!
New car, new car seats?

My seat has a stabilising leg instead of top tether, so would be ok on that front.
Jakg said:
It wouldn't be the primary family car, but most journeys would involve a child.
TBH based on my profile I could probably have put the car seat in the front instead!

paradigital

887 posts

154 months

Thursday
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I have no issues with two kids in car seats in my F33, as with the OP, it isn’t the main family car (that’s the Passat GTE estate), nor is it even my main car (Model 3 Performance) but a fair weather family outing at the weekend is worth putting up with a touch extra faff for roof down trips.

I tend to put the roof down before getting kids in, makes for a far easier task, and 99% of the time we are getting into the F33 so we CAN have the roof down.

It wouldn’t put me off having another 4 seat convertible, I want to try a California or a Grancabrio next I think.