MINI2 - MINI Forum - View Single Post - How can you be sure maxi-cosi baby car seat is safe?

ladyslena · Feb 28th, 2005, 05:48 PM

[quote=northover][quote=ladyslena]
i emailed dorel who are responsible for maxi cosi and got this reply:

"My name is Joe and I am the team Leader for Dorel customer care .
I believe you have been dealing with Becky about whether or not a
cabrio will fit the Mini Cooper .
As for the Cabrio fitting the Mini Cooper some registrations the Cabrio
was compatable for the car but as Mini Cooper change the style of there
car seats the Cabrio will not fit in other registrations.
As Becky explained this is down to Mini Cooper .
The 2004 model was not compatable for the Cabrio as the child seat was
moving around and would be very unsafe for your child however the 2003
model was compatable for the cabrio so when it was fitted it did not
move at all which is what you want ."
QUOTE]

That's interesting, I have a 2003 (built Sep 03) UK MCS and the Maxi Cosi is not suitable, it moves A Lot!
According to the BMW engineer I spoke to you, Mini have not changed the rear seat shape/geometry since inception or across the range until the cabriolet. Admittedly this guy worked at a dealer and I have emailed Mini/BMW for confirmation of this but they have now gone strangely quiet on the subject of infant carriers!

I have been emailing Rebecca Thomas at Dorel (could this be 'Becky' ?) and she provided the following:

"The car seat should be fitted horizantlly. I have just tested a Mini cooper
year 2003with a Maxi Cosi Cabrio car seat and found that it is not suitable
as the seats are not completly flat it would be unsafe to put a piece of
polystyrne in the gap and i also found that there is a lot of movement.So
unfortunately your car is not suitable."

and

"With leather seats it is not suitable as the leather would cause the car seat to
slip.Every car model is different as the specifactions are changed by the
manufacturer yearly so in some Mini Coopers it would be suitable as they do not
have the same features.We have not changed any specifactions on the Cabrio we
have only changed the colours,it is BMW who keep changing there
specifactions.Sorry i couldnt be of any more help."

The first reply appears to contradict Joe's statement about 03 models and the second reply blames BMW for changing the seat shape.

Either the shape of the rear seats has changed (unless we are getting confused with front seats? I think unlikely).
Or if not the Maxi Cosi has never been suitable, surely?

Yes it was Rebecca Thomas I first corresponded with but she did seem to not know what she was going on about and passed on my details to a Josanne who also didnt understand my query. So I emailed back Becky and asked her to get a manager or Supervisor to email me back who is Joe.

Becky didnt write that she had just tested a carseat but she did mention it should fit horizontally - she told me that they couldnt test the carseat as Mini wouldnt let them as they have their own carseats now - seems they dont know what the hell they are talking about themselves.
Its so confusing isnt it. I think what must of happened is she gave you the first response which is what she gave me and then when Joe emailed me back she got the other response I bet if we compared the dates of the emails we received this is probably what happened!!

Feb 28th, 2005, 05:48 PM	#7
ladyslena MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Local Time: 11:00 PM Posts: 2 Offline	[quote=northover][quote=ladyslena] i emailed dorel who are responsible for maxi cosi and got this reply: "My name is Joe and I am the team Leader for Dorel customer care . I believe you have been dealing with Becky about whether or not a cabrio will fit the Mini Cooper . As for the Cabrio fitting the Mini Cooper some registrations the Cabrio was compatable for the car but as Mini Cooper change the style of there car seats the Cabrio will not fit in other registrations. As Becky explained this is down to Mini Cooper . The 2004 model was not compatable for the Cabrio as the child seat was moving around and would be very unsafe for your child however the 2003 model was compatable for the cabrio so when it was fitted it did not move at all which is what you want ." QUOTE] That's interesting, I have a 2003 (built Sep 03) UK MCS and the Maxi Cosi is not suitable, it moves A Lot! According to the BMW engineer I spoke to you, Mini have not changed the rear seat shape/geometry since inception or across the range until the cabriolet. Admittedly this guy worked at a dealer and I have emailed Mini/BMW for confirmation of this but they have now gone strangely quiet on the subject of infant carriers! I have been emailing Rebecca Thomas at Dorel (could this be 'Becky' ?) and she provided the following: "The car seat should be fitted horizantlly. I have just tested a Mini cooper year 2003with a Maxi Cosi Cabrio car seat and found that it is not suitable as the seats are not completly flat it would be unsafe to put a piece of polystyrne in the gap and i also found that there is a lot of movement.So unfortunately your car is not suitable." and "With leather seats it is not suitable as the leather would cause the car seat to slip.Every car model is different as the specifactions are changed by the manufacturer yearly so in some Mini Coopers it would be suitable as they do not have the same features.We have not changed any specifactions on the Cabrio we have only changed the colours,it is BMW who keep changing there specifactions.Sorry i couldnt be of any more help." The first reply appears to contradict Joe's statement about 03 models and the second reply blames BMW for changing the seat shape. Either the shape of the rear seats has changed (unless we are getting confused with front seats? I think unlikely). Or if not the Maxi Cosi has never been suitable, surely? Yes it was Rebecca Thomas I first corresponded with but she did seem to not know what she was going on about and passed on my details to a Josanne who also didnt understand my query. So I emailed back Becky and asked her to get a manager or Supervisor to email me back who is Joe. Becky didnt write that she had just tested a carseat but she did mention it should fit horizontally - she told me that they couldnt test the carseat as Mini wouldnt let them as they have their own carseats now - seems they dont know what the hell they are talking about themselves. Its so confusing isnt it. I think what must of happened is she gave you the first response which is what she gave me and then when Joe emailed me back she got the other response I bet if we compared the dates of the emails we received this is probably what happened!!