[chris.lamb]

With a nipper on the way I want to have Isofix in the rear of my 2003 MCS.
Looking in realoem shows that the Isofix bracket and covers are available as seperate parts.
And looking under my rear seat shows weld-nuts already fitted in to body for the brackets.
So I am thinking that retrofit can be done without welding.
Anyone done this?
I would use high tensile bolts then trim the seat base to suite and fit the covers.
Maybe someone with a newer car with Isofix as standard can confirm that the brackets are bolted in, or maybe when it went 100% fit BMW changed from bolts to welds (cheaper).
Cheers in advance.

[chris.lamb]

Ordered 2 ISOfix brackets and covers from my local stealer this morning, omly £19.22 all in.
Will post up the results once thay arrive.

[minicabrio]

I've got two sets of covers sat here doing nothing as just bought new seats... you could have had these....

[Rakey]

hmmm, not sure I'd be wanting to risk this mod, have you checked the cars supplied with Isofix has the brackets bolted on or welded?

[chris.lamb]

I checked in tinternet and found photos of 2 cars with brackets BOLTED on and none with them WELDED on.
So I think should be OK if I use High Tensile bolts.
Cheers for the cover offer minicabrio!

[cosmosmini]

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the retrofit ISOFIX.

I was wondering if it was possible as I'm in the same situation.

Can you list the part numbers for everything you need?

Any detailed instructions would help then I can establish if this is something I want to tackle.

How are you getting around the issue of your rear seat not having the holes in place to fit the ISOFIX bars through?

Any advice / help is appreciated

Cheers

Chris

[chris.lamb]

Cosmosmini,

Story so far..............

Have ordered :-
2 off 72111314448, Anchorage Isofix &
1 off 52207043173, Cover Isofix Left &
1 off 52207043174, Cover Isofix Right.

Total £19.22 on 1 weeks delivery.

I only plan to fit Isofix on the Passenger Side of the car.

Fitting instruction plan is remove rear seat base by pulling up front edge until clips let go and the pull forward and up. The bolt 2 brackets into existing holes in body, holes currently have sticky plugs over them. Not sure if they are M6 or M8 but will use Torx drive mushroom head high tensile boilts and threadlok in. Refit seat.

To put holes into Rear Seat I plan to carefully cut a slit into the seat in front of each bracket and then fit into it the Covers, may have to trim out some foam as well. Should then allow the coveraing fabric of the seat to close back and cover the slit & cover.

Will post again with changes once done, parts due next Monday.

[cosmosmini]

Chris

After searching the forum I've read that you can't retrofit ISOFIX as the brackets are welded during build.

I've also heard reference to a 'bar' being fitted to secure the ISOFIX brackets???

Does your car have this 'bar'?

Does this not put you off or do you know different?

Have BMW offered any advice?

I asked my local Mini Stealer about retro ISO and they said NO!

A question I would have is; if you can't retrofit ISO then why do BMW sell the fixings/brackets??

Still very interested on how you get on.

Thanks

[chris.lamb]

Cosmosmini,

Yes, forums do say it can't be retrofitted, but that's part of the challenge/fun !
Each Isofix bracket consists of a horizontal round BAR with a bolt hole @ each end.
I guess this is the bar refered to.
I'm not put off just yet, lets see how it all fixes together.
I don't ask BMW for advice, I am a professional automotive Interiors Design/Management Engineer with 12 years under my belt.
Will post up results once parts arrive.
Cheers.

[cosmosmini]

Chris

Good luck, do let me know how you get on

Maybe you could do mine, for a small fee of course

[dalespitfire]

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Cosmosmini,

Yes, forums do say it can't be retrofitted, but that's part of the challenge/fun !
Each Isofix bracket consists of a horizontal round BAR with a bolt hole @ each end.
I guess this is the bar refered to.
I'm not put off just yet, lets see how it all fixes together.
I don't ask BMW for advice, I am a professional automotive Interiors Design/Management Engineer with 12 years under my belt.
Will post up results once parts arrive.
Cheers.

Mate, seriously, do not p1ss about with the safety of your child. As a dad of 5 weeks I couldn't even think about doing anything as risky.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalespitfire (original)

Mate, seriously, do not p1ss about with the safety of your child. As a dad of 5 weeks I couldn't even think about doing anything as risky.

I'm glad someone has said what I was thinking, as I get sick of being the voice of doom about stuff like this.

Oh and I if you want to know my experience and expertise in this, I work in product development for the largest manufacturer of baby car seats

[dalespitfire]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

I'm glad someone has said what I was thinking, as I get sick of being the voice of doom about stuff like this.

Oh and I if you want to know my experience and expertise in this, I work in product development for the largest manufacturer of baby car seats

Cheers mate....I was just waiting for a flaming there.

I'm not trying to preach or anything but is it really worth the risk? The standard fit belt seats are safe enough without gambling on doing something like this - I'm sure Rakey will confirm that.

Oh, and nice avatar Rakey....best show on telly hands down....

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalespitfire (original)

Cheers mate....I was just waiting for a flaming there.

I'm not trying to preach or anything but is it really worth the risk? The standard fit belt seats are safe enough without gambling on doing something like this - I'm sure Rakey will confirm that.

Oh, and nice avatar Rakey....best show on telly hands down....

Yes, using the seat belt is just as safe, the isofix system just takes away the fuss and the risk of the seat been fitted incorrectly

[chris.lamb]

Hi guys,

ROSPA & Britax say :-

"In addition to misuse reduction we also
see a performance advantage of ISOFIXCRS
in dynamic tests. The main reason
is that ISOFIX-CRS are directly attached
to the vehicle body, whereas standard
CRS are fixed via the vehicle belt which
always has slack, leading to a later
reaction time and higher g-loads in a
crash."

What do you think?

Nice avatar Rakey!

[dalespitfire]

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Hi guys,

ROSPA & Britax say :-

"In addition to misuse reduction we also
see a performance advantage of ISOFIXCRS
in dynamic tests. The main reason
is that ISOFIX-CRS are directly attached
to the vehicle body, whereas standard
CRS are fixed via the vehicle belt which
always has slack, leading to a later
reaction time and higher g-loads in a
crash."

What do you think?

Nice avatar Rakey!

That'll be cars with isofix from build, not stuck on afterwards. How would you feel if yours sheered off in an accident?

People would no longer manufacture them if they were not safe.

[minicabrio]

Having thought about it, this sounds almost as scary as the 'retrofit' seat belts that the old minibusses got when it became law. Most of them would do naff all in an accident.

[chris.lamb]

Hello Dalespitfire,

Thanks for the reply.

I would feel like death if mine sheered off in an accident, as would any parent or parent to be.
I have faith in BMW OE parts which I am fitting and correctly fitted they will perform as designed as I know that have been correctly tested.
The parts I plan to fit have no moving parts like a seatbelt and I am confident in my abilities having worked on many prototype and production cars, including working on airbag systems.
I appreciate all the comments made and I have read them with interest and thought about all opinions.
I will let the forum know...........

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by chris.lamb (original)

Hi guys,

ROSPA & Britax say :-

"In addition to misuse reduction we also
see a performance advantage of ISOFIXCRS
in dynamic tests. The main reason
is that ISOFIX-CRS are directly attached
to the vehicle body, whereas standard
CRS are fixed via the vehicle belt which
always has slack, leading to a later
reaction time and higher g-loads in a
crash."

What do you think?

Nice avatar Rakey!

Having worked with Isofix seats and the tradtional seats that use seat belts yes there are improved results with Isofix, but this does not make the traditional fitting method redundent or unsafe.

If I was choosing between a retrofit Isofix or seat belt, I'd choose the seat belt method to protect my childs life, no matter how positive and sure I felt in my abilities to retrofit this to a car. Its just not worth the risk IMO.

[Paul]

My main concern here is resale time. If indeed you do intend to resale, will you leave the "DIY" ISOFIX (no matter how good it's done, it's still DIY) in place, or cover it back up/remove the bar?