[spikey]

Has any one bought a Isofix child car seat for the mini

Halfords are selling the Britax Isofix for £129.00 but BMW has not tested it and therefore state it could invalidate our insurance

BMW want over £250.00 for the Mini isofix and say they do not have any plans as yet to test any other makes

[dietcokeplease]

See this thread:

http://mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36040

And also do a search for "isofix" for previous discussions.

I think that your dealer is playing Devils Advocate by saying that your insurance will be invalidated. Not every child seat is tested by every manufacturer. There are just too many permutations.

The reason BMW won't test the Britax seat is that they want to protect the market for their overpriced seat.

I would have bought the Britax seat if it was available when my daughter was ready to change to a forward facing seat. At the moment we're using a Recaro Start seat.

[Kinster]

Just buy the Britax I did. Like DCP said, not all car seats are tested so that means most people will invalidate their insurance

[spikey]

thanx for that we have bought the Britax Duo isofix and it fixes straight in with no problems

Just had my Audi A4 fitted with Isofix mounts as well so we can move the seat from car to car

[Shamster]

The Britax seat would've had to pass the general baby seat safety tests anyway. The only way I could see it invalidating your insurance is if it said specifically that it wasn't designed for the MINI and you used it.

[bobnobski]

Quote:

Originally posted by shamster
The Britax seat would've had to pass the general baby seat safety tests anyway. The only way I could see it invalidating your insurance is if it said specifically that it wasn't designed for the MINI and you used it.

no other make apart from BMW's ownbrand has been approved for the MINI.

[Shamster]

Hmm. I'm just wondering from the baby seat manufacturers point of view. Having three kids I've used about 4 or 5 different types of baby seat but don't remember any of them saying that they couldn't be used in specific vehicles although maybe thats the case now. I know that certain brands seem to fit particular cars better because there are usually issues with seatbelts not being long enough.

Would be interesting to see how this develops. Would one option be to contact someone like the BSi and see what their take on it is?

[Kinster]

There is one thing though. When I rang Britax they asked me what car I had and when I told them, they said it wasn't approved, but I bought it anyway...

[spikey]

i have spoke with trading standards today who would not say wether it was right or wrong but did comment that "isofix" is a standard as long as the seat was secure there would be no problem.

[DrGonzo]

Does any one know if you can have isofix retro fitted into a mini cooper. From what I have read they are the way forward and I would like to have them fitted on the year old cooper I am testing on saturday.

You may all be intrested to know that I read the which online test for child seats and they say that in realiuty no seat is totally perfect, actually what they say is the standard is pretty low for all of the seats they tested. They said that there were not enough isofix seats available and they had not been on the market long enough for enough data to be available to know if they are better than other types of child seats but they are easy to use and that means that you do not make a mistake when putting the seat in which is the main reason that child car seats fail.

I dont mean to scare people but I thought this is intresting information.

If anybody want me to I can find out which ones they recommend and post it here.

[dietcokeplease]

Quote:

Originally posted by DrGonzo
Does any one know if you can have isofix retro fitted into a mini cooper. From what I have read they are the way forward and I would like to have them fitted on the year old cooper I am testing on saturday.

As far as I know, Isofix cannot be retrofitted to a car - it can only be installed at the factory. I don't think you'd find a dealer willing to weld the brackets in. You would also need a new seat base with the Isofix covers. Imagine the potentially horrific consequences if a weld fails and the subsequent public liability claim.

It's scaremongering to say that a non-approved seat will invalidate your insurance. Child seats cannot be tested in every make and model of car in the world. Generic tests are made to ensure basic safety. Any BMW dealer who spouts this misinformation is lying.

[spikey]

i have since found out the BMW child seats do no reach the same level of standards the Britax one do

[jimmyjp]

Excuse my ignorance but which insurance can be invalidated by fitting an un-approved seat?

Cheers
JJP

[dietcokeplease]

Quote:

Originally posted by jimmyjp
Excuse my ignorance but which insurance can be invalidated by fitting an un-approved seat?

Cheers
JJP

jjp,

I don't think that any insurance can be invalidated by fitting an "unapproved child seat". In the event of a crash, I don't think that any Insurance Company will refuse to pay out in the event of an accident, even with personal injury to the child.

Why? Well I think that Child Seats are generic products, they are intended for use in 99% of vehicles. There is no way that Britax or any other childseat manufacturer can test their products in the thousands of make and model permutations. Therefore most childseats are "unapproved".

BMW's product, even though tested and approved, may well be inferior to other isofix seats. I suspect that the reason that BMW's seat is so expensive is because it was included in crash tests and TUV tests. The only possible effect the unapproved seat could have is if the fittings damage the seat or isofix fittings and this would not be covered by warranty.

Salesmen will of course attempt to sell you the seat and play on your ultimate fear, protection for your child. That's because selling seats is a good money-spinner. And it is likely that the seats are manufactured for BMW by one of Europes child seat manufacturers in the first place.

I'm using a Recaro Start seat for my daughter, and the seat gets transferred between MINIs, Zafira, Corsa, Mercedes etc. It hasn't been approved in any of these cars, yet if I have an accident, how will it invalidate my insurance. I think that it's one of the best child seats on the market for protection and I'd trust a brand name like Recaro who make seats through and through.

[bobnobski]

Quote:

Originally posted by dietcokeplease
jjp,


I'm using a Recaro Start seat for my daughter, and the seat gets transferred between MINIs, Zafira, Corsa, Mercedes etc. It hasn't been approved in any of these cars, yet if I have an accident, how will it invalidate my insurance. I think that it's one of the best child seats on the market for protection and I'd trust a brand name like Recaro who make seats through and through.

Im thinking about buying the recaro start, it's between that and BMW junior seat II - Our daughter is 2 and 1/2 and is out growing the Britax renaissance fast (her head nearly hits the roof!!) when the sales guy at halfords fitted the recaro seat it seemed perfect for the MINI as it was a nice snug fit. The only thing which concerned me was the way the seatbelt held the seat in via 1 tensioner & the seat did seem to move a bit. Did the guy fit it wrong & how secure is yours?? thanks?

[Shamster]

Quote:

Originally posted by bobnobski
Im thinking about buying the recaro start, it's between that and BMW junior seat II - Our daughter is 2 and 1/2 and is out growing the Britax renaissance fast (her head nearly hits the roof!!) when the sales guy at halfords fitted the recaro seat it seemed perfect for the MINI as it was a nice snug fit. The only thing which concerned me was the way the seatbelt held the seat in via 1 tensioner & the seat did seem to move a bit. Did the guy fit it wrong & how secure is yours?? thanks?

I also have the Recaro and would gree with you Bobnobski. There is some lateral movement. You'll notice it most when you go round a r/about. I think its very good in terms of adjustability (and probably comfort) but I'm not so sure about the sideways play. I bought it on the same basis as DCP - from a very highly rated seat manufacturer and the ability to move it about from car to car is handy because it folds up easily. On the subject of whether your asst fitted it correctly there really is only one way it can be fitted.

As an aside issue when I was buying my MPV I ordered it with the integrated baby seats which I think is the best feature on the car for a parent. No more carrying seats from car to car!

[dietcokeplease]

Part of the reason for buying the Recaro is the level of adjustability. Most Class 2 child seats only fit kids from 9 months to 3-4 years. The Recaro fits from 9 months to 11 years. And the best bit about it is that the seating fabric is strung over the aluminium frame so that baby can sweat away! (You've got to remember that most kids "operate" at a higher metabolism/temperature). Most other child seats are polystyrene based and I've noticed that my nephew has a sweaty back even after short journeys.

There is some lateral movement on some cars, but I also use the centre armrest as support when possible and wedge the top of the Recaro by adjusting the headrest to apply some pressure to it. I'm also using the small child kit, which includes some bolsters and headrest (about £15) and the seatbelt pad (about £7). The seat is used in the reclined position. The funny thing is that I often forget to refasten the seatbelt over the child seat when I'm travelling solo. I thought that this would be dangerous, but even after emergency stops and spirited driving, the seat stays in place!

The only disadavantage of the Recaro is that you have to reach across the child tho fasten the seatbelt (unless you have a car such as a Beemer with outer belt clips) - not much fun in the rain. With most normal child seats you can just dump baby into it and hop in and fasten them using the child seat belts.

[Rakey]

Just to try and put your minds at rest, you don't have to use Isofix. The method of fitting a seat in the car and restraining with the 3 point belt is just as secure, when fitted correctly. Isofix was only really developed because over 40% of seat in use on British roads today are found to be ill fitted. All seats on the market are tested to the same standard across Europe, ECE 44.03, so to be sold they must be safe, and it is a very stringent test, I have seen it. Sorry should explain I work in the Nursery industry, so sold car seats and been part of teams that have developed and designed them. Oh yes, sorry there are different and varying results from seats, and if you really want to get more info Which is a good source of advice as they regularly do car seat reviews.

I recommend that you take your car to mothercare or Halfords and try the Britax seat or the Maxi Cosi Priory, my two favourite junior seats on the market place. When they have fitted them in your car, if you wish to test how secure they are fasten the harness and pull on this, don't try to rock the seat on the frame as it will move, the harness tug is the correct way to check the fit. A good hard sharp tug in a forwards motion, like if there was an impact. If you can't get a tight fit, you need to put more weight/pressure on the seat, so put your knee in the baby seat push it deep into the back seat then take the tension out of the belt, as you then lift your knee out the seat you will see it will lock off easier and firmer.

As for invalidating your insurance, how do BMW know who you are insured with and the under writings of the policy? Its rubbish!

[dietcokeplease]

Quote:

Originally posted by Rakey
Just to try and put your minds at rest, you don't have to use Isofix. The method of fitting a seat in the car and restraining with the 3 point belt is just as secure, when fitted correctly. Isofix was only really developed because over 40% of seat in use on British roads today are found to be ill fitted. All seats on the market are tested to the same standard across Europe, ECE 44.03, so to be sold they must be safe, and it is a very stringent test, I have seen it. Sorry should explain I work in the Nursery industry, so sold car seats and been part of teams that have developed and designed them. Oh yes, sorry there are different and varying results from seats, and if you really want to get more info Which is a good source of advice as they regularly do car seat reviews.

I recommend that you take your car to mothercare or Halfords and try the Britax seat or the Maxi Cosi Priory, the two best junior seats on the market place. When they have fitted them in your car, if you wish to test how secure they are fasten the harness and pull on this, don't try to rock the seat on the frame as it will move, the harness tug is the correct way to check the fit. A good hard sharp tug in a forwards motion, like if there was an impact.

As for invalidating your insurance, how do BMW know who you are insured with and the under writings of the policy? Its rubbish!

Thanks for the info Rakey.

I think a lot of M2ers get sucked in by "MINI Approved" and blindly buy MINI Accessories or Services because they have been tested annd approved by MINI.

Take MINI Accident Management for example- "Repaired using genuine MINI parts by MINI trained technicians at a MINI Approved Bodyshop." It's just a cheap trick to make you believe that you won't get this service elsewhere. 90% of MINI/BMW dealers don't have their own bodyshop. They just farm out the work to a 3rd party.

Any reputable Insurance Approved Bodyshop will use genuine paint and parts.

Without denigrating some excellent salesmen out there, some of them are just plain lying:

Rule No.1 Never believe a salesman
Rule No.2 If he's telling the truth, he's probably embellishing it.
Rule No.3 See Rule No.1

[bobnobski]

cheers for that Rakey!

I phoned Britax and they tell me the only seat they recomend for MINI is the Renassance and that you must remove rear head rest etc.

Whats you opinion on Recaro Start? have you seen it in a MINI?