Precious cargo doesn’t get any more precious than your little one. When you need to take your child somewhere or are running errands with them in the backseat, you want to make sure that they’re as safe and snug as possible.
Although many BMW models are usually for show, luxury and sport, others are family cars. If you’re reading this, then your BMW is likely more suited to haul your family. Modern family cars need to accommodate the family, meaning safety is paramount. Parents look for features like backup cameras, plenty of room for diaper bags and backpacks and, of course, that it can hold a car seat.
If you’ve recently added a little one to your family or you switched your family vehicle to a BMW, you need to know how to install a car seat. Securing a child’s car seat in your BMW will take some time, but it will ensure your precious cargo is safe.
Understand the Type of Car Seat You Need
Before installing your child’s car seat, you should understand the differences between car seats. Depending on your child’s height, weight and age, they could be in a rear-facing car seat, front-facing car seat or a booster seat.
You must secure rear-facing car seats in the back seat. These are typically for infants at birth until they reach the height and weight limit of the seat. A rear-facing car seat will use either an anchor system or have a base that you can secure with the seat belt.
Front-facing car seats are used when your child grows out of the top height and weight limits for the infant seat. You can also secure these with an anchor system or a base and seat belt.
Finally, the booster seat keeps the child boosted when they outgrow their front-facing seat. These are usually secured with your vehicle’s safety belt.
Read the Manuals
Always read your car manual and the manufacturer’s manual for the car seat before even thinking about putting your child’s car seat in the back of the BMW. Learn everything you can about your BMW’s car seat features and review the car seat instructions to understand what you’re to do for installation. These will give you more specifics for your car and the car seat situation. Don’t guess how to install it — remember, you’re carrying precious cargo.
Additionally, check for any car seat malfunctions or defects. These might include defective latches, handles or a broken outer shell. Any minor damage could pose a risk to your child. If you find one, the manufacturer may provide you with a new one at little to no cost.
Put the Seat in the Right Spot
The safest place to put your child’s car seat for a secure installation is in the back seat in the middle if there’s a Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children (LATCH) or seat belt system available. Kids should stay in the backseat throughout their front-facing and booster seat stages, too. The center of the back seat is the safest spot, but the sides are safe, too.
If you can’t get a tight fit in the center of the backseat, move it to either side to get a close fit. A good fit on either side is better than a bad fit in the center. This means the seat should move less than one inch both side to side and front to back.
Lock the Seat Belts or Use the Lower Anchors
There are two ways to secure the child’s car seat in your BMW depending on the model. You can either use the seat belts to secure the seat or the lower anchors.
Pull the seat belt all the way out until it locks, and then slowly release it. You’ll know it’s locked when you hear a ratcheting sound and won’t be able to pull it back out. That way, the seat belt will stay locked in place when you install the car seat. If that method isn’t working, you can also check your owner’s manual on locking the seat belt.
With the seat belt installation, you should route the seat belt through a path on the car seat. Ensure there are no twists and buckle the belt in place. Once you check the angle indicator, lock the seat belt and tighten it by removing any excess webbing. Then, tether the seat to the rear shelf.
If you’re using an anchor system, follow these steps:
- Determine which way the clip needs to be attached to your BMW’s back seat lower anchors.
- Make sure the strap is correctly routed without twists.
- Connect the LATCH clips to the anchors.
- Check the angle to ensure the seat is sitting correctly.
- Tighten the belt until the seat moves less than an inch in any direction.
- If you have a forward-facing seat, use the top tether to anchor the seat on the rear shelf.
The above tips are for both rear- and front-facing seats.
Keeping Your Kids Safe in Your BMW
With these tips, you can properly install and secure your child’s car seat in your BMW. The most important thing is safety when it comes to your kids.