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This question comes from reader Kim Wertens:
“We have a CooperS and we're trying to find a car seat for our daughter that fits properly.
'I've heard that Britax makes a special seat for Porsche. I'm wondering if they might make one for the mini too?'
'Also I have been reading some articles that the Mini is supposed to be equipped to accommodate car-seats using the ISOFIX system. It's a special International Safety Standard for child seats. It involves using rigid metal latches to hook the seat into the car instead of seat-belts and tethers.
I think the little plastic covers in the back seat are covering the connection points for these latches.''Have you heard of anything that works and fits well?”
Thanks for your time & help
I'm at a loss here – anyone want to give it a shot?
<p>BMW/MINI makes a child car seat (ISOFIX Complaint) but it is not yet available in the United States and I doubt it will ever be. The Britax car seats are a good choice but you have to look closely at each available model because some of them are HUGE and too wide as they seem to be specifically designed to be used in Suburbans and Hummers.</p>
<p>I would pose the question and do a search in MINI2.com.</p>
<p>Try taking a look at the “LATCH” systems in American car seats. I believe that these are very similar to the ISOFIX systems offered abroad.
If you go to <a href="http://www.babiesrus.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.babiesrus.com</a> and search for “LATCH” it will bring up some car seats with this option. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Regards,
Ollie</p>
<p>LATCH and ISOFIX are essentially the same car seat restraint system with upper and lower metal anchors. LATCH became mandatory on all new passenger cars (And I believe trucks as well) as of the 2002 model year. Most pre-2002 cars only came with the upper anchors.</p>
<p>We purchased a booster seat (my daughter just turned 4) at Kmart of all places that has the latch system. It basically is a web belt that attaches to the hooks underneath those little plastic caps in the rear seats rather than employing the seat belt.<br />
We had to pretty much dig through all the seats on display to find one with a latch system, but it fits in there very secure.</p>
<p>Are you looking for a 5-point harness or just a booster seat? </p>
<p>If it's the latter, I highly recommend the Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat. We have two and they both fit perfectly into the rear seats of the MINI.</p>
<p>I have 2 Cosco Alpha-Omega car seats for my kids in the back of my MINI. They attach with the LATCH/ISOFIX system, or with regular seat belts as required. Not too hard to install, it's just getting the belts tightened once they are attached to the mount points, plus running the upper belt under the rear headrest to the mount point on the back of the seat.</p>
<p>The Alpha-Omega is a bit more expensive than most car seats, but it's good from birth to 80 pounds, depending on how it's mounted and which direction it's facing.</p>
<p>For over 33lbs, get a booster with good side bolsters. Most boosters do not come with the LATCH system as they rely on the car’s own seat belts. I have a 2-yr old and have been using the Graco Turbo Booster for 5 months in my MCS. Our little guy loves it. It has great side bolsters, and is lightweight and easy to remove when not using. I have also heard the Britax BodyGuard Booster Seat is great, and much safer, but starts at 40lbs. I will replace the Graco as soon as our son can safely fit in the Britax. For a baby 24 months or less, get the LATCH system. But do check fit. Our Cosco 3-in-1 seat doesn't fit well in the back bucket seat of the Mini. It leaves marks in the leather and I'd be worried it would eventually wear and rip the leather if used long term. Most places will let you take the seat out to your car and test fit. Make sure to have someone help you fit properly. Don’t trust the employees of Babies-R-Us, etc as they’ve usually not been properly trained. If you can't find someone, go to any fire station, as they will always have someone on each shift trained to fit car seats.</p>
<p>We use the Britax with the LATCH system in our Cooper S.</p>
<p>The installation is pretty straightforward. You are correct in that the plastic covers hide the LATCH clips. Flip them up and attach the LATCH tethers. Then thread the top tether under the headrest and attach to the hook at the back of the seat (access through boot). Tighten everything up.</p>
<p>In order to avoid scratching either the rear side panels, leather or leatherette, place clean white towels under the seat, between the seat and the side panel and under the headrest, beneath the top tether.</p>
<p>We have been using the towels in our X5 for two year and it keeps the leather looking new. It also catches all the spills and messes associated with small kids.</p>
<p>Need 2 booster seats for Mini Convertible. Didnt have a clue what to get but will now try the Graco Turbo. Thanks for all information!</p>
<p>I’ve checked out this info. b/c i was recently told that my 2004 Beetle convertible will not accommodate a rear facing infant seat and we’re thinking of having our first baby in the next year. Jon, my husband is trading in his beetle for a mini convertible and i’m worried we’ll both be stuck with cars that don’t fit the REAR FACING INFANT seats. Anybody have any suggestions on which to try, especially for my beetle convertible since he probably will want to keep the MINI all to himself? Thanks!</p>
<p>Please help! I really don’t want to turn in my mini for a mom-mobile but I can’t see how I’m going to get my son in a rear-facing car seat without throwing him over the top or through the sun roof or climbing through the cargo hatch. Right now my one-month-old is in a child carrier so at least I can slide in the whole seat (though as he gets heavier it’ll get harder) but the rear-facing seats seem as though they will be impossible to reach. Everything will be fine once he’s older and can face forward but I gotta do something until then.</p>
<p>Any ideas???</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I found that my britax roundabout fit rearfacing in the MINI at the dealer. I have not gotten myine yet to tell how easy the in and out would be. Of course I also ordered a convertible so witht eh top down it is really easy.</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Any advice on rear-facing convertible infant car seats for a Mini S? </p>
<p>We love our Mini, but wonder how we are going to work the larger car seat in it now that our daughter is 6-months and has outgrown her infant carrier which was easy to kind of pitch into the backseat of the Mini. </p>
<p>Keep motoring!</p>
Britax do the Duo Plus for Stage 1, after that the only proper Isofix booster seat that I’m aware of (and believe me I spent 3 weeks looking) is the Jane Indy Plus. I had mine shipped from Spain.
Does anyone know where to test the Britax infant seats in Washington DC or in Los Angeles?
Anybody with a recent update? MCS here and looking for a rear-facing seat or convertable (need for infant in near future). Thinking about the Britax Roundabout based on other comments. Experience with the latest rear-facing models?
I’m 4mos pregnant and have no intentions of giving up my MC. I did find a rear facung carseat by Combi that fit in the back w/precious little space for the passenger, although it did leave some. I have however called it quits w/US models and I’m taking a trip to London next month where I can have my pick of 4 or 5 carseats and strollers that are extremely MINI friendly.
I’ve been reading comments about the car seats, I have a 5 year old who uses a backless booster and fits fine. My dilemma now, is that I just gave birth to my boy and I can’t find a car seat that fits in my S. Any suggestions? Has anyone tried any of the Combi models? I think the Britax infant car seats are a bit too much for an infant car seat.
The Combi Connection infant seat has worked great in my S. The base is very narrow, and an adult can still sit in the front passenger seat! I’m now going to try a Britax convertible seat rear-facing, but I don’t know how I’m going to get the baby in and out of the car yet!
Has anyone tried the new Britax Boulevard convertible seat? I need a rear-facing seat for a few more months before my son can face-forward. Sadly, he is quickly outgrowing his infant seat. Any suggestions are welcomed!
Thanks.
I’m also thinking about a Britax seat for a MC. I need it to be rear facing for at least 8 more months.
Isn’t there something about putting the infant on either side due to airbags? Aren’t you supposed to put the infant seat in the middle?
How painful/annoying is it to pull a child and/or car seat in/out of a mini cooper on a daily basis?
I really love the style of the Mini (scheduling a test drive soon), but we have a nearly 4 month old that will be starting day care in a few months. So every day I would need to be putting her (rear-facing) Graco SnugRide car seat in/out of the base, usually with her in it (sometimes asleep).
Thanks
I have been using the Combi International Centre rear-facing infant seat. It fits great. But since my son is now about 22lbs at only 8 months I need to get a convertible seat and am looking at some of the ones offered by Britax.
been using the SnugRide seat from a Graco MetroLite System for the past nine months in my 2006 Cooper. The passenger seat has to go all the way forward and must be raised a bit (seat can’t be lowered to much…) to accomodate the seat. My wife still can sit in the front seat with the baby behind her. I don’t have a problem putting the car-seat w/ baby in the base but others might if they’re arm strength is questionable… We are still looking for the next stage car seat for the MINI/baby. Suggestions…???
We are expecting our first baby in June and we purchased a Britax Companion infant rear-facing seat/carrier with the anti-shock bar base without even giving a thought to how it would fit in the Cooper.
Unfortunately, it really doesn’t fit at all. The carrier is impossible to retrieve from the back without twisting and torquing it (great now, wouldn’t recommend with a baby in it). The passenger seat has to be so far forward, neither my 6.4 husband or myself (5.11) can sit in the passenger seat. If you remove the base, you can gain a few more valuable inches of space but then the seat doesn’t feel as secure since it needs to be anchored across the top with the safety belt instead of the latch system.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a newborn infant seat (doesn’t have to have a carrier… we already have one (ha!)) that fits comfortably in the Cooper S and leave room for someone to sit in the front?
Thanks!
SafeGuard Hybrid Booster. Best seat 5 point latch system and fits like a glove in the back seat.
<a href="http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm</a>
This is an old thread, but I thought I’d throw in my experience:
Family car, since birth: 2001 VW Beetle.
0-4 months: rear-facing in “basket” type of carrier, passenger side (PS)
4-13 months: rear-facing in Britax Roundabout, driver side (DS). I am 5’5″, it fit back there perfectly, and my husband who’s 6’3″ fit perfectly in front PS.
13mos – 4 yrs (current): Britax Roundabout and then when he outgrew the height for Roundabout, Britax Marathon forwardfacing, PS. Yes, it’s a pain in the butt, but the Beetle interior peak is so tall, and the passenger seat goes so far forward, so what? You get to drive the car you want, not the car everyone thinks you need (fill in SUV de jour here)
2002 BMW 328 ci (convertible): Britax marathon didn’t fit well, as the back seat is molded. The Safeguard GO is perfect, but not as comfy, as there’s no back support. Only drawback is that the top has to be partially down to remove the upper tether point. The “certified” seat technician gave up on the car – phooey on him – but i found the upper point.
Upcoming: 2005 Mini Coooper convertible: I hope to fit a Safeguard child seat (5 point harness up to 60 lbs/52 inches). I was hoping to find some info on this here. But if the full on seat doesn’t fit, I’ll get another Safeguard Go. I don’t mind spedning the money on carseats, i’d like my son in a 5 point harness for as long as possible, especially since we have such small cars.
We had a Chicco Keyfit infant seat that worked for the past year. It got more difficult to get the infant carrier in & out as my son got bigger, and eventually I started to put the seat in first, then baby, but it was manageable for the times I needed it. My husband takes my son to daycare, so the Mini wasn’t the main baby car. When the car seat is off its base, its totally fine with normal legroom.
For family trips in the Mini (S, ’05) I sat in the passenger seat (I’m 5′), and moved the seat forward, while my husband (6’2″) drove. Worked fine for outings, but too cramped for long trips, so we took the other car in those cases.
Now we’re looking for the next stage. We got the Britax Marathon for the other car. Its a great seat, but we tried it in the Mini & it didn’t fit very well. I’ll check out the Safeguard seat mentioned above – thanks. I’m looking forward to driving my son around in the Mini again!
<p>This is by far the best seat for your forward facing child, <a href="http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm</a>.</p>
<p>My kid has been in it for the last 2 years and loves it.</p>
<p>just got a new seat for a rear facing child, this fits in my cooper but you have to get the kid in and out via the opposite side of the car.
<a href="http://www.combicoccoro.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.combicoccoro.com/</a></p>
<p>The combi coccoro</p>
<p>Great post as usual – here is a little something that made me smile :)</p>
<p>I’m not paranoid, they really are after me. :)</p>