I had bought my 300 SDL just before my first son was born and now we are about to have our third boy.
my wife really misses that enormous back seat of the sdl for putting the car seat in there.
does anyone have experiance actually fastening in 3 of the little tykes in the back of a 126?
the problem is the width across with a booster seat and 2 car seats.
im trying to avoid becoming the minivan man.

and a question for the more seasoned vets here.
before the minivan/suv how did one cart all these kids around?

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sold
1987 300 SDL 318K
126.125 (OM603.961) (722.321 trans) (head#14)
Born on date 11/07/1986
2.5" Flowmaster Exhaust
flex-a-lite dual electric cooling fan conversion

now have a 1985 toyota diesel pickup

Sounds like you need a 300TD.

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'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

When these cars were new the seat requirements were different, I think.

As far as fitting I think you would just need to try it. I suspect that they all would fit but tightly.

I never succumbed to the mini van thing either, but had a Suburban in the household for about 20 years running as the kids were growing up.

Good luck, I am behind you!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

http://www.texas442.com/wagon/Holland%2071%20Vista.html

Our child is now 6 months old and I've put her once in an infant seat in my '83. I had to move both front seats up. We now have a 4runner as a family vehicle (hey, its much cooler than a mini van!)

I imagine that in a w126 three seats will "fit" but the driver and front passenger wont be very comfortable. You might have to shop around for a combo of seats with the smallest base and width.

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2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel - 4x4, auto, 3.54 gears, long bed
-------------------------------------
'92 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel - sold
'83 300D Turbodiesel - 4 speed manual/2.88 diff - sold
'87 300D Turbodiesel - sold
'82 300D Turbodiesel - sold

I've had 2 car seats and a booster seat bottom in my TD without too much trouble. It was on the tight side and wouldn't want to drive any long distances like that but it was definitely doable for regular running around and shorter trips. It all depends on how much your kids like/can tolerate each other's company. Infant seat in the center and the car seat and booster were on either side.

After kid #2 we broke down and bought a minivan. I couldn't imagine life without one now! Although my vanity went out the window a long time ago. Being able to spread them out and still carry everything you want or need goes a long way.

Before the minivan/suv a lot less people used car seats as long as we do now. My father bought a '66 Corvette Coupe because he could throw my brother and I in the back. Seatbelts? Overkill! (Although he always fastened up. Hmmmm....)

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

My vanity has long ago perished. With 3 kiddos, a minivan was necessary - although a 'burb is/was tempting. My wife loves the power sliding doors though. It's amazing how lazy we've become, we can't even open our own doors anymore. It's hilarious - my family will just walk up to the doors (unlocked) and stand there. I'm like, what are you waiting for? You don't need to wait for me to press the button....just open it.

I'm really holding out for a diesel honda odyssey - but until then, my 240d and dodge grand caravan are our faithful steeds.

I personally can't imagine fitting 3 in the back seat (I realize a SDL is larger than my 240d) - but I suppose it depends on the width of the car seat bases. My middle daughter has this huge throne of car seat - it would make a pharaoh jealous - so no way 2 other bases would fit in there with hers.

and congrats on your 3rd boy

As somebody else pointed out - I'd just give it a try - it's undoubtedly going to be a snug fit, if it does work.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

... in 1979, my father bought a subaroo... GL I think, it was a small wagon, there were three seat room in back, and I am pretty sure there was a fold up seat in the cargo area too... not sure, but we never used it, all the kids (5 of us) just roamed free in the car without tethers at all. "stop touching me, no you stop touching me" over and over and over... we also had a 79 Crown Vic wagon that was HUGE with the wonderful Olds 5.7 Diesel.
before that when we lived in Iran... we drove a govmnt issue ford wagon, no idea what model but it was huge. before that... a used 72 Pinto wagon, I think there was a VW bus in there, dad was always working on VW's... lets see, in iceland, we had a pickup with a camper top and a crawl through window... I don't remember much before '73...
I guess my point is... nobody really used car seats back then.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

There are narrower booster seats to be purchased. Even fractions of an inch may make a difference.
The main reason for the boosters is to prevent the 3 point seatbelts at the neck.
If the child is in the middle, where there is only a lapbelt, they may not need to be in a booster at all. Definitely check local laws for that.
In our state, it's either 8 years old or 80 lbs (your choice, go figure) of when they don't need to be in boosters.

Let's see...growing up, my parents used to let me ride behind the back seat of a Beetle. It was nice and warm just above the engine.

When they bought a Corvette in '76, we were put in the back with our faces inches away facing the rear window and our feet straight back over the spare tire/fuel tank area.

My brother has that car now. Very cool. Different times.
Different and fewer drivers, too. No cell phones/gps/videos and people generally aiming there car in a direction and then correcting at the last moment while they fiddle , which I see a lot of.

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'83 300TD, 234K with Euros and antique plates. No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Don't forget SDL's have a huge trunk!

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I agree that you can find three seats that will fit. I have room for three in my wagon, but only have two kids.

When I was a kid, my Dad had a Dodge pickup with a cap. My brother and I were given folding beach chairs to sit in while in the bed. My Dad's idea of safety was to yell at us if we weren't "sitting down". These chairs weren't bolted down or anything. We would slide all over back there and occasionally get our hands pinched between the chair and the side of the truck. We also had to sit in the back of the MGB, the Corvette, the Chevy van with empty cargo rear (no seats or carpet), and I used to sit in front of my dad on his BSA and hold the handlebars while we rode. Once I turned 5, my Dad thought I was big enough to sit behind him during the rides.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Just get a wagen, put one of those wire "pet dividers" between the back seat and the cargo area, and you'll be all set. Just throw the kids in there. They'll LOVE it back there!

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" The market, like the Lord, helps those who help themselves. But, unlike the Lord, the market does not forgive those who know not what they do."- Warren Buffett

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles

I've got a 74 Olds Custom Cruiser. With a little effort, a minivan could fit inside it.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Based on the responses so far, there was clearly a "survival of the fittest" climate with a little luck thrown in about 30 years ago.

Adding to that, my wife said she and her friend used to sit on the collapsed convertible top with their legs in the seating area of a Karmann Ghia when their legs got too big for the convertible back seat. It was only for short rides, but still nothing you could get away with today.

We used to have a hard top Ghia, where the back seat did have more room.

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'83 300TD, 234K with Euros and antique plates. No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

's funny how many of us had corvettes in our childhood. ( my dad got one when I was 22) but all the little kids in my family got to ride around in it in the back... I of course got to drive it! it's good to be the oldest of the siblings!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!