W124 child seat tethers? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tkd_M119 · #1 03-02-2003, 12:22 PM

The other day I was looking at child seats for my 2yr old daughter. Being that I'm starting to port her around more I need my own seat (till now she's been mostly driven around by mom). I couldn't find any teather anchor points (are typically on rear seat parcel shelf in other cars). Anyone have any experience with this? Did a search but didn't find the info I needed. TIA

Greg in Oz · #2 03-02-2003, 05:54 PM

Child restraint anchor points have a plastic cap screwed into them that needs to be removed first. In a W124 sedan or coupe they are on the rear shelf. In the wagon they are on the load floor between the second and third row of seats. This applies to Australian delivered vehicles although I understood it to be an internationally accepted system by the time the W124 was released.

#3 03-02-2003, 06:06 PM

I recommend the Cosco 'Eddie Bauer' set that converts to the 80 lbs. booster seat. Last seat you will have to buy. I have it in blue (2 of them). Very nice. Easy in - easy out - easy to wash - watch out for the back feet and the marks they leave on the leather seat . I put a towel under the rear ones on my W124 wagon. I don't use a teather as this car ('94 wagon) handles car seats very well with the rear seat belt clips very exposed. They can really be cranked down unlike the W210 seats. Those are very difficult to get the proper tension. Always use 'H' clips too - less than 1 " from the seatbelt clip. Books for the kid in the car are recommend as well. How long is the potential time in the car with your daughter? What kind of W124? I am an expert in travelling with kids every day. Two girls (2 1/2 and 4 1/2 years old) to day care - 35 minutes one way. Good luck.

tkd_M119 · #4 03-02-2003, 11:32 PM

Thanks for the input. I looked at the rear parcel shelf and found no such plastic cap. The only thing there was were the restraints for the first aid kit. Don't think these will hold well in a crash! My W124 is a US spec 92 400e.

-DTF-
I prefer to mount the car seat in the center of the rear bench. The Brittax seat my wife currently uses mounts well with the existing lap belt (seems to be designed to use just a lap belt though it does have a tether). The Eddie Bauer seats seem to have a different design where a lap belt would pass through and they state on the seat that one must use a tether to have a proper install.

I've been considering this one

http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=22097&nv=5|209&cm_cg=C209&tid=&c=&sc=

- Perfect match for my black leather interior; good color for those pesky footmarks! Brings back memories of my dad getting after me for putting footmarks on the seat backs of our W123!

Did you mean this one?

http://www.eddiebauer.com/eb/product.asp?product_id=22824&nv=5|209&cm_cg=C209&tid=&c=&sc=

Greg in Oz · #5 03-02-2003, 11:44 PM

Check under the lid of the first aid box. In my 190E the original child restraint anchor point for the centre seat position is covered by the high mount stop lamp. Due to this they have added a hinged extension which extends into the first aid box. Next to useless as it happens in my 190E as since it is a Sportline it has only two "bucket" style rear seats. I'm not sure if the same centre anchor exists in the W124 sedan as ours is a wagon. I'm pretty sure that in my father's '93 E320 coupe (124) that only two child restraint anchor points exist (on the shelf behind each head rest) since it, like my 190E Sportline has rear seating for only two.

tkd_M119 · #6 03-03-2003, 01:23 AM

IMHO, Brittax makes the best designed seat on the market. Notice that they are the only ones who have a nice comfy pad at the buckle as well as velcro to keep the belts in place while getting the child into position. Also notice that there seats are amongst the few that do not have the plastic belt guides on the seat backs (don't think it makes that big of a difference in comfort but I do appreciate the extra detail). I just wish they made one in black leather! I'm such a slave to esthetics!

It's interesting to note that our 92 Q45 has two anchor points (though none in the center - the safest location) integrated into the rear parcel shelf.

#7 03-03-2003, 02:38 AM

I don't recommend the Edie Bauer as I had one and the cheap plastic connectors to the sides of the seat for the pull over bar broke. I think they belong in Fords only. Having done some research we purchased the Cosco Alpha Omega and have found it to be the most comfortable for the kid and its also good up to 80 pounds.

http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/cos/cos02903.html

Its more expensive, but a small price to pay when you consider who its for.

Good Luck

300EE320 · #8 03-03-2003, 11:55 AM

We have a Brittax seat in the center of the rear seat of the 1990 300E. There were no factory attachments for the tether. I took out the first aid kit and cut a slot in the floor of the tray (It's just heavy cardboard). I passed the strap into the trunk where I slipped a 1/2 diameter steel bar through it. When it's sinched up the bar applies a load evenly across the metal framework of the package tray.

This is a solution that I'm very comfortable with, but it's just a suggestion. All disclaimers apply,...

Brittax = very nice

cf · #9 03-03-2003, 06:13 PM

tkd_M119,

I would suggest you check with a MB dealer. There may be a built-in ahchor point under the parcel shelf for ready installation but again it may not exist. Such was not a requirement for cars sold in US until may be '99.

I found this out when I tried to have the anchor loop installed on our '97 e320. Dealer checked twice and told me there is no factory approved hard point for installation on the US market car. Apparently the metal sheet under the parcel shelf lacks a reinforcing member.

Not trying to discourage you from finding other possible installation method but I doubt any shop would want to tackle it for liaibility concern.

Hope you'll find a solution to this problem.

chif

Greg in Oz · #10 03-03-2003, 06:59 PM

Even if child restraint anchor points were not fitted in your market, I would be surprised if the holes for them were not punched in the steel shelf under the carpeted board of the rear shelf. I had the rear carpeted shelf removed from my 190E on the weekend (fitting new speakers). The restraint anchors are simply threaded bushes fitted to a plate which in turn is rivetted to the steel shelf. Markets without the anchors would still have the holes punched into the shelf. You would simply need to make the necessary holes through the carpeted board for after-market restraint anchor bolts which would then mount through the holes in the steel shelf (with appropriate large washer or plate to spread the load). I used this technique when we needed to use child seats in my 350SLC which being a 1973 model had no anchor points fitted.