Baby Seat in a W126? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BHutch · #1 01-30-2011, 10:33 AM

Anyone have any experience with a baby seat in a W126 300SD? I know there are no tether anchors but has anyone installed them aftermarket?

SwampYankee · #2 01-30-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHutch

Anyone have any experience with a baby seat in a W126 300SD? I know there are no tether anchors but has anyone installed them aftermarket?

I can't speak to installing a latch system, but with 4 kids and installing every manner of car seat and booster in latch system cars and "old school" lap-only and shouder-belted vehicles. It is easy to very-securely install a car seat in a seat belted vehicle. The key is to get all of the slack out of the belt by putting your body weight into the seat, pulling the belt tight and securing it with the supplied H-clip, even if you have a ratcheting belt. Our newer seats also had built-in means of securing the belts.

The main advantage I see to the Latch system is ease of moving the seat between cars.

There are often car seat clinics where they will show you how to correctly install the seats. Many times a trip by the local PD will do the same.

4thesporty · #3 01-30-2011, 11:20 AM

My wife was concerned about this too. I find that installing and properly securing a car seat in my 85 was very easy, perhaps easier than in her Pontiac (w/latch). I have it installed in the center section, rear facing. When I get the lap belt run through and buckled, I put my knee on the front of the seat and then tighten the belt. It is very secure.

Depending on the car seat material, you might think about laying a towel or blanket down under the seat to keep from scarring or overly wearing the leather.

martureo · #4 01-30-2011, 02:54 PM

I've been wondering on how to put an aftermarket LATCH system in my w123 but we went ahead and took the easier route of buying car seats that have belt anchors built in. (Britax has the best I've seen)

Stretch · #5 01-30-2011, 03:10 PM

Do you get Isofix seats in the US? They are all the rage here - to the extent that you are almost considered to be a bad parent if you don't have them in your car...

I have, however, always used a child seat that attaches to a 3 point seat belt - as mentioned previously you need to kneel in the seat to get it nice and tight. The main problem with my W123 rear seat is that it compresses quite a way - more than a modern cheapo seat in a new car that wouldn't last as long as this one has!

SwampYankee · #6 01-30-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

Do you get Isofix seats in the US? They are all the rage here - to the extent that you are almost considered to be a bad parent if you don't have them in your car...
...
The main problem with my W123 rear seat is that it compresses quite a way - more than a modern cheapo seat in a new car that wouldn't last as long as this one has!

I'm not sure about the Isofix, then again it's been 4 years since we bought our last car seat.

I know what you mean about seat cushion compression! With my 280 lbs.

kneeling in the seat or base it almost felt like I was getting right down to the floorboard before there wasn't any more "give." That sucker was secure, though!

::matthew · #7 01-30-2011, 10:31 PM

I use something like this to help take out the slack in the belt. Latch is nice an convenient, but I doubt it's much safer. Our Passat has the latch system, as do all cars since 2002 or so.

Renntag · #8 01-31-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

I've been wondering on how to put an aftermarket LATCH system in my w123 but we went ahead and took the easier route of buying car seats that have belt anchors built in. (Britax has the best I've seen)

not long ago there was a similar thread about this very topic.

I have considered installing mounts in our W123 and W126 that would accept the 'latch' system attachment.
As I have also fabricated harness mounts for racecars, that sadly were put to the test, I feel confident in creating a Latch substitute for our child seat.

The belt attachment just doesn't stay tight, so therefore I am not crazy about that method.

martureo · #9 01-31-2011, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renntag

not long ago there was a similar thread about this very topic.

I have considered installing mounts in our W123 and W126 that would accept the 'latch' system attachment.
As I have also fabricated harness mounts for racecars, that sadly were put to the test, I feel confident in creating a Latch substitute for our child seat.

The belt attachment just doesn't stay tight, so therefore I am not crazy about that method.

What do you mean? The ones on both of our car seats are clamped pretty good, I can't move the seat.

Renntag · #10 01-31-2011, 01:02 AM

Then there must be something wrong on ours. When the seat is installed in the W123, it eventually loosens up. I check it daily when the seat is installed in that car.

martureo · #11 01-31-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::matthew

I use something like this to help take out the slack in the belt. Latch is nice an convenient, but I doubt it's much safer.

I'd say it's safer simply because it takes some of the error out of the equation. And for front facer's it adds the extra over the seat strap which keeps the top of the seat from rotating forward.

Quote:

Our Passat has the latch system, as do all cars since 2002 or so.

VW was nice enough to design and provide kits for VWs going back to 1999 to be retrofitted with lower anchors. (The upper anchors were standard back a few years prior to 2002)

VW used to give the brackets out free and install them free, now they don't help you even find the part numbers and they cost $17 for one seat and $15 for the other (no idea why).

martureo · #12 01-31-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I'm not sure about the Isofix, then again it's been 4 years since we bought our last car seat.

I know what you mean about seat cushion compression! With my 280 lbs.

kneeling in the seat or base it almost felt like I was getting right down to the floorboard before there wasn't any more "give." That sucker was secure, though!

Isofix is the other name for LATCH. They say they are "similar" systems, but it's the same thing as far as I'm concerned.

LATCH and Isofix are mandatory on all modern cars, they're just the anchorage point for car seat installation. Instead of using seat belts they have two lower anchorage points that you "hook" the seat onto and then tighten the attachment belts. Both systems also have an upper anchor used for front facing seats which is either on the parcel shelf in sedans, on the floor or on the back of the seats in SUVs, wagons and vans.

Stretch · #13 01-31-2011, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

Isofix is the other name for LATCH. They say they are "similar" systems, but it's the same thing as far as I'm concerned.

LATCH and Isofix are mandatory on all modern cars, they're just the anchorage point for car seat installation. Instead of using seat belts they have two lower anchorage points that you "hook" the seat onto and then tighten the attachment belts. Both systems also have an upper anchor used for front facing seats which is either on the parcel shelf in sedans, on the floor or on the back of the seats in SUVs, wagons and vans.

Oh right - that's good to know. Can you actually buy these kits to retro-fit?

I was playing with the idea of a middle 3 point seat belt for my W123 but I haven't got too far with it just yet:-

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=261588

I've bought some aluminum plate and I've cut it to size - I've just been busy with other stuff (engine rebuild / suspension rebuild / new brakes / paint etc etc etc).

SwampYankee · #14 01-31-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

Isofix is the other name for LATCH. They say they are "similar" systems, but it's the same thing as far as I'm concerned.

LATCH and Isofix are mandatory on all modern cars, they're just the anchorage point for car seat installation. Instead of using seat belts they have two lower anchorage points that you "hook" the seat onto and then tighten the attachment belts. Both systems also have an upper anchor used for front facing seats which is either on the parcel shelf in sedans, on the floor or on the back of the seats in SUVs, wagons and vans.

Thanks!

SwampYankee · #15 01-31-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renntag

The belt attachment just doesn't stay tight, so therefore I am not crazy about that method.

Even when using the H-Clip?