I have a "new to me" '91 300TE and am looking for information on retrofitting modern child seat L.A.T.C.H. ( LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. ) anchors to a 124 chassis. Please note that I am NOT asking about the top child seat tether that goes to the back of the seat or the top shelf in sedans.

Rather, I am looking for information or confirmation that the newer anchors that were required from model year 2002 and later vehicles can be installed in a 124 chassis. The latches that I speak of are a small (<2" across) u-bolt type anchor that rest between the crack of the upper seat back and seat bottom (similar to where the seat belts anchor) on either side of the center rear seat.

This may be a bit of a stretch, but please let me know if anyone has any suggestions! Thanks.

ISOFIX being another name for these.

I'd go to a dealer and look at how MB did it on current wagons.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

May be a generic version that would attach to the current seat belt anchor bolts?
Gilly

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I will try to snap a couple pictures tomorrow of my current arrangement. It would be helpful if someone with a newer wagon (2002 or later) could do the same so that I can compare.

We use the lap belt in the center of the rear seat on my 88 and it was judged safe by the local hospital. Why do you think you need the latch?

To answer your question, alex, the only reason I am interested in doing this is sheer convenience. I could just as easily use the seat belt, but my wife and I make every effort to drive my company car (A BadA** 2007 Ford Taurus with a tape deck, ask me about it) as much as possible because it is much cheaper to operate for me (5.5C/mi for personal use). We switch the seat back and forth almost daily it is much easier to install and remove the car seat with the LATCH system than with the belt. No other reason. If it were as easy as unbolting an old part and bolting in a modern part (post 2002) I would.
I stopped by the dealership today but they didn't have any post-2002 wagons on the lot. Also, I have called the parts departments of 3 different dealerships all with the same result- the parts guys show that the parts diagram for newer cars isn't clear, so they don't know how many mounting holes the new anchors have. Phil at fastlane also referred me to the dealer because he can't support parts for airbags or seatbelts.
I probably would have given up on this one already if I didn't have to answer to "The Boss" with why I can diagnose and fix (or pay to have fixed) almost anything else with older mercedes cars except the "ONE" thing that she wants...Tough argument.
Sorry for the rant.

If your child is an infant you could buy another carseat base and leave it in the 2nd car.

We had the same dilemma and decided that instead of paying for anchors to be installed somehow it was easier and more convenient to buy a second Britax Carseat. Sure, it cost $250, but now we each have a seat and if my wife needs to take a neighbor to or from a playdate along with our kid, we have two seats.

In addition, the LATCH anchors or ISOFIXs (same thing) ar eonly recommended up to a seat and child combined weight of around 40 pounds or so. After that most instructions tell you to use the belt anyway to attach the seat.

Get a second seat, you'll be amazed how you did without one after you get it.

Jim