Audi A6 LATCH/Isofix retrofit - Help

[katcoota]

Hi,

I've reading, searching and reading some more . I know that Audi can retrofit the LATCH/Isofix system to most of their vehicles. Certainly, I think it can be done for my Audi A6, 2001.

The problem is my dealer is not helpful, to say the least. Is there anyone who has done this and has the part number? :question:

BTW, I'm not in the US, so I will probably end up fixing it myself. I removed the rear seat but couldn't find any obvious holes for it to be fixed. :scratcheshead:

Anyway, any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks :thanx!:

[crunchierthanthou]

Audi/VW is discontinuing the lower anchor retrofit program (or has done so already). The LATCH manual only lists part numbers for tether anchors. Do you have the sedan or wagon?

[SillyLily]

I contacted a dealer in the US, and he said the parts would cost $88 for each side (so $88 x 2) and it is something that we could do ourselves (supposedly). The parts would take a couple of days to come in on special order. They did not give us the parts number, though. You should still be able to get the parts, but they no longer do the work for free (that ended in early 2007).

We drive a 2001 Audi A6 sedan, by the way.

[ian]

I know it is a couple months late, but for future reference:

LATCH/ISOFIX retrofit kit for the C5 (98-04?) A6 sedan is Audi/VW part number: ZAW269005
This includes the parts required to install on either the right or the left. If you want both sides, buy two. For those in the US, I purchased from www.genuinevwaudiparts.com where the price was $5.59 each plus shipping. Hopefully I'll be doing the install this weekend.

From what I gather, you remove the bottom half of the rear seat and mount the hardware in two holes near where the seat seam would be. (the holes are covered with tape and up under the bottom of the seat back)

[Silver Allroad]

Did you happen to notice if there was holes for a 3rd seat in the middle of your Audi?

I haven't torn into my Allroad rear seat yet (A6 Avant variant), but I was curious if there was holes for a 3rd seat/set of anchors. I would Imagine depending on the design of the UAS/LATCH anchors they would allow for at least the one child seat to be put into the middle, but would there be room to put 3 seats across the back. On our Beetle the anchors where quite wide and you could share anchors, so you could put the 2 baby seats side by side (1 middle, 1 side) by sharing the one achor, and still carry a passenger in the rear.

The Allroad however is a lot wider then the Beetle was, and therfore I'm curious if I should be ordering 3 sets of Anchors for it? Or if if there is even alloment for that? Or would you share the 2 center anchors to hold 3 baby seats like on the Beetle?




For the record our 2001 Audi, didn't come with UAS/LATCH installed from the factory, but our 2000 VW Beetle did. We just assumed the Audi would have them when we bought it. Went to put the baby seats in...uh oh..no anchors! My local dealer has been no help getting me lower anchors, so I'm ordering them from www.genuinevwaudiparts.com. It's the same part numbers for A6 Sedan/Avant/Allroad. (I called Audi Canada) for the meantime we are using the "convertible locking retractor" feature of the seat belts, which I can't reccomend anybody do on a long term basis. But It does work pretty decent on my 2 year olds forward facing Alpha Omega seat, but for our 4 month olds Graco Travel system "bucket" seat, it's terrible. I have to reposition it all the time, when you have it tight it trys to pull the bucket upwards. Once you've used an UAS/LATCH equipped infant seat, you realize how terrible seatbelts really are. (even if they do lock in place)

[Jeanum]

The new Beetle sold in the U.S. and Canada is a 4-passenger vehicle with only two rear seating positions, not three. :confused: I also do not see any indication that VW allows sharing of a single tether anchor or lower LATCH anchor by more than one child restraint in any of their models (this is pretty much true of most vehicles, VW or otherwise). :thumbsdown:

If you're using a lap-shoulder belt to install the infant seat base and locking the vehicle seatbelt at the shoulder belt retractor with tilting of the infant seat base occuring over time (a frequent issue with infant seat bases and RF child restraints installed with a lap-shoulder belt with a locking retractor), there's a simpler remedy than retrofitting the VW/Audi with lower LATCH/UAS anchors. :) You can use the metal H-shaped locking clip that came with your infant seat. Place the locking clip on the seatbelt within 1" of the seatbelt buckle to lock the belt instead of engaging the shoulder belt's locking retractor mechanism. For a visual showing how to install an infant seat base with a locking clip, there's an online video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc5CLIok3eU This FAQ about locking clips and seatbelts also could be helpful for you: http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

[Silver Allroad]

Good info to have, I can defintely use that until the anchors show up. But for the $6 a side it costs to get the UAS anchors, I still prefer to go that route. I just trust it more.

Still curious about that 3rd infant seat in the rear seat.

Our particular Audi actually came with a removable 3rd row rear facing seat in the hatch. Audi says it is for kids only. I can't remember what the weight it recommends they be for it, but I doubt I'll ever feel safe putting my kids back there. For now that seat sits on a shelf in the garage.

[Jeanum]

Any lower LATCH anchor retrofit in the A6 would be for the outboard (side) rear seating positions only according to the Audi section of the LATCH manual, not for the center rear seating position. Audi doesn't allow use of outboard lower LATCH anchors for a center installation, either, only a seatbelt installation is allowable in the center rear - here's the blurb on that from the Audi section of the LATCH manual for reference:

The inside LATCH anchors must not be used for attaching a child restraint in the middle position. The seatbelt (and tether for forward facing child restraints) should be used to secure a child restraint in the middle position.

Your A6's rear facing third row vehicle seat would only be appropriate for passengers who meet the size/weight requirements specified in your owner's manual to ride in the third row. Child restraints may only be installed on forward facing vehicle seats per child restraint instruction manuals, not on rear facing vehicle seats.