BMW X5 + backless Turbo booster

Model turns 7 years old in a little over a month . . . I don't have a scale or tape measure, but last I checked, she was 52" tall & weighed almost 50 pounds....

At 1st glance, she appears to be safe -- the lap belt is properly positioned, she has adequate head support & the vehicle has rear side curtain airbags:


Taking a closer look at various angles, we see a couple problems -- the shoulder belt is not centered on her sternum & collar bone, allowing her to very easily move dangerously out of position, especially when distracted by other children passengers along for the ride:



This is the reason -- the countour of the seat positions the booster slightly too far toward the center, resting on top of the designated buckle so that she has to use the center buckle (obviously rendering it unusable for another passenger):



At least BMW has Switchable Locking Retractors to serve somewhat as a reminder for kiddo not to lean forward, although she can still too easily lean sideways :thumbsdown:

I will be testing the Turbo out in the center later today, hoping kiddo will be able to buckle herself still, hoping the shoulder belt is properly positioned, hoping other passengers can still fit on the outboard sides. I'm doubtful, though. (Aunti & Grandma both have the X5 now & neither are savvy enough to understand these safety issues no matter how many times kiddo & I both explain)

P.S. the vehicle rear seatback does recline, but this is in the upright position.

how does it fit in the middle? would that be a good solution?

oh not just my kids............
i swear you have to have the perfect car/seatbelts & the perfect size child for a backless to work. thankgoodness these backless don't cost much money. otherwise i'd really be pissed.

Would use of the shoulder belt positioner solve the fit problem?

We looked at a BMW for my parents that had the same buckle configuration in the back. While I never got to physically place any seats in there, it seemed everything would interfere with those recessed outboard buckles. A very poor design. :thumbsdown:

well thats not good! I have a friend with an X5. Her marathon and nautilus both install wonderfully in there. I'll have to talk to her about backless boosters eventually (her ds isn't ready for a booster yet though. who knows they may have a different car by then!)

Maedze said:

Would use of the shoulder belt positioner solve the fit problem?

Click to expand...

I did forget to mention that, didn't I? Gah, that was one of the main points I wanted to make: that the shoulder belt positioner exists for a reason :doh: (I've never once seen anoyone actually use it IRL).

My parents bought the seat without me before my plane landed & while my father was savvy enough to catch that the armrests have to be screwed in :thumbsup: my mother apparently threw out the shoulder belt positioner without either of them noticing it existed :thumbsdown: A replacement won't arrive until after we leave for home again tomorrow night (to another state).

Here it is in the center -- the shoulder belt isn't coming from a wide/forward position as it does outboard, so it's properly positioned, but 1 seat is still rendered unusable & both kids move around unhappily & more dangerously when squeezed up close together:

I do like how easily the LATCH is reached