Hi all,

last week I tried for the first time putting my chlid's rear-facing seat in the GT and the passenger airbag would not deactivate no matter what I tried.
I also noticed that the seatbelt when extended fully does not "lock" in retract-only mode. I found online an owner's manual and I think it's for the NA market, and it clearly states that the airbag does deactivate when the OCS (Occupant Classification System) sees the weight that corresponds to a rear-facing seat with a child.

My son is 8mo old, and less than 10kg (22 lbs) so I don't think we're on the heavy side.
I also tried buckling the seat belt on an empty passenger seat, and the passenger airbag would show as activated again judging by the light next to the hazards.

Has anyone with an EU car tried to install a rear-facing child seat?

I'm afraid that either the EU cars don't have the option, or that when I took the car in last September to get the passenger seat base fixed (it was moving with a passenger under accelaration) the dealer screwed something with the sensor...

 

Here are some excerpts from the NA Owner's Manual, and I cannot imagine EU standards or operations would differ or be less than this. I also think the bolded part of your post is probably the reason you're not seeing function as you should.

The seat belt on the front-passenger side is
equipped with a special seat belt retractor.
When activated, the special seat belt retractor
ensures that the seat belt will not slacken once
the child restraint system has been secured.

Installing a child restraint system:
X Always comply with the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
X Pull the seat belt smoothly out of the seat belt
guide.
X Engage the seat belt tongue in the belt buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
X Pull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should
hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat belt
retractor is activated.
X Push the child seat restraint system down so
that the seat belt is tight and does not loosen.
Removing a child restraint system and deactivating
the special seat belt retractor:
X Always comply with the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions.
X Press the belt buckle release button and
guide the belt tongue to the seat belt guide.
The special seat belt retractor is deactivated.

Rearward-facing child restraint system
If it is absolutely necessary to install a rearwardfacing
child restraint system on the frontpassenger
seat, always make sure that the
front-passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Only if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp is permanently lit (Y page 37) is the frontpassenger
front air bag deactivated.
Always observe the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation and operating instructions.

 

Big difference around the area bags and seats between the North American cars and the EU Cars.

I've run a car seat in the NA version for quite awhile now.

What seats do you have in the car?

 

Hey Acta_non_Verba, thanks for the reply. I saw the excerpt from the manual and that's why I suspect that maybe something's wrong as I was expecting it to work.

@jn66 I have the performance seats as the car is an Edition 1.

 

Pics and setup of the car seat?
I have a 2 month old...

 

Hey man -

I've only ever had forward facing and when my daughter was older. 4 or so.

https://mbworld.org/forums/coupe-roa...nger-seat.html