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Hi there - I'm expecting my first child next month so I'm practicing the install of our car seat. It seemed simple enough to use the LATCH for the rear side seats but I'm looking to install it in the middle rear seat of my E350. I took a look at my car manual and there is a line that says "Do not install rearward-facing child restraint system on the center rear sear." Am I reading that correctly that I should not be installing the rearward facing car seat in the middle seat?
Obviously need to hook up to the installed latch system, which I believe is in all 3 seat locations back there. No reason not to install into the center seat. That MB recommendation sounds bogus.
New father here, I didn't realize how big these car seats are till the night before we headed to the hospital... We had purchased a '11 E350 wagon only a few months prior on the basis this would be our family car and an upgrade from my '95 E320 wagon. We bought a Britax travel system as we liked the idea of a detachable car seat, base and stroller vs. the convertibles which are larger, heavier and taking an infant in/out more difficult.
The seat base is mounted via latch on the passenger side and it certainly makes the front passenger seat very cramped for my wife. I've thought about mounting it in the center, though I think my wife would have difficulty raising and leaning into car to secure seat. Especially as our boy is growing and the "light" seat is only getting heavier by the week.
There's a total of 4 anchor points for ISOFIX (LATCH) and hypothetically one could use the "inner" anchors from the left and right side seat respectively. However the spacing is not symmetrical (IIRC) and the center position would have the anchors further outward.
MB statement not to use the center seat with ISOFIX may simply be, it was not tested and approved. It could also be due to the spacing, the anchors would be loaded in a fashion (due to angle) they weren't designed for.
I can only see installations of rear facing seats in Mercedes cars in the front passenger seat or the rear outboard seats. I agree with bmwpower that these are the tested and recommended locations. Thus no latch in the center. I think the issue is also there is no seat back concave in the center to allow room for the child’s feet as they may project from the seat. The normal seats will have more room available. I have changed my opinion about using the center seat.
I can only see installations of rear facing seats in Mercedes cars in the front passenger seat or the rear outboard seats. I agree with bmwpower that these are the tested and recommended locations. Thus no latch in the center. I think the issue is also there is no seat back concave in the center to allow room for the child’s feet as they may project from the seat. The normal seats will have more room available. I have changed my opinion about using the center seat.
Good! You scared me in your first post. When my little sister was born, my mom wrapped her in a blanket and put her next to me in the back seat, we didn't have seat belts yet, until the next car and I believe that were optional! My mother used the arm blocking technique too! When I was in the front...
^ I literally rolled out of my mom’s ‘65 mustang in the grocery store parking lot when she forgot to make sure the door was closed properly. Those were the days!
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