[knifegun]

Hi All,

I am looking at getting a 5 or 7 series. But I have a hard requirement of fitting two infant to 3 year old seats in the back plus one normal size adult (less than 200 lbs) in the back.

Does the current 5 series meet this need? Does the 7? Anyone have this same requirement and have a suggestion for a vehicle?

Aside from fitting the 2 kids and an adult, it is important to keep the vehicle as small as possible making it easy to drive around town and parallel park (for my wife).

[grahamcoxon]

I find that my kids seats (6 & 8yrs) seem a bit wide for the rear and they need a bit of help (me shouting at them) to get the belts in place.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by knifegun

Hi All,

I am looking at getting a 5 or 7 series. But I have a hard requirement of fitting two infant to 3 year old seats in the back plus one normal size adult (less than 200 lbs) in the back.

Does the current 5 series meet this need? Does the 7? Anyone have this same requirement and have a suggestion for a vehicle?

Aside from fitting the 2 kids and an adult, it is important to keep the vehicle as small as possible making it easy to drive around town and parallel park (for my wife).

Both the 5 and 7 have enough space with some compromises.
Your choice is to have each infant seat at opposite ends and the adult in the middle, which will make ingress/egress challenging for the adult not to mention the drive-shaft hump making the middle seat super uncomfortable for the adult.
or
the two kids side my side with the adult occupying one of the window seats.
(probably more practical for the adult but harder to load the kids).
or
Minivan.

[knifegun]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

Both the 5 and 7 have enough space with some compromises.
Your choice is to have each infant seat at opposite ends and the adult in the middle, which will make ingress/egress challenging for the adult not to mention the drive-shaft hump making the middle seat super uncomfortable for the adult.
or
the two kids side my side with the adult occupying one of the window seats.
(probably more practical for the adult but harder to load the kids).
or
Minivan.

Good point. I think that what I am looking for is to have the two kids sit side by side in seats (one facing forward and one facing backwards...maybe on on the driver's side and one in the middle?). I am thinking that the 7 series will have more hip room. I have an E350 station wagon. When the seat for my 3 year old is in the middle position, I can only sit one adult in the back because one of the seat belt engagement points is covered by the seat.

How about an SUV? Would that make a difference?

[snj1013]

I have a 5 series and have a 3 and 4 year old in car seats in back. An adult would not fit in the middle for any sort of extended trip. Another child not in a car seat, maybe, but even so I wouldn't make a habit of it.
If you plan on having the 2 car seats plus another person in the back very often, look at a minivan or SUV. No matter what you end up doing, test your car seats and see what you think first hand. My wife's 2008 Highlander doesn't have much more room in the middle, but there is more leg and headroom.
Hope this helps.

[iwinit]

Originally Posted by snj1013

I have a 5 series and have a 3 and 4 year old in car seats in back. An adult would not fit in the middle for any sort of extended trip. Another child not in a car seat, maybe, but even so I wouldn't make a habit of it.
If you plan on having the 2 car seats plus another person in the back very often, look at a minivan or SUV. No matter what you end up doing, test your car seats and see what you think first hand. My wife's 2008 Highlander doesn't have much more room in the middle, but there is more leg and headroom.
Hope this helps.

Fully agree. I have a 535i and a Toyota Highlander. And I have 2 little kids. It's not practical to fit 2 car seats and 1 adult in the back in 535i. Highlander is much better.

I plan to replace Highlander with a 2012 X3 soon. Does anyone have tried to fit 2 car seats and 1 adult in X3? I'm sure X5 will be better. But my garage is not big enough for a X5.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I have a 10 year old, a 3 year old in a forward facing seat and a baby in a rear facing seat. All fit in the back!

How I arrange the seats is baby seat on left, 10 year old in middle, child seat on right. Baby seat clips to a base, and my 10 year old clambers across that side to get in. Its not the easiest access, and he is a little cramped on the shoulders, but he does get in and have done 2 hour trips without major complaints. Soon my 3 year old will graduate to a booster seat, and fitting a narrow one will ease the squash on my 10 year old.

I did look at putting my 3 year old's seat in the middle but it is too big and heavy to perch on the hump. A booster will probably go in there OK, so that will be the new arrangement. In my case this is the biggest car I can get on my company list, I don't have all three kids in it other than some weekends and holidays, so frankly as long as they fit and its safe, they can lump it!

[knifegun]

Thank you everyone for your input. Invaluable input and very quick response.

Does anyone have both a 5 and and 7 series? Specifically, I want to see if there is any significant difference in rear space between the two cars. I was trying to avoid getting an SUV but an X5 is a fantastic choice.

Does anyone have any data on the differences between the Merc E and S class versus 5 and 7 BMW series with regards to room for kids? I assume they are the same. At least better than my M3

[PR_F10_535]

7 is the way too go, 5 series is not enough room

[Breach]

I've got a BMW ISOFIX Junior Seat and it's hard enough to buckle the seat belt. Would be difficult to have two of these and an adult in between. If at least one of your kids was big enough to use a cushion only it's probably doable. It's not the space - it's the size and the lock points of ISOFIX seats which makes it hard.

[davesf]

Originally Posted by knifegun

Does anyone have both a 5 and and 7 series? Specifically, I want to see if there is any significant difference in rear space between the two cars. I was trying to avoid getting an SUV but an X5 is a fantastic choice.

The overall width of the cars (from the website) tells much of the story:

5xx - 73.2"
7xx - 74.9"
X5 - 76.1"
Toyota Sienna - 78.1"

With two kids seats, an adult is probably going to be more comfortable in the back of an X5 than 5- or 7- series, depending on how well you're able to give them the extra space.

However, just as important may be how easy it is to get the kids into the seats. Much easier in an SUV or minivan, as you don't have to bend down to reach them.

I just narrowly decided on a 5-series over an X5 with just one kid in the back (and our second car already an SUV, Lexus 450h). If we had two, or we didn't have the SUV, it would have been an X5 all the way.

[joy5]

I've got 2 kids, 6 years and 1 year both on front facing seats. I've struggled so many times fitting 2 seats and getting an adult in the back. It is not possible to fix 2 seats next to another (side and the middle), best is to fix them on each side. Then the adult won't be comfy in the middle seat with the shoulder bounced with 2 seats and with the tunnel...

If money is not an object, I would go for the X5 if not R-Class

[EV0LVE]

you might also consider a slim fit car seats, they do exist but typically on online stores only.

[sieben1973]

Yes
We have 2011 5 series
I have 14 months old twins and my wife has to sit with them at the back from time to time
she is 5'8" and 150lb, and she said she is fine as long as you are not planning on driving like that for long distances
Also on occasion i have been able to fit a booster seat in the middle to for my nephew

[Needsdecaf]

I have an F10 with a convertible seat currently in forward facing mode and a belt positioning booster on either outboard side. I'd say unless your wife is really small, no freaking way.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by sieben1973

Yes
We have 2011 5 series
I have 14 months old twins and my wife has to sit with them at the back from time to time
she is 5'8" and 150lb, and she said she is fine as long as you are not planning on driving like that for long distances
Also on occasion i have been able to fit a booster seat in the middle to for my nephew

i assume that you have seats with detachable carriers on fixed bases.

Keep in mind that this is much easier to maneuver around than what the OP was posting, fixed convertible seats.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

It is much easier if the seats you purchase attach to bases. They stay in the car and its a doddle to climb over into the middle before the seat is attached.