23 replies to this topic

[chrisf]

hey, has anyone on here put a iso fix in their mini for a baby seat?

 

Chris

[cal844]

Remind me... How does isofix mount??

EDIT

just read up on them.. Youd be best to cut them out a scrap vehicle???

Edited by cal844, 11 April 2014 - 04:16 PM.

[chrisf]

Yea that was the plan or get one of eBay they sell them for fords just wanted to make sure the back panel was ok and if someone had done it be easyer than belting the seat in

Edited by chrisf, 11 April 2014 - 09:26 PM.

[Carlos W]

I've thought about bolting a bar to the seat belt mounts!

 

The problem is, they're different heights and a funny shape.

 

I don't know if there are any legal issues?

[Rob Gavin]

Don't know about legal or technical issues but i know someone who has used the fitting from a focus. I recall its a bolt in fitting

[Carlos W]

Don't know about legal or technical issues but i know someone who has used the fitting from a focus. I recall its a bolt in fitting

 

The easiest way to do it would be to mount it in the middle.

 

The Ford unit is about 16 quid from Ebay, but I think you'd have to drill extra holes

[chrisf]

Thanks guys I'm happy to drill extra holes think I'll get the ford ones and give them a go

[Carlos W]

Thanks guys I'm happy to drill extra holes think I'll get the ford ones and give them a go

 

I'd be really interested to hear how you get on

[sonikk4]

If you are going to drill extra holes for bolts I would seriously consider adding some 3 mm plate on the back of the bulkhead and weld it in place. Make it big enough to spread the load. The rear bulkhead is not that strong and the mounts that are used on the later cars are tied into other bits of structure.

[Carlos W]

If you are going to drill extra holes for bolts I would seriously consider adding some 3 mm plate on the back of the bulkhead and weld it in place. Make it big enough to spread the load. The rear bulkhead is not that strong and the mounts that are used on the later cars are tied into other bits of structure.

I was considering mounting the car seat in the middle to the centre seat belt mounts. This is reinforced and tied into the floor, and because its square on it'd be easier than trying to make a bracket to fit the seat to one side or the other

[sonikk4]

Are these points supposed to be a certain width apart?? If that's the case then I would assume the outboard and one of the centre seat belt mounts will be fine then.

[Carlos W]

Are these points supposed to be a certain width apart?? If that's the case then I would assume the outboard and one of the centre seat belt mounts will be fine then.

 

Yes mate, 

This is the Ford retro fit unit

 

 

 

I'm not sure about using one of the outer mounts, are they in parralel to the centre ones? 

[Dan]

The two hoops are supposed to be on 280mm centres apparently. What are you going to do about the top tether?

[Carlos W]

The two hoops are supposed to be on 280mm centres apparently. What are you going to do about the top tether?

 

I don't know if I'm going to do anything yet Dan, the kid isn't even born yet and by the time the mini is ready to drive the little blighter will probably be wanting to learn to drive in it. 

 

The isofix points in the wifes Ibiza are just bolted to the floor, none of that tether lark! Obviously this area will be strengthened, but there's no top tether.

 

In fact, I'm not sure what the tether is for, it's got nothing to do with the base and appears to be on the top outer face

[Dan]

What age is it? Since 2006/7 all new cars in Europe have to have full, universal Isofix which is the three point system including the top tether. Two point Isofix is not the full system and is vehicle specific, seats for the 2 point system are made to fit a specific car. There are baby seats that use the 2 points and a leg instead of the tether, but these are only group 0 I think. I've never seen a toddler chair that uses the leg. But then I gave up looking for Isofix seats even though my car has the full system. Isofix isn't as great as people think because although it is a standard for where the mountings are there is nothing governing the shape of the space within the car seat for the child seat to fit in. Many Isofix seats fit a very small range of cars as a result. Because we wanted to be able to move our seats between several cars we gave up and used ones that fit with the belts but are a good universal shape. I was initially looking at making the Mini Isofix compatible too as you are but I gave up when I found out all this. It doesn't make the seats any safer, just easier to fit right first time which makes them quicker I suppose. Except you have to go into the boot to do the top tether, or fiddle with the leg. Personally I think they are a bit of a white elephant, and it makes the seats more expensive. In Japan they don't have Isofix, but they have special seat belts in the rear which can be converted to a locked, retraction only mode. These are what's in my Lancer, along with full Isofix, and I find the belt system far easier. When I had my Mini's belts made I tried to get the Japanese type retractors for the rear but it wasn't possible.