[jpa74]

I got 3-year-old toddlers who will occasionally need to ride in daddy's 328i when the minivan is not available.

What do I use to protect the leather seats from the car seats and my toddlers?

I love my F30. But I love my kids more of course...

How can I protect them both? Is there a seat liner I can use? How about for the back of the front seats? My kids love to kick them with their dirty shoes.

Anyone else occasionally driving an F30 with kids in the back?

[malc410326]

Originally Posted by jpa74

Is there a seat liner I can use? How about for the back of the front seats? My kids love to kick them with their dirty shoes.

Anyone else occasionally driving an F30 with kids in the back?

I also have a 3 year old toddler and honestly, I have found the best solution is actually to take off your kid's shoes. Yes, it is a bit of a hassle, but will definitely protect the back of the front seats from dirty shoe marks and such. At the moment, my son is wearing velcro Nike shoes, so it's not too much of a hassle since we don't have to lace it up each time or he wears Crocs which just easily slip on and off. Now in regards to the seat liner in the back seats, my wife actually placed a thin blanket under our son's car chair. It isn't a thick blanket so my son's chair is absolutely stationary. And he LOVES riding in his new Bimmer! I took off the blanket to check if there were any signs of 'dirt' and I found it still looked brand new! In all honesty, our Bimmer still has that fresh leather scent. I remember members mentioning that their leather scent went away quite quick, but I have observed that we still have that 'fresh from the showroom' scent in our car. Just an fyi...Also take note that there is a feature in the back door of our F30s that is a switch that is a child lock so your toddlers won't be able to open their doors from the inside. Great feature! Hope this helps!

[sleedawg]

Prince Lionheart Seatsavers.
http://www.princelionheart.com/site/t_cs_0560.html

I make this disclaimer... they do protect your leather seats, but many people say that you shouldn't put anything between your baby seat and the car material as it can causes the base of the car seat to shift under extreme load. I've got mine pretty well secured but I can tell that it does move slightly if forced more than without the seat savers. Also note that depending on your car seat, the seatsaver does not cover the seat where your shoulder would be. This can lead to a bit of pressing of the leather. Less damaging than the car seat base on the bottom cushion.

In terms of kicking seats... you're on your own. I haven't found anyone who makes a seat cover for the back of the seat. The backs of the front seats are pretty sturdy and easy to clean. I haven't had any issues yet. In my M car, my son knows he has to take his shoes off before he climb in the car.

[malc410326]

Originally Posted by sleedawg

Prince Lionheart Seatsavers.
http://www.princelionheart.com/site/t_cs_0560.html
I make this disclaimer... they do protect your leather seats, but many people say that you shouldn't put anything between your baby seat and the car material as it can causes the base of the car seat to shift under extreme load. I've got mine pretty well secured but I can tell that it does move slightly if forced more than without the seat savers.

Very true. Fortunately the blanket we use is quite thin, but I think, just as you mentioned, that the seat may shift under extreme load. And with that said, I may have to take that thin blanket out from underneath the car seat and just clean underneath the seat from time to time....Safety DEFINITELY is priority! But that website you shared looks quite interesting. Will have to check it out. Thanks for sharing that!

[svache]

Originally Posted by malc410326

I also have a 3 year old toddler and honestly, I have found the best solution is actually to take off your kid's shoes.

+1 for now that seems the best thing to do. However, this afternoon I was thinking about perhaps getting some clear plastic layer of something.. dunno yet what, but something that would rub the dirt right off (my daughter is in her terrible two's and really loves to kick the seat and shoes off all of the time is indeed quite a hassle).

Maybe (just noticed it since I was looking for the link in my quote below, lol) the following might be a solution as well: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...uctId=11290853 I don't know how it will look like irl, but it might be an idea to do instead of some clear plastic layer (and honestly, with a plastic layer I was actually thinking about some clear kind of tape with less than normal adhesive which is still not too good for the leather lol).

Originally Posted by sleedawg

Prince Lionheart Seatsavers.
http://www.princelionheart.com/site/t_cs_0560.html

We use a similar item for our carseat, although it appears to be thinner than the one from your link. This is the one we use: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3620421

Personally I never had any trouble with the car seat shifting. Not in this nor in the previous car. I think it's not only the thickness of the item between the car seat and the leather seat, but also the car seat itself and, of course, how tight the car seat has been made into the car (I personally climb onto it and go up and down while having my knee in the seat to get it as tight as possible ).

[M.Suka]

How's the room back there for a child seat, I have a 1 year old and don't want it to tight for him when I put a forward facing child seat.

[xit2050]

Originally Posted by sleedawg

Prince Lionheart Seatsavers.
http://www.princelionheart.com/site/t_cs_0560.html

+1
Used it for 5 years in my E90.

[zeezz]

with the newer carseats using LATCH anchors, is slipping still an issue?

[KneeDragr]

Originally Posted by sleedawg

Prince Lionheart Seatsavers.
http://www.princelionheart.com/site/t_cs_0560.html

I make this disclaimer... they do protect your leather seats, but many people say that you shouldn't put anything between your baby seat and the car material as it can causes the base of the car seat to shift under extreme load. I've got mine pretty well secured but I can tell that it does move slightly if forced more than without the seat savers. Also note that depending on your car seat, the seatsaver does not cover the seat where your shoulder would be. This can lead to a bit of pressing of the leather. Less damaging than the car seat base on the bottom cushion.

In terms of kicking seats... you're on your own. I haven't found anyone who makes a seat cover for the back of the seat. The backs of the front seats are pretty sturdy and easy to clean. I haven't had any issues yet. In my M car, my son knows he has to take his shoes off before he climb in the car.

Ive got one of those in my current DD and I just tighten the latch system down so tight there is no way the seat could move. You can do this by putting a knee in the car seat and pulling the straps while you push with your knee. Then tighten the 3rd latch over the back of the seat really tight as well. The only way the seat would move is if the straps gave.

[sleedawg]

Originally Posted by KneeDragr

Ive got one of those in my current DD and I just tighten the latch system down so tight there is no way the seat could move. You can do this by putting a knee in the car seat and pulling the straps while you push with your knee. Then tighten the 3rd latch over the back of the seat really tight as well. The only way the seat would move is if the straps gave.

For the record... I know how to install a car seat and the car seat and straps are so tight that a German dominatrix would be proud.

Something that people don't account for is that in a severe accident seat belts do stretch (~1-2 inch). Think about how difficult it is to move the car seat when it's not belted in compared to the car seat on top of the seat saver. The seat saver (at least the Prince Lionheart that I use) has a lower coefficient of friction as the material on the underside of the seat saver to the vehicle seat fabric is not as grippy compared to the car seat to the vehicle seat. You've essentially created a sled vs the car seat digging into the vehicle fabric.

Why do I use it? It's a small compromise in safety for protecting the interior and my son is rarely in my car but that car seat is always there.

My PSA for today. As much as your car seats are properly installed... make sure your son or daughter is strapped in snugly. I'm amazed at how many people buckle their kids in loosely which is a greater danger these car seat savers.

[PrinceBarin]

Originally Posted by msuka

How's the room back there for a child seat, I have a 1 year old and don't want it to tight for him when I put a forward facing child seat.

Plenty of room. I will try to get a pic for you later, but my 2-year old son seems to have more than enough space without us have to slide the front seat too far forward. In other words, both he and the passenger in front all have plenty of leg room!

[malc410326]

Originally Posted by svache

+1 for now that seems the best thing to do. However, this afternoon I was thinking about perhaps getting some clear plastic layer of something.. dunno yet what, but something that would rub the dirt right off (my daughter is in her terrible two's and really loves to kick the seat and shoes off all of the time is indeed quite a hassle).

Maybe (just noticed it since I was looking for the link in my quote below, lol) the following might be a solution as well: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...uctId=11290853 I don't know how it will look like irl, but it might be an idea to do instead of some clear plastic layer (and honestly, with a plastic layer I was actually thinking about some clear kind of tape with less than normal adhesive which is still not too good for the leather lol).



We use a similar item for our carseat, although it appears to be thinner than the one from your link. This is the one we use: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3620421

Personally I never had any trouble with the car seat shifting. Not in this nor in the previous car. I think it's not only the thickness of the item between the car seat and the leather seat, but also the car seat itself and, of course, how tight the car seat has been made into the car (I personally climb onto it and go up and down while having my knee in the seat to get it as tight as possible ).

Thanks for these websites & recommendations! I will definitely look into these options. Makes it much more convenient to not have to take my son's shoes on & off each time. And the seat liner under the car seat looks like a great solution considering it also has compartments on the bottom which will be very useful for water bottles, toys, etc! Great find!

[TheObviousChild]

I've got 4 of these for my car and the wife's. They work really well.

[jpa74]

Thanks for the great ideas. Gonna get the carseat mat and seat covers.

[carconvert]

Originally Posted by xit2050

+1
Used it for 5 years in my E90.

Using this as well... Only issue is that it's not high enough and it doesn't protect from indentations in the upper back rest

[Mocheenm3]

I have indentations on both of my back seats in the M3. I had a pad underneath the base of the car seats and the latch system on real tight. Now my kids use booster seats which can be removed and stored in the trunk. I only drive them in the BMW once in a while now. I am hoping to pick up a 328i M Sport as a daily driver when it becomes available.

[svache]

Just to inform you guys, we went out yesterday and bought one of the kick mats to protect the back of our seats (this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...uctId=11290853 ). They include two inside and I can tell you that you will have to be careful when putting them on in the bottom part. We have the luxury line and the seats proved a tad too big at the bottom for the strap and I actually ripped it a bit when trying to put it on. I'm guessing it's even a bigger issue when you try to put it around the sport seats. So just be careful in the bottom, they do fit nicely on top though =)

[blindmule]

Originally Posted by msuka

How's the room back there for a child seat, I have a 1 year old and don't want it to tight for him when I put a forward facing child seat.

F30 is a great family car. Large trunk that has easy access and hinges that don't intrude the trunk volume. Back seat room is very good for kids. I have 2 car seats back there and have no problems at all for room. The size of the E90 was the just too small for a family car IMO. Was sooooo happy when I saw the size of the F30 cause I now get a sports car and family car all in one!

I also would not be too concerned and the seats slipping under load if you use the latch anchors. And further agree that the way you strap them in is probably more important than the entire seat moving a bit on a seat protector.

The idea of the car seat is to keep the kids in the vehicle in an accident. The anchor bolt will keep the seat in the car. The straps properly secured will keep the kid in the seat.

My car has hard plastic on the front seat backs. This is easy to clean, so no problem of dirty shoes there. I still take their shoes off is there could be gravel on them as this could scratch the plastic.

I actually would like to have pockets on the seat backs, but despite having a 335 with premium, assist, apps ect....not pockets. Always get screwed in CAN.

I had an E39 5 series a few years back and (without numbers to back this up) I find the room very comparable. The cars actually feel identical in terms of space and size.