I've got a 2007 Cooper S and a problem on the way. Not a problem per se...more a baby that will require me to either customize my Cooper or get rid of it.

The car seat I must use - let's not get into why - isn't very easy to get beyond the front passenger seat. My idea: customize the front seat's travel so that when I slide it forward the passenger seat will give me a few more inches of space, thus facilitating much wider access to the rear of the car.

Is this possible? I essentially want to add as much forward slide as humanly possible (or even tilt the front seat forward). If it costs me only a few hundred bucks or even a grand this is definitely preferable to selling the Cooper and replacing it with something less entertaining (09 WRX, Ralliart, 07 3 series are the most likely candidates) but more babyseat friendly car.

 

Do you have to remove and install this seat on a regular basis?

If not, is there any way to remove one of the front seats, install the baby seat and leave it there?

If the seat has to be removed on a regular basis, I'm sure the seat track feet could be modified to be slid up a bit.

If you just need to raise the rear of the seat, you could put spacers under the rear of the seat.

Mark

 

Yep, the infant seat is a carrier and it would go in and out daily until he's big enough for a forward-facing toddler seat. The problem stems from the front seat not sliding forward far enough to create an easy space for getting the car seat in and out twice a day (take to grandmas, drop off, pick up, take home).

 

Have you tried adjusting the reclining portion of the seat so it sits upright and combined with moving the seat as far forward as possible? By the way, is your carrier the type with a quick release? I had a Peg Perego system and it took seconds to click the carrier in and out of the MINI. Having to attach to the LATCH or remove it without the quick release would grow old pretty quickly.

 

How about taking out the rear deck cover for a few months, drop the free rear seat and just take it out from the rear?

 

Wouldn't Clubman fill the bill?

Must be a way to remove or modify the seat 'stop' in the Track/Rail that limits forward slide.

Seat removal is just four T-40 Torx Bolts, for best access use up/down adjust as well as back/forward.

Major caution is not to turn ignition on while seat electronic connector is disconnected (has a black lock that pulls to release)
as you will set off an Air Bag Warning that only a MINI Dealer Service ($$$) can reset.

 

Impossible for me. Too short to possibly, safely bring the kid in through the hatch. Hell, I've burned myself enough times on the muffler and now you want me back there several times a day leaning into the car!

 

Yes, i've tried everything with the standard setup. The seat simply doesn't go forward far enough.

As for the infant carrier, it has the same release as all the normal brands - peg, graco, britax, chicco, etc. This has nothing to do with the latch system. It's the problem of getting the infant seat/carrier in and out 4 times a day. There's just not enough room with the seat forward - I'm forced to tilt and twist the carrier too much. The poor kid will be traumatized everytime he sees a Cooper.

 

thanks for the info on seat removal. Looked at the clubman. Liked it quite a bit compared to my Cooper S. But if I'm gonna get a new car I'm getting away from FWD and the lack of a dealership in San Diego.

 

Oh ok. Well the reason I ask is because I did the very thing in my '03 Cooper and didn't experience the same problems you are describing. There was enough room without having to twist or tilt the carrier as he slept. Since you've got this problem, and for whatever reasons can't purchase a different one, I agree--just pull the passenger seat but you'll need a dummy plug to prevent the airbag light from triggering.

But having the passenger seat made me feel more secure because it helped prevent the infant seat from shifting since it blocked it from the front. Just my 2cents.

 

Ah I forgot one thing. I have the rear hard boot box in my car which makes a level surface area with the rear seats folded down so I could just slide the child seat back into the trunk area and just lift it from there without having to reach in.

 

I'm not removing the passenger seat...I just need it to slide forward a few more inches.

Next weekend I'm taking the cooper to a shop the mods cars for the disabled. Maybe they'll have an idea... can't hurt.

 

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...23&hg=52&fg=10

Link above just to show the seat rail/carrige assembly, trick would be to get inside it and modify forward limit stop to allow a few more inches forward travel without having it run completely off-the-track and not return.

I have no idea if this is possible, but mod-shop should know.