Is it safe

[Shelly]

Is it safe to put a car seat in the Z
Obviously with a child in it
I've done it before
But was just wondering if it's legal and safe
I'm looking after my nieces little one on Thursday
She's 21 months old

 

[Grumps]

Yes Shelly but make sure your turn the passenger airbag off.

 

[Shelly]

How do you turn the airbag off is their a button
Thank you @Grumps

 

[Grumps]

Normally a red round lock which turns with your ignition key on the side of the dash when you open the passenger door but could be wrong on that bit Shelly. Let a Z4 owner come forward and confirm where it is.

 

[Shelly]

I've no idea where is it @Grumps
Thank you for your help

 

[Grumps]

@t-tony do you know where to turn the passenger airbag off on the Z4 mate?

 

[Shelly]

Thank you @Grumps
Your so kind

 

[EssexZed]

I've read other posts that suggest the ability to deactivate the passenger airbag was an option on the E85/6 Z4. If you check out the advice on the government website https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules you'll find that infants under 15 months should be in a rear facing child seat with the airbag turned off. Older children can be in a forward facing seat but it doesn't say the airbag needs to be deactivated so presume it's ok to be active. As your niece is 21 months old I would think it's ok for her to be in a forward facing seat - just try and get the seat back as far as possible.

 

[Shelly]

Thank you @EssexZed

 

[Redline]

The switch is exactly where @Grumps said it will be.

Here is the extract from my soft copy manual (which I believe is a US version)

My opinion only - You have to choose the best solution that you're happy with.

I would have thought it is marginal but best to deactivate the airbag for such a young child. They're not likely to weigh enough to activate the passenger airbag system anyway. I suspect any child seat results in the child being sat up and forwards.
It should be a full seat not a booster seat (not even sure if they are still legal).

Suggest the seat is set back as far and low as possible.
Make sure any child seat is properly installed and fits in the seat - many are not designed for seats in the Z4. An ISOfix seat should attach directly to the metal bars at the base of the seat back. These only appeared on the market after our boys were too old for car seats.

 

[Shelly]

Thank you @Redline

 

[Shelly]

I'll look for the switch in the morning

 

[Toby]

Heres me thinking the thread would be about Dentists and Diamonds, for Grumps benefit

 

[t-tony]

@t-tony do you know where to turn the passenger airbag off on the Z4 mate?

You can't on all of them Dave, if if has a key switch at the passenger end of the dash board as you open the door it will be there. Not all cars have it, mine doesn't.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

You can't on all of them Dave, if if has a key switch at the passenger end of the dash board as you open the door it will be there. Not all cars have it, mine doesn't.

Tony.

Am thinking it might be an upgrade variant then Tony.
Do you have an airbag light on the console?

 

[t-tony]

May have come on the facelift cars Ian. Only airbag light on my car is in the instrument binnacle.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

The switch @Redline posted is part of the ISOFIX child seat system which is an option from factory. It's not to do with pre or post facelift models as far as I know.

 

[Redline]

The switch @Redline posted is part of the ISOFIX child seat system which is an option from factory. It's not to do with pre or post facelift models as far as I know.

Didn't know that Gary. I'd just put the IsoFix prep for the seat part.

 

[GazHyde]

The black/yellow seats I fitted to mine came from a donor 3.0si and they don't have the metal fixings in the seat. Fine for me as I didn't like the big light in the centre console, so I swapped for a console which didn't have it and tucked it underneath - much tidier!

 

[Shelly]

Don't think my Z will have a switch then
I've never seen it
I'll look tomorrow
If not I'll use Alans car