[-paul]

Hi all. My fiancée and I are expecting our first baby around Jan/Feb and I'm looking for some opinions and/or people's experiences with coping with a 2-door with a baby.

My fiancée and I have agreed to give it a try and see how we get on and perhaps just buy a fixed baby seat to keep in the back. However, upon agreeing this I've been thinking. My e92 is in great condition and I do enjoy it but t does suffer from the common waste gate rattle.

So, in addition to your opinions/experiences, I'm also looking for advice. If keeping the coupe is the way forward for the foreseeable future, do I spend the money on overhauling existing rods/OEM turbos OR replace them with aftermarket?

Or

Look for swapping my coupe with a 335i saloon? But having the risk of obtaining another n54 with the waste gate rattle anyway? 335i is the only option though

Many thanks in advance

[E92Dan]

The easiest cars with babies and small children are taller 5 door cars, hence why they are so popular. My Mrs has a Mercedes B Class, it's much easier getting a little one in and out of that than my E92. But the BMW is quite a large coupe so it's not a completely mad choice if it's your only car.

[parksjm7]

I would think it'd be easier in an E93 - just lower the top and drop in the back facing seat or toddler

[RajB]

It's not impossible but not absolutely ideal either. It for sure will be easier with a saloon.

[col2611]

My girlfriend's mum swears by 3 door hatchbacks for getting baby's in and out. With a 5 door the opening isn't very big. Whereas with a 3 door you can slide the seat forward and you have loads of room to lift the baby/seat out straight instead of at an angle. I know the E92/3 seats don't go that far forward but it might be easier than an E90.
I have a friend expecting in November and he has 335i E92 and he is keeping that.

I have an E93 but when the time comes I think the baby will go in her car, baby sick and red leather...no no no!!!

[ghosty]

e92's have big doors remember so opening that with a good distance to get baby in and out at a mothercare car park could be tricky
we always went 5 door when our child was little, i didn't get my e92 till she could climb in and out of the back by herself

[nicktyler]

I tried to keep my e92 when my daughter arrived. It is possible but very far from practicle. It lasted about 3 days before it was up for sale and I ended up with a Q3 instead.

The problem is you need to open the door fully to get the seat in. Even if the baby is tiny and light you end up having to force the seat awkwardly through the gap (which made me feel like I was shaking her about too much). You will have to put the baby in the seat outside the car probably on the floor in a busy car park. You will break your back bending over all the time to get them out. And they are only going to get heavier making it even harder.

Like I said it only lasted 3 days for me...

[Hulla the Hulla]

yours and your mrs backs won't thank you for having a coupe! lifting baby, with or without car seat whilst stretching through a door that you may or may not have the room to open fully (mainly not given the standard of parking spaces in the UK these days) has got bad back written all over it ! E90/91 needed IMO.

[sufchenko]

Make sure you have an ISOFIX setup so you don't have to faff about with seatbelts.

[imy]

dude.. Get a maxi cosi axiss with a e90 335i and all is good! That what I got!

Edit: the axiss only comes into play later on. I had the standard maxi cosi set up, albeit in an X5 but am more than sure it would work in an e90!

[ben-e92]

I put a kid in the back of mine once (wasn't mine, found it, long story) anyway the upshot was i found the space was small but doable but the seat lay out meant the child was really laid back. Plus she scuffed the back of my front seat with her shoes., its heart breaking!

That was a 2 year with a booster seat I'll add. But thought it may be relevant if your going to keep your a car a couple of years since your considering spending alot of money on it.

Ben

[mob17]

In the exact same situation as you OP. First baby on the way in a few weeks and i have an E92 which i'm considering selling, but trying to keep at the same time!

I think ISOFIX is a must for an E92

[un1eash]

I plan to use my E92 with first baby on the way but do have access to a more family friendly car most the time.

[magic77]

Been there and tried and gave up 4 door is a must , I run a e90 and e46 previously with kids and it was just about now the F30 finally with doors that open extra wide makes life easier. Ironcially now they can get in and out its not a problem

coupes with long doors and car seat and car parts receipie for disaster. Unless you get a e93. Also depends how tall you are as on the E92 it can be harder to fit a car seat in back as well

[mowflow]

Yup, mother in law had an e92 when out first was born. Ended up swapping just using either my or my wife car whenever she took the baby out due to the coupe being such a pain in the arse.

It's actually easier once the wee one gets a bit older (toddler age) and they can go in a forward facing seat (i know the Euro safety brigade think they should be rear facing until they are 16 but just try getting a 3 year old to sit in one of those). The reason its easier then is because they can climb in the car and into the seat themselves then you just lean in and do up the belts.

[magic77]

Very true I've got my 7 and 3 year old trained now they get in belt up and all I need to do is pull belts tight

One handy tip to make like easier is get some old cloth / towel and stuff then under the belt clips in the seat base. doesnt stop the belts working but makes cliping in the buckle much easier as it doesn't dissappear into the seat base.

[gaza01]

I managed so easily with my e92 and my new born. Maxi cosi isofix base and then the seat that simply clips into place. Never had any issues. Yes the saloons and estates are slightly easier but that doesn't make the e92 difficult or impossible. As said I've lived it and now my daughter is 18mths its still a breeze.

The e93 is a no no! Again having had one the cabin space is smaller so with the car seat in the passenger front seat has to be all the way forward.

['V']

No probs here with a coupe and baby (x2)
On my 3rd e92 and have had 2 kids since. Had no issues at all. I find it easier and less strain in my back getting the kids in the coupe compared to the other halfs 5 door hatch.
Now have 2 recaro baby seats/toddler seats in the back - work a treat and look pretty cool too

[Evil Diesel]

Raised 2 in mine and never found it a problem - the benefit is you come straight at the back seat whereas in a four door you have to lean across.

Give it a go I would say.

Newborns weigh f all anyway - it is when they get to 18 months you have a problem either way! Anyway, congrats and best of luck with the new arrival!

[Iforb]

Coupes with wide doors are brilliant with kids. It seems completely daft, but the reality is that they work really well.

The wide doors gives easy access and with the seat folded forward, you have more room to get in and sort the baby out than in any 5 door.

I have an E92 and find it better than my old F31 and actually easier than my wife's Volvo XC70. Especially when it's raining. You can get into the car and stand in front of the little one to sort them out, rather than twisting yourself around.

My daughter is coming up for 2 and can climb into the car and the seat without assistance in my car, she can't do that with any other car. She also loves being in it and when we're out, I get a constant stream of "faster daddy faster." Which drives my wife nuts, but makes me very happy!

People always assume that you have to have a 5 door with a kid. It's really not essential. Promise!

[ahmedb]

My Mrs and I had our baby 2 weeks ago and I have an E90.

I would 100% recommend the isofix base for any car seat.

4 doors is definitely more practical than 2 but I'm now looking to change, even though I have split folding rear seats. The front seat comfort has been slightly compromised before it's resting on the back of the car seat.

I'm thinking to go back to an Octavia given the humongous boot space and cabin space in general. It also sat a lot higher so it's easier for my wife to get in/out.

[AYEDEE]

With the E93's it helps heaps when you wind Down the windows with the key fob. Dont have kids but that's what I'm planning if I keep mine. But definitely I don't think I'll be opening/closing the top it's too much use of the mechanisms and time consuming.