How to Safely Install Modern Car Seats in a BMW E30 Sharing the joy of classic car ownership with your children is incredibly rewarding, but safely installing modern car seats in an older car like the BMW E30 requires some specific considerations. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your child’s safety when installing a car seat in your E30. Background on the E30 Originally, the BMW E30 was marketed as a family car, so it’s not surprising that child seat options were available through dealers at the time. However, today’s safety standards and car seat technology have evolved significantly, requiring extra attention and careful adaptation to fit modern car seats securely. Understanding Seat Belt Types: ELR vs. ALR The BMW E30 utilizes Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) for seat belts, unlike modern vehicles, which use Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR). ELR seat belts lock only during sudden deceleration or collision, releasing immediately afterward. ALR seat belts, on the other hand, remain locked once fully extended and then retracted slightly. This is critical because modern car seats depend on the ALR mechanism to securely fasten without any slack. Why ELR Belts Are a Challenge Modern car seats require ALR belts to … Continue reading Child car seat safety in an E30