Hello,

Part of the reason for getting a FFRR aside from always wanting one was that I have a child now. Ideal time for a luxury van. Today I tried to fit an isofix car seat base (the Cybex Z i-size swivel one).

An easy’ish job has become a real pain in the bum so any tips welcome…

My issue in short is that 1 side clips in and the indicator goes green and the other side just won’t attach (passenger side rear, the one closest to the arm rest), it actually pushes the bases extended arm back instead - so clearly hitting something quite solid. It’s very tight between the seats and no matter what I try (we have two bases and even the second base from my wife’s car did the same thing) nothing works. Great way to do your back in trying to push it in hard.

My only idea is that there is something stopping the arm from clipping in at the back of the isofix hook but going by feel I don’t think so, maybe if I got my wife to tip the seat forward a bit to open up the space and try to insert at a slight angle it would help - but clutching at straws here.

Very frustrating, any of this sound familiar?

I mean, this side looks fine…

Click image to enlarge

Is the seat new?

We carry a friends tot in our L322 on a weekly basis and at first, fitting the rear ISOFIX seat was a pain, it kept doing the same thing. But, simply through usage it’s improved.

Same thing happened in our C70, so it’s a seat problem that self-righted. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Baltic Blue, Jet interior
1997 P38 2.5 DSE auto & 1998 P38 2.5 DT Manual
1988 Vogue 3.5 EFI - Manual, gone.
2004 Volvo C70 2.0T convertible, had since new.
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Roadster/Coupé, had since new.
2024 Mini Cooper S cabrio, JCW kit, 2.0, DCT auto

One base is new one is a bit used, but it’s a seat problem as you said. So did you run it with just one arm fixed in? I guess you mean the movement of the seat opens the hole up a bit then it eventually clicks in? 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

We’re just about to start using our L322 for the same thing.

Have you seen the plastic isofix guides that Cybex do? They’re designed to be slotted into the seat so the base slides straight in. Might be worth a try.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

We only ever use it when both anchors engage-but it took a lot of wiggles and expletives.

The two channels in the cars also have to be totally free from any baggy leather or obstacles.

I think a combo of ‘use’ for both the seat and the car helped. It’s now a breeze, but it was clearly the first time a car seat had been used in both cars.

My partner just said “ram it in” hmm. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Baltic Blue, Jet interior
1997 P38 2.5 DSE auto & 1998 P38 2.5 DT Manual
1988 Vogue 3.5 EFI - Manual, gone.
2004 Volvo C70 2.0T convertible, had since new.
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Roadster/Coupé, had since new.
2024 Mini Cooper S cabrio, JCW kit, 2.0, DCT auto

I did see them but not sure they would fit in the gap themselves, trying my best not to ruin the leather too. Has anyone else used these guides successfully?

https://www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk/produc...-kQAvD_BwE 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

Let’s just say I tried to ‘ram it in!’, going to poke a screwdriver around the back of the fixing point and see if I can clear the way a little. My back seats look like they have never been sat in, never mind having a kids seat in there! It seems to half latch but not fully grab the isofix bar, this probably adds to the reason the arm doesn’t stay extended. Did you have the issue on the same point? Rear passenger left hook? 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

We had a isofix in our L322 for a few months before we sold it, we had a couple of old glasses cleaning cloths to protect the leather and enable the rails to slide back easily as well as a maxi cosi seat protector but other than that the Maxi Cosi seats just slid straight in likewise on the L405 we have today. Both had unmarked isofix rails prior so had never been used.

Isofix is just a bar, make sure you have the seat rails fully extended, I then usually allow one side to just catch and then push the seat across to engage the other side then side to side until it’s nice and firm.

Bit of practice and it just becomes second nature. I highly recommend the seat protector’s, I don’t have them in my daily and the seats have put a decent dent in the leather compared to the RR that doesn’t have a single mark. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

Thanks. Been using isofix in my wife’s 2009 Honda Civic for the past two months with no issues and yep - arms are fully extended. I have a thin-ish seat protector and from what I can see the leather seems fine so far (the seat protector is not getting in the way, I checked!). The thing just won’t click in so guessing something is happening to stop it biting on the bar. The side closer to the door that has clicked in already has a little more room around it. Let’s see how I get on tomorrow, it really shouldn’t be this hard! 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

Just a thought, but could you hold the rails to stop them retracting until it’s latched properly? It kinda sounds like it’s going in too high or low and that the arms are hitting the rails above or below and just retracting them rather than latching?

The more I think about it the more I just remember dropping the rails on top of the glasses cloths and that was that. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

Yes tried holding the rails while pushing the base, no luck. It literally lines up by what I can see by eye, something is clearly impeding it perhaps from the back side. Crap picture but…

Click image to enlarge

We have a Cybex Z-base on our L322 and it was a quite tight fit, hooks seem to be somewhat low so that it´s not just plug and play as it is for example on our Saab 9-3. You really need to push the seat cushion down from the back end to get those base anchors to line up with hooks.

Such a pain in the ass-job that I bought a second base to our Saab, so that I´ll never have to take it away and put it back again.

Yes we have two Cybex Z-bases. If this thing ever goes in I am not taking it out, that’s for sure. The odd thing for me is I can see them lining up, just not clicking in. I will put more pressure on the seat when I try again tomorrow, maybe it likes quite a flat angle to join. Just annoying as although fiddly the other arm went in as expected at the same approach angle as the one with the issue. 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

I agree, the L322 is by far the worst car I had from an isofix-friendliness perspective.

It is exactly the same issue that you have - on the left side, the outer hook can be inserted almost easily, but the inner one is just a pita. As I had to repeat this procedure a few times over the years, the way how I manage to get the inner hook to hold is by using a mallet and forcing it in with a light tap ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So you got it as close as possible and tapped the plastic bit on the arm? 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.