To think I’ll squeeze in...

[Argeles]

and actually be able to sit down between 2 car seats in a BMW 3 series?

One car seat is 0+ size, and the other is size 2 for a 3 year old.

They’ll both be in use, so can’t be removed, and front seats will have adults occupying them.

I’m a size 14, and will only have a small handbag with me to throw on the floor! Passenger in front is larger than me, so we can’t consider swapping seats.

If there would be room for me, would a car trip of 1 hour and 15 minutes be feasible, or will I be very uncomfortable?

The person who owns the car is adamant I’ll fit in, but the available space looks small to me.

I have photographic proof of me sitting in the middle seat of a 3 series BMW between two DC (then aged 4 & 8) in age-appropriate car seats, when I was a size 12 (we were going on holiday, I took an EXCITED GOING AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND selfie). Not the most comfortable I've ever been, but I survived the one hour journey without injury. Just make sure you get in first so you can do your seatbelt up.

Yes definitely. I’d go with one of these depending if 3 year old rear faces

3 year old front seat (rf only)
Adult1 - infant carrier - adult2

Adult1 front seat
Adult2 - infant carrier - 3 year old

Infant carrier
Adult1 - 3 year old - adult2

Middle seat is as safe if not safer for a child seat, no need for you to be squashed in the middle!

My policeman mate says it’s safer in the front than the back. I forget what he said now, but something to do with the way you react in an accident. It’s fne to put the bulkiest car seat in the front.

I had a 3-series - there were two [bucket] seats in the back and NO third seatbelt. Mind, that was R-reg, so maybe they're updated since then, but if not, you've got legality issues, as well as discomfort. HTH

I fit comfortably between a rear facing 0-15kg carseat and a high backed booster in a jazz and a Mercedes A class. It's getting in and out that's the problem. I'm 5"7" and a size 12.

The gap in a 3 series is tiny in the middle with 2 car seats in the back. Even in a 5 series it was very small but doable with a small person. I wouldn't do it in a 3.

I've had to squeeze in between car seats in a 3 series before just as you describe. I could just about get one bum cheek on the seat and it was pretty annoying verging on painful with bits of car seat digging in both sides. I managed for 5 mins. Not sure I'd have coped with 15.

I have exactly this set up in my 3 series.
You won’t fit.

My policeman mate says it’s safer in the front than the back.

Not necessarily. It depends on the car/type of car seat/whether you can turn the airbag off. Some car seats cannot safely go in the front seat at all, some are actually safer in the front. But your friend is incorrect, it’s not ‘fine to put the bulkiest seat in the front’ without checking first.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

It looks like I’m set for a long & awkward train journey then, instead of a car journey!

No way you would fit. Sorry. British cars are too small for three across the back with the exception of range rovers.

Of and an xj may also be wife enough

You can fit if they're using narrow child seats which are not readily available but if you look for them you'll find them even in Halfords.

I've been able to fit in a friends car as she used narrow child seats than standard sizes. Can't remember if I was able to buckle up or not though. One time she picked me and my OH up, I took the front passenger seat and my OH who's bigger than me took the middle seat in the back (because I was first to shotgun lol)

I fit between a 0+ and the next stage up carseat in a 3 door fiat panda when I was a size 16. Looked like a comedy sketch getting out though... Dunno how big a 3 series is, you'll probably squash in though but I doubt it will be comfy.

We have had both a 2, 3 and 5 series, in none could you get 2 car seats and a person the middle.

When I had a bmw 5 series it you just possible to fit a slim person between 2 child seats but it was a squeeze. I think the 3 is smaller than the 5.

It makes me claustrophobic even thinking about it!

I wouldn’t try tbh

@Argeles

Thank you for your replies.

It’s very frustrating that you don’t have good news for me, but this is exactly as I expected.

The person who owns the car is trying to do me a favour, and is adamant we’ll all fit in, and isn’t taking no for an answer!

Do you think I could manage a 15 mins journey in there (there’s the option they can collect me from a nearby station and just drive a short distance), or should I just tell the person that I can’t travel with them?

I would agree under the proviso that you get to sit in the front.

Why are you being expected to sit in the back?

The OP has probably forgotten all about this journey seeing as it was 3 years ago!

ZOMBIE THREAD ALERT

Aaaargh why do people resurrect them?

I kinda like that whiskers72 resurrected this zombie by directly contradicting their post of almost three years ago. Could be the start of a new trend in weird zombie resurrections.

To use a mumsnet phrase I've never had cause to use before - @whiskers72, are you on glue?? I realise you were the last poster 3 YEARS AGO, but why resurrect it???

I'm guessing @whiskers72 is trying to recreate the infamous ecco post from '09

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/752184-hauck-stroller-pound-25-Asda