E92 M3 - But Does it "Dad" Well?

We all know that the E92 M3 is an extremely well rounded and capable car. If you've read my "Is the E90/E92 M3 Worth the Hype" blog, you should be familiar with all of the great aspects of the E92 M3 - from it's daily driver practicality, track-ability, canyon carving prowess and road trip comfort, the E92 really checks all the boxes.

Since this blog is devoted to dads that often have a child or two in tow, I thought it would be worthwhile to document some of advantages and disadvantages of the E92 when you have a child sized co-pilot, or two, keeping you company.

In this review, I have used a couple of different child seats and strollers to help you get an idea of what is possible when you are planning a day out in the E92. We all know that when traveling with kids, their required "baggage" varies so I'll try to give you an idea of how well the E92 will take it.

List of props used:

Infant Car Seat - Britax B-Safe 35

Toddler Car Seat - Graco SlimFit All-in-One

Infant/Toddler Stroller - Britax B-Agile

Toddler Running Stroller - Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller

Toddler Push Car - Step2 McLaren 570S Push Sports Car

Results

Infant Car Seat - Britax B-Safe 35:

One of the best things about the E92 M3 is the ease of access to the child seat anchor points. Specially for the Britax infant seat, the base was very easy to install and took under a minute to get secure.

Once installed, the infant child seat (i.e. bucket) is able to fit into the backseat but it takes a little finagling through the door opening with the passenger seat moved all the way forward. Once the infant seat is in, it's a little challenging and awkward getting the carrying handle down to it's forward facing position but gets easier over time as you find how best to position your body to access the releases on each side.

Side note - the E92 M3 has made moving the seat much easier by conveniently placing a seat switch on the upper shoulder of the seat so you can move the seat forward and backwards without having to bend down, genius! There is also a latch located in this location to help easily move the seat-back forward. Well played BMW, well played.

After the infant child seat is locked into the base and the passenger seat back is put back into place, the passenger seat will need to be moved all the way up (about 5 inches forward of it's normal position) to accommodate for the infant child seat. With this in place, I (I'm 5'9") can fit in the passenger seat but wouldn't want to be there for any extended period of time as my knees are about an inch from the dashboard. My wife on the other hand (who is 5'5") is relatively comfortable and can make an hour drive with minimal comments about comfort.

All in all, an infant child seat is definitely doable in the E92 M3 and without passengers is a relatively painless effort. Would I daily drive an E92 M3 if I had an infant, probably not. Could I daily drive an E92 M3 if I had an infant, absolutely!

Toddler Car Seat - Graco SlimFit All-in-One - Rear Facing

Installing the rear facing Graco isn't hard, but it does take a little time moving around the car to get the seat secured. Because of the rearward facing position, it's a little more difficult to navigate around the child seat but after 4-5 minutes it's safe and secure.

After the rear facing Graco is installed, the next challenge you'll have to face is getting your child into the seat it self. This isn't a knock on the E92 specifically as this would be a challenge in any coupe, but the only way to get your child into this seat safely is through the driver side door. Once you've carefully gotten your child into the seat, all is good.

The Graco child seat in it's rear facing position behind the passenger seat is probably my least favorite out of all tested but with that being said, it isn't terrible. With your child in this position you can still keep an eye on them if you install a mirror on the rear seat headrest and you can still access them easily to hand them a bottle or a toy.

From a passenger perspective, I felt that the seating position was slightly more comfortable than with the Infant child seat as there was a little more leg room, by about an inch. The most challenging part for the passenger, and this goes for the rear facing child seat, is that they have limited access to the child if the passenger keeps their seat belt on. So, in the event that the baby drops something and the driver can't easily reach it, you'll most likely have to pull over to address the issue.

With all of that being said, though this isn't ideal, it isn't really the E92's fault specifically. A child in a rear facing car seat in a coupe isn't a great recipe for success but it's absolutely doable. Similar to my opinion of the infant child seat, this isn't something I'd choose to do daily but if this is your weekend car it's absolutely something I'd be willing to deal with.

Keep in mind that the infant/toddler stage is that these phases go by very quickly, for better or worse, so even though them in a rear racing car seat can sometimes be a pain, it will only last until they are about 2 or 35lbs (depending on your state law) and it's well worth the minor inconvenience to have them join you at Cars and Coffee and other car related activities!

Believe me when I say that this time fly's by so look at infant/toddler phase as the best time to embed that car culture passion in them while they are young!

Toddler Car Seat - Graco SlimFit All-in-One - Front Facing

As with the other situations, the installation for the Graco when front facing was relatively easy. With the shape of the child seat, it can easily be maneuvered into the backseat and put into place. It helps to install the lower anchor straps by reaching in from both sides of the car but once secure and the headrest anchor latched, it feels solid and only takes about 2-3 minutes.

After the front facing toddler child seat is secure and the passenger seat back is put back into place, the passenger seat can be moved back to a regular seating position making it extremely comfortable for the passenger while still giving the little one room for their legs in the back.

The toddler child seat in it's front facing position behind the passenger seat is ideal, not only for comfort but also for access. With him within easy reach, I can hand him toys, fix his sunglasses and give him water/snacks all with minimal effort while still being able to pay attention and keep a hand on the wheel. Because of this, it makes hour plus long trips a breeze.

All in all, a toddler in a front facing child seat is ideal with or without someone riding in the passenger seat and would work well even if you had to install it behind the driver seat.

Child Strollers/Push Car

When we go to car shows, it's paramount that we have a mode of transportation for my son, mostly for containment purposes, as it's easier for me to keep him in one place if he's buckled into something, but it's also nice to have storage for his toys, give me a place to put my coffee and have a little table for him to eat a muffin on while we walk around.

Below is how the E92's trunk space handles strollers and push cars.

Infant/Toddler Stroller - Britax B-Agile

Everyone knows that you never go anywhere with an infant without a stroller. Lugging around the 10lbs+ car seat plus the added weight of the baby inside never makes for a leisurely stroll.

When my son was an infant we were lucky enough to be passed down the Britax B-Agile stroller with his car seat/bucket from a friend. This isn't a stroller review blog so I won't go into crazy details about this particular stroller but just know that I HIGHLY recommend it. It folds and unfolds quickly and easily, feels like it's gliding when you're pushing it and has held up over time to some serious beating.

Now to B-Agile in the E92. Short answer is it fits well with plenty of room to spare.

The B-Agile fits easily through the trunk opening and can be stored in the trunk permanently (if desired) for quick and easy access. In addition to the stroller, I can also fit a set of golf clubs and still have room for some groceries in the event that I had an epic Saturday and dropped my son off at home after cars and coffee and then headed straight to the country club.

Toddler Running Stroller - Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller

The jogging stroller is nice to have, especially if you plan to get off the pavement a little and need something more rugged than the B-Agile, though there are some drawbacks.

The Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Stroller is easy to fold and unfold but it isn't small. Because of it's size, it takes a little maneuvering to get it inside the opening of the trunk but once it's in, you won't have a problem. The main drawback to this is that this stroller takes up about 85% of the trunk space so there isn't much room for anything else besides maybe some soft sided bags and a backpack.

All in all, the running stroller works well and can take on most terrain, just be prepared to pack light if you're child will be traveling in this.

Toddler Push Car - Step2 McLaren 570S Push Sports Car

Ever since I realized I was having a son a wanted to go to car shows with him in the McLearn Push Car. It fits the environment very well and there's nothing like a picture of a kid in a McLearn Push Car next to an actual McLearn!

Spoiler alert, the E92 has shattered my dreams. Due to the opening size of the trunk, the McLearn Push Car will not fit into the trunk unless you remove the steering wheel which (to the best of my knowledge) doesn't seem like a piece that is designed to be taken on and off regularly.

I have tried many ways to get this push car to fit into the trunk and have been completely unsuccessful. If anyone of you has an ideas, let me know so my dream can become a reality!

All in all, the E92 DOES Dad well and is the perfect car for you and a child of any age to enjoy together.

I hope this information helps perspective dads out there who are contemplating whether the E92 would work with their infant, toddler, child, etc.

Drop a comment or subscribe to my email list if you'd like to continue to hear about story's of Dad's and their children enjoying this great car culture.