5 seater but adding the 3rd row seat

[Matte_3]

We purchased our 5 seater brand new and wished we went with a 7 seater. I purchased a 3rd-row seat from eBay and plan on installing it myself!

I have a good relationship with the local SC hoping i dont have to program anything.

 

[dethman]

Just keep in mind there will be no climate control (air vents) back there if you have the 5 and it often gets hot with the rear windshield right above your head in the 3rd row.

 

[Matte_3]

Just keep in mind there will be no climate control (air vents) back there if you have the 5 and it often gets hot with the rear windshield right above your head in the 3rd row.

yep thanks for the input. I have all my windows tinted with 3m crystalline. Its my 6 year old daughter she likes being back there by herself lol

 

[Kuhz]

yep thanks for the input. I have all my windows tinted with 3m crystalline. Its my 6 year old daughter she likes being back there by herself lol

Oh oh. What’s gonna happen at 10 or 12 yo? Might need a bus

 

[unpollo2]

The 5 seat rear bench does not slide forward to allow entrance to the 3rd row trunk area. The back rests just fold down. Will be hard to get anyone back there.

 

[Yinn]

We purchased our 5 seater brand new and wished we went with a 7 seater. I purchased a 3rd-row seat from eBay and plan on installing it myself!

I have a good relationship with the local SC hoping i dont have to program anything.

As tempting as it is, I think this is a terrible idea. Especially if you plan on putting your child back there.

Best case scenario; 3rd row vents are all you're missing. But I would guess the wiring needed for heated seats, weight sensors, lights, etc. may not function w/o programming.

Technically, your car would also no longer be street legal. As safety equipment is modified (ie, seatbelts for 3rd row) or non functional (weight detection for seat belt warnings) and that's only the immediate known. Hopefully that doesn't have any type of impact on airbag deployment; or if Tesla has a production change that adds bracing for 3rd row vehicles as they did for Rear Facing Seats in a Model S.

 

[BerTX]

This isn't going to work. The 5-seater isn't just a 7-seater with no rear seat. The working relationship with the SC can't be all that good, or they would have told you not to do this.

 

[Peteski]

The 5 seat rear bench does not slide forward to allow entrance to the 3rd row trunk area. The back rests just fold down. Will be hard to get anyone back there.

Very true, they will literally have to climb over the seats to get in or out of the 3rd row. That and the lack of climate control is going to make it a poor solution!

 

[outie]

This isn't going to work. The 5-seater isn't just a 7-seater with no rear seat. The working relationship with the SC can't be all that good, or they would have told you not to do this.

I am pretty sure SC will not help with the retrofit due to liability issue.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Think I remember that there were additional structural supports added when you configured with 3rd. row of seats. Maybe something to do with crash safety.

Believe that Tesla would sometimes add these supports after the fact when installing 3rd. row. Not sure if it is still done, as lots of small changes have been made to structure over the years.

 

[dethman]

Very true, they will literally have to climb over the seats to get in or out of the 3rd row. That and the lack of climate control is going to make it a poor solution!

Will the 2nd row in the 5 seater slide all the way forward like in the 7 to allow 3rd row access?

 

[outie]

Will the 2nd row in the 5 seater slide all the way forward like in the 7 to allow 3rd row access?

No. It's fixed.

 

[dethman]

No. It's fixed.

How would you even get in and out of the third row then in a retrofit...

 

[outie]

How would you even get in and out of the third row then in a retrofit...

You can fold down the 2nd row or climb in from the back. Regardless there won’t be any legroom.

 

[BerTX]

Think I remember that there were additional structural supports added when you configured with 3rd. row of seats. Maybe something to do with crash safety.

Believe that Tesla would sometimes add these supports after the fact when installing 3rd. row. Not sure if it is still done, as lots of small changes have been made to structure over the years.

This is true in the Model S, but I do not know about the Model X. The MS 3rd row was a rear-facing child seat very close to the rear bumper, and the extent of the additional structural strengthening was a stiffer bumper assembly.

 

[Peteski]

You can fold down the 2nd row or climb in from the back. Regardless there won’t be any legroom.

With the middle bench on our 7-seater slid all the way back (as it is permanently fixed in the 5 seater) there is literally zero 3rd row legroom. It gets worse the more you think about this retro-fit!

 

[xyeahtony]

this is why i got a 7 seater. fold down the third row, its basically identical to the 5-seater.

 

[HugoBoss]

What many have said already, dont think its possible or as easy as you think. Trade your car in for a seven seater, or keep it And too bad for your daughter. This is why we bought a seven seater, didn't need it a t the time but you never know....

 

[HandleX]

this is why i got a 7 seater. fold down the third row, its basically identical to the 5-seater.

But with better AC than the 5 seater.

 

[Dakkky]

We purchased our 5 seater brand new and wished we went with a 7 seater. I purchased a 3rd-row seat from eBay and plan on installing it myself!

I have a good relationship with the local SC hoping i dont have to program anything.

Any update on adding the third row to your 5 seater, Matt_3 or anybody? Either at a Service Center or DIY?

I have a 2017 5 seater but would LOVE to find somewhere to retrofit the third row in correctly and replace my current bench seats. I have searched Google and the forums but haven't found any positive results-- but rather its simply not doable.

Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations or advice welcomed. Located in Seattle. Thanks