Britax carseat with no tether?

[gatnmom]

I have a 1999 Mercedes ML 320, as far as I know it doesn't have anywhere to attach a tether. Will the Marathon, Boulevard, or Decathlon be sturdy enough with just a lap belt? (it also doesn't have LATCH).

[Joolsplus2]

Yup, you can install ANY seat without a top tether :). Thank God, too, because Mercedes is the only company that won't retrofit top tethers into 1999 vehicles (I'm awfully shocked to read that, I have to say... :/).
Anyway, a Britax usually installs brilliantly without a top tether (and if you install it in a position with a lap/shoulderbelt, the shoulderbelt lockoff does act somewhat like a top tether...which is why cars in Europe don't have top tethers, but all carseats have shoulderbelt lockoffs :) )
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[o_mom]

You don't mention how you are installing, but if you can install rear-facing, you can use the versa-tether which doesn't require the factory anchors.