Non-retracting seat belt conversion

[Rob///M]

Hi all, my E9 is currently fitted with non-retracting lap sash seat belts which are a bit painful to use.
Is it a straight forward swap to install a set of retractable lap sash front seat belts? Is it a simple "plug and play" exchange?
Can anyone recommend the best place to find them, new or used?
Many thanks

 

[Wladek]

Is it a straight forward swap to install a set of retractable lap sash front seat belts? Is it a simple "plug and play" exchange?

If you will have original complete set of Autoflug's seatbelts as for later models of e9 with special rear armrest beltguides, support brackets & adapters for belt mechanism mounts on rear shelve/rear seats wall then in general it is almost plug'n'play (just might be needed some little drilling in rear wood trims for addtional belt support brackets).
Otherwise i don't think there is other p'n'p option.
Complete original e9 option might be hard to find & for sure expensive.

 

[cicada]

I know it may not be what you're looking for, but HBChris had some nice ceiling-mounted belts in his fantastic car he sold recently: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-bmw-3-0cs-65/

 

[HB Chris]

@bluedevils Sells new retractors and webbing with Autoflug tongues if you have the Autoflug receivers. What year is your coupe, mid 72 and on have the roof mount.

 

[CTD]

I have the Autoflug setup in my car but I made this bracket that makes it really easy to install any generic retracting seatbelt that way. You only need a receiver on a pole (also generic) and the holder on the rear panel wood trim (optional)

 

[Rob///M]

Thank you all for this excellent information.

 

[Rob///M]

I have the Autoflug setup in my car but I made this bracket that makes it really easy to install any generic retracting seatbelt that way. You only need a receiver on a pole (also generic) and the holder on the rear panel wood trim (optional)

Hi CTD, I notice that WN has some generic looking seat belts. Is that what you have used in this case?

 

[Rob///M]

Hi

@bluedevils Sells new retractors and webbing with Autoflug tongues if you have the Autoflug receivers. What year is your coupe, mid 72 and on have the roof mount.

Chris, mine is a 1973 Euro CSi. Id have thought it would have had them.

 

[CTD]

Hi CTD, I notice that WN has some generic looking seat belts. Is that what you have used in this case?

WN has them, yes. But they are very expensive. Initialy I brought my Autoflug retractor to a revision company specialised in seatbelts (I contacted Autoflug also but they couldn't help). The spring inside was too loose and couldn't be tightened anymore. They took the original belt and hardware from my Autoflug belts and installed them on a new generic retractor.

 

[bavbob]

If you have a 73 Euro, you should have a fix point in the roofline as I do (see image, car is in storage with poor light but you can see the reference points). You can probably find it with your finger. If so, use a phillips head screwdriver with a heated tip which will put a hole in the headliner that is "braised" on the edges and will not propagate. I used Bluedevil's belts.

 

[Rob///M]

Es

If you have a 73 Euro, you should have a fix point in the roofline as I do (see image, car is in storage with poor light but you can see the reference points). You can probably find it with your finger. If so, use a phillips head screwdriver with a heated tip which will put a hole in the headliner that is "braised" on the edges and will not propagate. I used Bluedevil's belts.

View attachment 152621

Excellent! Thank you.
I have sent a message to @bluedevils regarding the belts and availability.

 

[sfdon]

Al makes the best seat belts that I know of.

 

[Matt McCall]

Al makes the best seat belts that I know of.

Don,
Please forgive my ignorance, who is AI?
Matt

 

[sfdon]

let’s talk- i sent my Phone # to you.