Seatbelts

Drew20

Drew20

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I've driven three E9s, all had snatchy seatbelts. By which I mean they quite often lock off when you don't want them to. I've often found myself trapped against the seat whilst driving, and it's difficult to get free again. Not ideal.

I was thinking of replacing the mechanism, but keeping the original clips and buckles, etc. Anyone done this?

I'm thinking a seat belt specialist should be able to just unstitch the existing clips from the old webbing and then put these on a new (modern) mechanism and new belt. I'm all for originality, but on safety equipment I also believe in compromise, i.e. I've already had rear belts fitted for the kids' safety

Any thoughts, ideas or recommendations welcome
 
Lots of seatbelt posts here, what kind do you have now? Contact Bluedevils, he makes new belts with correct buckles and new retractors.
 
Hi Chris, yes thanks for the heads up re seat belt chat, there seems to a lot of variation out there. I've attached a piccie of my set up.
Whilst these belts snag a lot when I'm driving, I can't get them to repeat the issue in the garage. I assume they're not inertia reels, as no matter how hard I tug, they won't catch. I'm only familiar with inertia reel belts, how do these ones actually work, I gather from posts it has some kind of mech which senses the deceleration?

I'm in the uk, if anyone knows of a good company experienced with E9 belts, pls let me know

IMG_2291.JPG
IMG_2292.JPG
 
Generally speaking, there are 2 types of retractors: emergency locking and automatic locking. EL function on stiff deceleration but otherwise pull freely. They allow more freedom of movement in non-emergency situations. AL catch each time the belt retracts even a little to maintain a snug fit. AL are rarely used today in production vehicles. Most current retractors are "switchable" from EL to AL by pulling out the shoulder belt all the way and then slowly feeding it back in. Useful for installing child safety seats.

Don
 
Hi Guys,

My E9 has no seatbelts at all... no sign where they were originaly. Any suggestions where to install it where to buy it? Would only work on front ones not rear.

Thanks
 
As I understand it there are two ways,
One relies on the mounting of the mechanism in the rear footwell at the base of door pillar and then up to a roof mounted pivot, back down and across to the receiver on the tunnel and it’s third point on the sill near the mechanism.
The second way has the mechanism under the real parcel shelf and feeds the belt through the cabin parallel with the rear window through a non structural pivot at the end of the rear trim, up and over the should and across to the receiver and back to the mounting on the sill.

Or you can go custom
451F9A18-845F-46BB-9555-9A2B52231C06.jpeg


Hope this helps
451F9A18-845F-46BB-9555-9A2B52231C06.jpeg
 
A third variation. I think this is original to my US '71 2800. No captured nut in the headliner for the shoulder belt attachment:
CS belt 4.jpg
 
HB Chris said:
Don, an interesting setup but not original. The 2800CS got the fixed belts mounted high up next to rear seat.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Chris. Good to know. I thought this seemed a little crude but I chalked that up to BMW trying to figure out the transition from fixed to retractor systems.
 
yes, but it does give me an idea to explore. i was thinking about cutting the existing box in front of the rear seat to try to mount a 635csi retractor in it and put the pivot point just below the wood. i really don't want to drill a big hole into my wood ... would rather do it into a door panel that i have a spare of. the trick will be to mount the seatbelt retractor so that the seatbelt can exit between the armrest and the door panel. perhaps a trim piece mounted in the armrest. if i can't make it work, then its back to the existing box enlargement.
 
Scott,
I too thought about the act of cutting a hole through my wood trim, but figured that repairing the wood down the track would outweigh the aesthetics of not having the mechanism encroaching into the rear footwell. Rear passengers also appreciate the extra foot space and find it easier to enter and exit, and as the driver it’s much more comfortable versus the roof mount previously.

Cheers. John
 
rsporsche said:
yes, but it does give me an idea to explore. i was thinking about cutting the existing box in front of the rear seat to try to mount a 635csi retractor in it and put the pivot point just below the wood. i really don't want to drill a big hole into my wood ... would rather do it into a door panel that i have a spare of. the trick will be to mount the seatbelt retractor so that the seatbelt can exit between the armrest and the door panel. perhaps a trim piece mounted in the armrest. if i can't make it work, then its back to the existing box enlargement.
Click to expand...

Scott: My shoulder belt, as pictured above, does exit between the armrest and side panel. Looked factory to me til Chris explained. My biggest complaint is no roof mounting point for the shoulder portion. Here is my jury-rigged solution for the belt continually slipping off my shoulder. This piece is from a marine supply place (for boats), zip-tied to the headrest bracket:

CS belt 8.jpg


Safety engineers, I realize this violates several standards.
 
Don, does yours have a pivot point above the reel (up by the wood trim), or does it just go up and over seat? i have scheel seats so i can't put such a piece on the headrest.

inovermyhead said:
Scott,
I too thought about the act of cutting a hole through my wood trim, but figured that repairing the wood down the track would outweigh the aesthetics of not having the mechanism encroaching into the rear footwell. Rear passengers also appreciate the extra foot space and find it easier to enter and exit, and as the driver it’s much more comfortable versus the roof mount previously.

Cheers. John
Click to expand...
John,

if i fit the reel into the 'body box' underneath the side panel, my mechanism will not be sticking out - the 635csi belt mounts with the reel fit into the body. if i don't want to cut that box out, i will explore fitting it under the rear arm rest, like Don's is located. for me the biggest question is where to place the pivot - where bolt #5 goes.

e24 seatbelt.png
 
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