How to fix your broken seat belt guides.

**MBENZF1** · 08-05-2006, 07:46 PM

mine snapped a few weeks ago, industrial strength glue and holding it down a little while did the trick....for me atleast, can't notice it at all, and this seems like a huge pain in teh ass.

**Matt Day** · 08-05-2006, 08:24 PM

Nice write up Vinci. When mine go, I'm taking the lazy way out...

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/z3/7787167-1.html

**Vinci** · 08-06-2006, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Day

Nice write up Vinci. When mine go, I'm taking the lazy way out...

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/z3/7787167-1.html

Black duct tape?

**YoPaulyzSIck** · 08-06-2006, 04:24 PM

I reather Crazy GLUE THEM together you wont even notice.... than go thew all of this...lol..

**Matt Day** · 08-06-2006, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Vinci

Black duct tape?

Appears to be made out of seat belts?

**Ferris** · 08-06-2006, 11:45 PM

Awesome!!!

**Vinci** · 08-06-2006, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Day

Appears to be made out of seat belts?

Looks like a loop of fabric or some sort of fabric tape. I think I'd try gluing before I broke down to that sort of rigging.

**JBgotM** · 08-07-2006, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by YoPaulyzSIck

I reather Crazy GLUE THEM together you wont even notice.... than go thew all of this...lol..

been therre, didn't work. I ordered new guides and will be doing this when i get a chance.

**YoPaulyzSIck** · 08-09-2006, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by JBgotM

been therre, didn't work. I ordered new guides and will be doing this when i get a chance.

WORKED FOR ME =)

**JBgotM** · 08-09-2006, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by YoPaulyzSIck

WORKED FOR ME =)

glad you had better luck than me, I just need to find a little time to do this. Maybe I can just take the passenger seat out and work on it as I have time and try to get it done.

**Vinci** · 08-09-2006, 07:38 PM

Those things are just like seat bushings. If you don't do them all in one shot, they'll just sit in the closet forever.

**M Roady** · 08-09-2006, 08:00 PM

Sweet write up!
Seat belt guide seatbelt retainer seat belt retainer seatbelt guide seatbelt clip seat belt clip <----for me to search when I get around to doing this. I've had the guide/clip/retainer for two years.

**Flank Z** · 02-07-2007, 08:54 AM

Thanks to Vinci for the outstanding post. I installed a new seat belt clip last night on my 1999 Roadster M and it really was not that difficult.
- The “hog rings” are the biggest challenge. I cut mine to remove the strap (instead of threading the straps through each one). To re-install, I used zip ties to attach the straps to the seat frame (just threaded through the existing holes used by the “hog rings”). This saved a huge amount of time.
- The “hog rings” behind the crossmember (Vinci’s serious problem) are not accessible. I just cut the straps as close to the seat frame as I could. To re-attach, I just made two new holes in the strap and then used zip ties as described above.
- While I had the seat out, I also replaced the “rocking seat” bushings. I was amazed how deteriorated the old bushings had become. Clearly the cause of the “rocking” seat.
Good luck!

**samcarney** · 02-07-2007, 09:14 AM

well... Atleast no one can just come by and jack your seatbelt guides in the parking lot!

**2kredz3** · 02-07-2007, 09:55 AM

That does not look like something that i want to try. . .not because i cant do it. . .but because i now dont think it is worth it. . .lol, the one working one that i have i dont use because the seat belt will not retract all the way running through that loop.

outstanding write up tho.

**Vinci** · 02-07-2007, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Flank Z

- The “hog rings” behind the crossmember (Vinci’s serious problem) are not accessible. I just cut the straps as close to the seat frame as I could. To re-attach, I just made two new holes in the strap and then used zip ties as described above.

That's not a terrible idea. I kinda wish I had done the same with those two straps. It would have saved me a whole lot of trouble.

**vikram** · 02-07-2007, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Jshkrauss

holy crap. Impressive work. You have to be the most helpful member that has come around in a while. Although I think if my sb guides ever broke, I'd just get new seats

Why spend $1200 or more on a new seat when you can get it repaired at the dealership for $435. I did.

**confuZion3** · 03-08-2007, 05:52 PM

I'm about to tackle this project myself. Funny: I just popped open the Advanced Search page and this was the first thread I opened (probably thanks to M Roady's strange response).

I wouldn't have to do this if my cousin didn't break it while moving the seat forward while looking for her keys that she dropped under the seat (the seatbelt was locked). You'd think that after hearing one loud crack next to her ear that she would have stopped moving the seat. No, she just kept right on going until the second crack occurred, finally destroying the stupid retainer.

Oh well. It looks as if it will be a good time to clean the carpet and seats.

Thanks for the write-up!

**Ferris** · 05-10-2007, 01:24 PM

Holy crap what a pain in the butt. I ended up having to take the seat covers complete off to snap the push washers on. You couldn't pay me to do this job again... Great write up though, with out it I'd have probably would've ended up setting something on fire! THANX

**twozees** · 05-10-2007, 01:45 PM

Excellent write-up. I superglued mine but should have been more carefull. When I took it in for final warranty work the guide was stuck to the seat leather. The dealer was in good cheer that day and replaced the seat back cover also.

**BillCZ3** · 05-10-2007, 07:51 PM

That's great that M-Coupe and Z-Coupe owners don't have to worry about broken seat belt guides. When I am out on the twisties with the top down, the sun overhead, in the middle of the redwoods, as I listen the the sound of the engine as I take it to redline THE last thing on my mind is broken seat belt guides.

**OUSHark** · 05-13-2007, 02:27 AM

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I tried Epoxy glue and it held for about 2 days. I tried Super Glue and it worked great.....for about 2 months. I am getting ready to tackle this job myself and I REALLY appreciate this thread.

**ZeeCubed** · 07-22-2007, 05:51 PM

Does anyone happen to have a set of broken guides that they'd part with? I have a few ideas for a different approach, but need to see what they look like "inside the seat".

Thanks!

**seemlessstate** · 07-23-2007, 12:20 AM

does this apply to non M cars beacuse mine seem to be a bit dissimilar mainly because the guides are completley gone and i am left with a little hole in my leather
thanks alot. if it is the same i have a project ahead of me

**Vinci** · 07-23-2007, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by grgoyl86

Does anyone happen to have a set of broken guides that they'd part with? I have a few ideas for a different approach, but need to see what they look like "inside the seat".

Thanks!

Check out the photo I posted of the new guides. There are two round posts that go through the leather seat cover. Those two posts go though a thin, plastic backing plate (similar in shape to the guide), and a pair of metal rings dig into the posts to secure the whole thing together. Whatever you use to secure the guide to the seat, it must be thin, or it will push the leather cover out and look funny.

Originally Posted by seemlessstate

does this apply to non M cars beacuse mine seem to be a bit dissimilar mainly because the guides are completley gone and i am left with a little hole in my leather
thanks alot. if it is the same i have a project ahead of me

All the guides are the same, M and non-M.

Thread: How to fix your broken seat belt guides.

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Not difficult - cut the hog rings to save time.

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