Seatbelt problem

[Racing Tortoise]

Went to get out of the Z1 at a petrol station on the way home last night and found myself entirely stuck. The seatbelt buckle was firmly jammed - the red button on the "whatever you call it(!)" (anchor point?) that you plug the seatbelt into is refusing to depress and release the belt.

Mercifully by getting my girlfriend to help me open the roof, I was able to wiggle out of the belt and get free, and equally mercifully we were only 1/4 mile from home, so was able to drive home unsecured without risking life and limb.

But no amount of poking, prodding and/or insertion of flat blades into the buckle would release the damn thing so it is still sitting in my garage, belted up.

So:

(i) anyone have any bright ideas why this has happened or how to fix it?

(ii) if not fixable, is this anchor point thingummy a Z1-specific part or is it shared with an E30 or somesuch?

(iii) It looks like the seat needs removing to undo the mounting point and replace the anchor point (which appears to be attached by a large bolt/nut arrangement) - any pointers on whether seat removal is an easy DIY task (and if so, how)?

All advice gratefully received to restore the car back to usable order!

[BBZ149]

Just as well you did not need to get out of the car in an emergency.

[SCORPION]

Why have I got a Chuck Berry song rattling round my head after reading this ?

[felix]

Looks to be unique to the Z1 - perhaps £25 a side?

[Stoertie]

Looks to be unique to the Z1 - perhaps £25 a side?

It's called "Lower Strip", Parts-No. is: 72 11 2 291 413 and the price in February was € 35,69 incl. TAX in Germany...

BTW. the part is only useed in the Z1

best regards
Michael

[Jet]

I have a set of these, changed them last year as I didnt like the shade of Red on the button.

Yours if you want them.

[Racing Tortoise]

Awesome - thanks chaps.

Jet: if you've got one spare I can grab off you for a small consideration then that would be great.

Any hints on how to fit the bugger?

[Jet]

Awesome - thanks chaps.

Jet: if you've got one spare I can grab off you for a small consideration then that would be great.

Any hints on how to fit the bugger?

Deal. Its lemon squeezy, drop roof, place heavily padded very large soft non scratch material over the hood cover and boot, unbolt seat (4 rear and 2 front screws) lift out (carefully, mind the seat runners on your leather) and onto cushioning, undo anchor and replace. The only problem are those 2 torx shaped screws at the front, can be a b*tch as you cant see them, its all feel and touch. You have to use a 8/10mm small socket/ratchet, just loosen, do not remove.

You can collect from London Bridge Area.

[Holland Harry]

I have a set of these, changed them last year as I didnt like the shade of Red on the button.

Yours if you want them.

Nice idea Jetki! I will order them immediately with the number Stoertie gave for the BMW part. Any pics of the new beauties?

I will sent you the pics of my Zed tomorrow. Been very busy!

[benslick]

I also changed mine a couple of years ago Harry! New ones look much better!

[Racing Tortoise]

Cheers Jet, all fixed!

Turns out the seatbelt receiver can be removed from the seatbase and replaced without removing the seat from the car. It's a bit fiddly and the bolt was so tightly torqued that I could only loosen it by physically standing on the spanner, but it's do-able.

Took all of 40 mins, most of which was taken up with drilling the old receiver to get the buckle out after it became apparent that it wasn't going to "come easy".

Still none the wiser as to why it broke - I managed to get the buckle out but the receiver is still b*ggered.

[Green Genie]

Mercifully by getting my girlfriend to help me open the roof, I was able to wiggle out of the belt and get free

I presume you didn't have the hard top on at the time that could have proved tricky

GG