Change in upper seat belt anchor point Service bulletin

[jgerock]

Another interesting thing (among many) that I found in the fantastic Technical bulletins in the History and Reference section is when BMW changed the upper seat belt anchor point from the horizontal point below the quarter window to the vertical point on the B pillar.  It provides the Chassis number change.

 

My May 69 2002 with Klippan brand seat belts (I assume these are the originals)

 

Many thanks to John H for adding all these bulletins to the archives.   They not only contain information on the 1600-2002 models, but the NK and e3/e9 models as well.  You have to browse thru them as they don't have an index. 

 

 

 

[Conserv]

On the 2002 front, VIN 2577467 was manufactured August 30, 1971. And VIN 2577554 was manufactured September 3, 1971. This certainly points to VIN 2577530 marking, at least approximately, the beginning of the U.S. 1972 model year.

 

On the tii front, however, VIN 2760048 was manufactured October 21, 1971, so it would appear that VIN 2760049 — the first with the relocated harness attachment point — was manufactured at approximately the same time, well after September 1. But those first 48 U.S.-spec tii’s (2760001 through 2760048) presumably have the earlier attachment point. Who can confirm this? Tom (Jones)?

 

Please keep reading, Jim!

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited December 18, 2018 by Conserv

[Flunder]

Had the same Klippan belts on my late 69 nbr 1667929 mounted in that same spot as on Jim's 69. The belts used the same plastic bolt cover and the the U shaped plastic hanger to stow the male end of the spaghetti belt when not in use. 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Flunder

[tjones02]

Well, 2760007 definitely had the “spaghetti” Klippan seatbelts with the big loop ring on the trans tunnel. The shoulder belt was mounted on the top section of the quarter panel below the quarter window. Also, These Klippans in 2760007 had a hook on the plastic bolt cover rather than the earlier seperate plastic clip screwed in front of the shoulder bolt, like seen in Jim’s ‘69.

 

I also happen to have worked on 2760048, Atlantic blue, and it had original carpets with evidence of the Klippan belts in the carpet on the trans tunnel and the quarter panels.

 

With the Klippan belts being such a struggle to keep straight and use, many people upgraded to inertia reel belts, my father included. We used to get the Quelle catalog from Germany, like a German Sears catalog back when it was good. Dad bought Romer Britax front inertia seat belts, swapped the quarter “door” panels from the ‘67 1600 he had at the time. And, also installed Romer Britax rear shoulder belts around the same time, in the early eighties... even a fifth seat belt, lap only though, for the rear center seating position.

 

Cheers, and hope this helps

•  

Edited December 20, 2018 by tjones02

[tjones02]

I dug this tidbit about 2760048’s seatbelts being originally spaghetti Klippan ones out of an earlier post I made on the FAQ. My memory was definitely fresher then.

 

”I also happen to have worked on 2760048, Atlantic blue, and it had original carpets with evidence of the Klippan belts in the carpet on the trans tunnel and the quarter panels.”

I’m sure @jgerock and @Conserv have read that tidbit before, but I thought it’d be a good idea to link it to this thread for ease of search. Maybe we can get @Greggotii to speak for the car as well.

 

Fingers crossed that 2760049 comes out of the woodwork too. ??

 

Cheers,

Tom

 

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by tjones02

[Conserv]

9 minutes ago, tjones02 said:

I dug this tidbit about 2760048’s seatbelts being originally spaghetti Klippan ones out of an earlier post I made on the FAQ. My memory was definitely fresher then.

 

”I also happen to have worked on 2760048, Atlantic blue, and it had original carpets with evidence of the Klippan belts in the carpet on the trans tunnel and the quarter panels.”

I’m sure @jgerock and @Conserv have read that tidbit before, but I thought it’d be a good idea to link it to this thread for ease of search. Maybe we can get @Greggotii to speak for the car as well.

 

Fingers crossed that 2760049 comes out of the woodwork too. ??

 

Cheers,

Tom

 

 

 

Yessss! Thanks, Tom, for writing down your observations!

 

OK, it may be a minor point, but finding a car that supports the documentary evidence is... damned nice! Hoping for VIN 2760049... ?

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Steve

 

[Son of Marty]

I would urge any members who have the low mount seat belt to move the mount to the b pillar mounting the low mount in a head on puts downward pressure on your spine while your right shoulder twists resulting in a torn disc and possibly a broken vertebrae all this is no fun and possibly life changing.

[tjones02]

47 minutes ago, Son of Marty said:

I would urge any members who have the low mount seat belt to move the mount to the b pillar mounting the low mount in a head on puts downward pressure on your spine while your right shoulder twists resulting in a torn disc and possibly a broken vertebrae all this is no fun and possibly life changing.

You’ll be happy to know that 2760007 has had inertia reels mounted to the b-pillar and three point belts in back since the early ‘80s. ??

[SydneyTii]

Out of interest, how long are these belts and how long are the pillar mounted belts?

[Conserv]

According to the documentary evidence, VIN 2760051 should have been originally equipped with the newer, high-mounted front harnesses, likely Autoflug retractors.

 

I believe we’re going to have to label VIN 2760051... inconclusive, with respect to front shoulder harness mounting locations. @02Leshad photos from 2013 eBay listings, which I show here. Although there is no evidence of upper mounting points below the rear quarter windows, the rear door cards could have been changed — I note that both front door cards are square taillight units now installed on a round taillight car — and the original retracting front seat belts appear to have been replaced with.... short female seat belts, mounted high on the B pillar... ? I’m guessing this two-point design is still in its “testing phase.” ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve