engine and drivetrain TRIVIA CHALLENGE with a story

[dangerous]

hi Folks,

I am calling this a trivia challenge but it's actually a bit more than that. I am on a bit of a quest and decided to see if I could tap into the knowledge resources you posses. I stumbled onto what appears to be a very rare part some years ago and now I cannot find any reference or indication that it ever existed.

Here's the Story-

Once upon a time...

I was in the military stationed in Okinawa Japan around 1992 and I bought a non-running rusted out old 1974 BMW 520i. It was a European spec car and all of the instrumentation was in German. I am 99% sure I can dig up the VIN BTW. It had a mech. FI 4 cyl which appears to have been pretty much the same as the 2002 tii setup. I just tinkered with the car and eventually donated it to local high school autoshop program. I did keep a few misc. parts from the car though.

One of the things I retained was a pair of very unusual seat belts. I had never seen them before and thought I might like to use them again one day. They were in my brother's possession when his future ex-wife found them in a box and threw them into the trash (I still hate that witch). I'd like to find another set if possible now that I have 4 2002s to play with.

The belts.

They were non-retractable belts that had no lap belt. The low point connected to the transmission tunnel and the high point attached over the shoulder on the pillar. The unique thing about them was they were magnetic. There was a flat chrome metal hook and a black plastic cover with a hinge. the cover had a BMW emblem on it and inside there was a magnet that attracted the flat metal hook. The hook fit around the curved heel of the hinged cover which when lifted, would push the metal hook away from the magnet and release. The magnet only held the hook in place. The hook and heel of the cover provided the restraint of the belt. Hopefully this description will help, otherwise I may try to draw it and upload a scan.

I have checked the BMW factory parts catalog and have searched the internet and forums for years trying to find a part number of some indication that this belt did actually exist. It has so far alluded me. It's not a particularly useful belt, but it is unique and I'd like to find a pair if possible, or at least just put my quest to rest.

If anyone can provide any information about these belts, or even help me acquire another set, I will be inclined to reward that person in some way that would certainly be worthwhile. Perhaps some needed parts, who knows, but I'll find something you want or need.

has anyone ever heard of such a seat belt?

Thanks

Eddie

[ArdenK]

It sounds like you are describing the Klippan style belts in my 71 02. I doubt they would be much good in a crash. I'll take a close up pic this weekend of mine. Check the link below for other pics.

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,50/page,viewtopic/t,326832/

[dangerous]

Thanks for the reply ArdenK

I looked at the link you posted. The belts I am searching for are different, I probably should take a stab at drawing a picture of the clasp & hook.

I would agree with you completely though, my long lost belts are probably terrible in terms of safety use. Non-retractable shoulder belt with no lap belt is not a very good design. This isn't really the point though. I'm looking for these things primarily for novelty reasons and just to satisfy my curiosity rather than practical use.

I'm starting to wonder if perhaps these belts were a Japan only sort of thing. I saw some odd stuff over there. I wish I knew someone with an affiliation with a vintage BMW club in Japan.

[TobyB]

I've seen those before- the magnet actually just holds the clip

'over center' so it can't pop open- the geometry of the metal

really does the retaining, right?

I don't remember WHERE I saw them, though...

t

[Mike Self]

cars between the spaghetti belts of the 68-70 cars and the inertia reels starting with the 72s...I've never seen US cars with a seat belt tuhus described--with a magnet. Gotta be for a local market somewhere, definitley not USA... and I don't remember 'em in the parts book either.

cheers

mike

[dangerous]

YES!!! That's exactly right!!!

TobyB!!! You did see 'em!!

Jeez, I'm not crazy after all

Toby, you are the only person I've found who has seen these things

[dangerous]

Mike

My research showed the same. No indication of these things anywhere in the U.S. not even in the older models. I lived in Germany for 6 years too and never saw them there either, but then again there weren't a lot of vintage BMWs where I was.

[tjones02]

I believe that a 2002tii touring I work on here in Sacramento owned by a fellow Willy Yee has these belts. Next time I see the car I will confirm and take pictures. I have known the car for many many years and recently have had the honor of being it's mechanic.

Let me see if I can dig up a picture of the car....

hold on....

searching folders.....

Ah there it is....

I will check out the seatbelts again when I see it next.

[TobyB]

I'm thinkin' it was inna S2 Jag E-type coupe...

I remember because the magnets had picked up some iron filings

and I thought, 'wow, if they pick up something with any real heft to

it, the seatbelt will feel latched- but will pop open under load...'

t

[dangerous]

Tom

Thanks Tom, I'll keep my fingers crossed. If you do get that photo, you can email me at eddie119@yahoo.com just in case it's a while before you see the car again. Beautiful car by the way, please convey my compliments to the owner.

[dangerous]

I'm thinkin' it was inna S2 Jag E-type coupe...

I remember because the magnets had picked up some iron filings

and I thought, 'wow, if they pick up something with any real heft to

it, the seatbelt will feel latched- but will pop open under load...'

t

Not the best design by far. some may say not even a particularly good design. They are unique though, and I found them interesting. I liked the simplicity of the design, minimal moving parts, no springs or buttons. I am design aficionado and enjoy seeing things like this.

I'd like to know a little more about them.

[tjones02]

Willy Yee stopped by the shop and I took these photos of the magnetic seatbelts in his 2000Tii Touring....

[dangerous]

I can't believe it. Those are the belts! Been searching for those for over a decade. Now that I have found at least one other car that has had them, the next step is to find a set for sale. Any idea where this car was imported from? Anyone know what these are called? Part number maybe?

Tom, you're awesome. Most people would just forget about the subject and never follow up. One of these days I've gotta take you out for lunch.

The first real progress of the quest in over 10 years!!!

[FunElan]

My dad has lap belts with those magnetic ends in his Lotus! They've probably been there since new.

[dangerous]

no kidding? What model? Is it a euro spec car? Any idea what the proper name for that belt system is?