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