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Adding shoulder belt to rear center

5K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  dmax 
#1 ·
My '99 doesn't have a shoulder belt for rear center, and that means I can't always drive my kids with a friend, because me, I don't think lap belt alone is safe enough to drive up the Turnpike into NYC, for instance.

Anyway, did the search a couple years ago and thought I'd revive it...anyone figure out a way, parts, etc. to add a shoulder belt to the rear center of a '99 E46 (328i)...I believe the 2000 had that...maybe that part in my car?

Any help would be great!

Doug
 
#3 ·
Thanks very much! It's funny, I wouldn't have thought that they'd make and sell the actual kit itself! A new part...probably prompted by the new laws requiring all cars from when, 2008, all have rear center shoulder belt.

I'm not sure about mounting either, but they do have the same kit listed when I searched for my '99. Will have to make some calls to make sure, but thanks so much...though now, my wife might have to sit next to me (fortunately, I'm deaf in my right ear!) LOL

D
 
#4 ·
I was interested in doing the same thing for the same reason. I got a center shoulder harness from a junk yard. I havn't figured out how and where to cut the hole in the rear deck. The reel is mounted under the deck with one bolt. You should have the treaded portion already under your deck.
 
#5 ·
I just looked at my harness and now i'm confused. The end looks like it snaps in to something like a buckle. Instead of bolting to the existing anchor. I may have to go back to the junk yard. looks like It can detach from the seat and snap into a holder mounted on the rear deck.
 
#6 ·
Well, Black, I'll pay attention, wish you the best of luck, and hope that you succeed and pass along any tips to us!

I'm friendly with the parts guy at local dealership, so will probably call him soon.

Here's the link for my '99 seat belt retrofit...you might be able to get some of the parts you're missing...though I also know there have been times you have to buy more parts than you want to get what you need.

There are some weird notes that I haven't figured out what they mean...but I do know there's a threaded attachment point in the center deck of mine and think that'll come into play.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AM53&mospid=47723&btnr=72_0414&hg=72&fg=95
 
#7 ·
Black,

It sounds, maybe, like you've got the piece that allows you to add the shoulder belt to the lap belt, not add the entire 'one-piece' shoulder/lap belt. Our subaru has something like that in the center rear, so when dropping down rear seat, the shoulder portion doesn't interfere. If it was permanently attached, it wouldn't allow.

D
 
#9 ·
rear center shoulder belt installed in '99 328i

Well, I figured out how to do it. Three hours, $110 or so in parts.

Write if you have any issues.

Only issue I had was belt was as described above...it buckled into lower seat belt buckle and then also to the buckle at right side of center. I wanted one like the diagram above, but suspect BMW made it with lower little buckle so it'd be easier to get rear seat back in...don't know for sure...but I have lap belt in center now and will only allow short people to sit there because I did not add head rest.

D
 
#12 ·
Got to say that I'm quite confident I can tighten bolts as well as the guys in the factory. Two large bolts are all that's needed, along with cutting a slot through back shelf--parts are BMW--so, nothing personal, Kubica, but I have complete trust in my DIY. Hope you're not the Kubica driving a BMW in F1, but if you are, I'd let you drive my car while I'm buckled in the rear center!
 
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