Seatbelts don't retract...MOT Failure surely...?

B

Beancounter1980

Active member
Hi guys,

hope you are all well...

I have an MOT coming up on the Z4. The seatbelts have never retracted fully, and truth be told if i fail because of the crap desgin i will be miffed! :evil:

Has anyone here failed because of them?
 
dunno about them not retracting... do they 'grab' if you pull them sharply? if not, then they'd probably be classed as being ineffective (after all, they won't stop you going moving if they don't grab when you need them to).
 
Dev said:
dunno about them not retracting... do they 'grab' if you pull them sharply? if not, then they'd probably be classed as being ineffective (after all, they won't stop you going moving if they don't grab when you need them to).
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To my knowledge they do "grab". But say someone takes the belt off and then exits the car. The seatbelt has never looped back into its original position..
 
I'm purely guessing, but I think you'll be ok. as long as they're 'effective' when you are seated in the car, and the belt/buckle are in good physical condition (no excessive fraying/cuts) then they shouldn't be a reason for an mot failure.

I know it's different, but a racing harness is manually adjusted and doesn't retract - and as far as I know, these are fine.
 
Beancounter1980 said:
Hi guys,

hope you are all well...

I have an MOT coming up on the Z4. The seatbelts have never retracted fully, and truth be told if i fail because of the crap desgin i will be miffed! :evil:

Has anyone here failed because of them?
Click to expand...

I never had this problem, however, there is a recall on the seat-belts, some kind of wiring update. Mine was done last week. I have a sDrive Z43.5i

You should call the dealer.
 
Here's a copy of the seat belt section from the MOT Testers Handbook;

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_510.htm
 
Not sure if it helps, but the E46 suffered badly from non retracting seat belt so try this.

Get some AG http://www.autoglym.com/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=HE&Range=1 stuff

Pull seatbelt right out and rub down with a damp cloth

Do this a few times in and out :P

Then apply this stuff and again pull in and out two or three times.

Basically you are cleaning the belt, as they get clogged up and dirty which causes them not to retract.

Cant hurt to try :)
 
Try moving the seat a little, you might find it runs better if you raise the seat or lean it forward. It can stick a little on the belt guide.
 
chris said:
Not sure if it helps, but the E46 suffered badly from non retracting seat belt so try this.

Get some AG http://www.autoglym.com/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=HE&Range=1 stuff

Pull seatbelt right out and rub down with a damp cloth

Do this a few times in and out :P

Then apply this stuff and again pull in and out two or three times.

Basically you are cleaning the belt, as they get clogged up and dirty which causes them not to retract.

Cant hurt to try :)
Click to expand...
Do this. My passenger one didn't retract at all at one stage. Pulling it all the way out, cleaning the bottom and adding some lubricant to it and winding it back in and it's exactly how it should be and has stayed that way for months and months.
 
Do you have a strap on wind deflector? When I had mine the way it was fixed originally meant that the seat belts didnt retract easily, but by refitting it so the belt when over the top rather than underneath the straps it was fine. I then upgraded to the honeycomb one!
 
DrNick said:
Do you have a strap on wind deflector? When I had mine the way it was fixed originally meant that the seat belts didnt retract easily, but by refitting it so the belt when over the top rather than underneath the straps it was fine. I then upgraded to the honeycomb one!
Click to expand...

I'm so glad you mentioned the words 'wind deflector'...

Sorry, couldn't resist :)
 
Beancounter1980 said:
Hi guys,

hope you are all well...

I have an MOT coming up on the Z4. The seatbelts have never retracted fully, and truth be told if i fail because of the crap desgin i will be miffed! :evil:

Has anyone here failed because of them?
Click to expand...

MOT FAILURE:.......

From the testers handbook:
5.
a. the locking mechanism of a seat belt does not secure or release the belt as intended
b. a retracting mechanism does not retract the webbing sufficiently to remove all the slack from the belt with the locking mechanism fastened and the seat unoccupied
 
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