Z3 Sealt Belt Guide Repair

Nifty Fifty

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Points
74
Location
Wylye
Model of Z
2.0
I have a few irritating jobs that I wanted to get sorted before I tax the Z for spring.

So I have taken a few days off to make a start;
Drivers door card replacement - existing one is started to delaminate
Centre console rebuild after hydro dipped.
Replace the centre storage bin
Seat bushes
New gear knob
Seat belt guides

image.jpg

So I started with seat belt guides this afternoon, I can honestly say what a bloody work up! But as they say practice makes perfect. I only have done the drivers seat, passenger seat tomorrow.
I looked at the guide in the technical section on the forum and would honestly say that looks more suited for the sport seats that have no guides fitted.
I have the standard Z3 with guides fitted and the usual problem of them having snapped.
I purchased new ones from Sopers about £17 each.

The drivers seat is the worst as it had been completly butchered by the previous owner and having dismantled the covers it transpired the repair consisted of a redi drive cavity wall fixing, an inch wood screw and plenty of sticks like s*** mastic! And super glue. A complete mess and bugged me every time I got the car!
image.jpg

image.jpg

With the seat on the bench the seat cover does not have zip at the rear but is held together with a snap together fastener, this just pulls apart. Then remove the 2 x black plastic push in buttons that hold the plastic back panel and pull this panel downwards to remove.
Remove the 2 x metal clips that hold the sponge seat to the frame, then remove the sponge section in the head rest and the whole seat cover can be pulled upwards and off the frame.

image.jpg

image.jpg

The new seat belt guide comprises of guide, backing plate and push on lock washers. The backing plate I think is for seats that do not have guides already fitted as I found my seats had one of these already sewn in and if you used the new backing plate the push on washers will not fit. However I did find these push on lock washers were a real pain in the backside and hard to fit as the top one is right up in the head rest section and hard to get at.

image.jpg

image.jpg

After cleaning all the mastic off the best I could and fitting the new guide the fitting was the reversal and more than happy with the results. Other seat tomorrow ! Overall it took a good couple of hours and a tea break to calm down as its a real painful job.

Final result - shame I have little white patch where the previous super glue peeled off, but still very happy and 100% better than when I started.

image.jpg

Seat bushes tomorrow as the seats are out.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Well done Andy, you could have lot's new mates very soon.;);)

Tony.
 
Z

zedonist

Guest
Good work nifty, yes my guide was done on //Mcoupe seats which never had guides, and you do need slim fingers to get that top star lock washer. You can buy the correct colour leather paint to touch up the White patch, I believe the company is scuff masters.

Can you advise where you had your hydro dipping done please?
 

Nifty Fifty

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Points
74
Location
Wylye
Model of Z
2.0
Good work nifty, yes my guide was done on //Mcoupe seats which never had guides, and you do need slim fingers to get that top star lock washer. You can buy the correct colour leather paint to touch up the White patch, I believe the company is scuff masters.

Can you advise where you had your hydro dipping done please?
I took your advice on a previous thread after I tried vinyl wrapping which looked awful. The company I used was, The Dip Shop in Poole, Dorset. There was a bit of a storey, un be known to me when I initially took the console in that they were going through some internal issues and they had the bits for nearly ten weeks without doing any work and I was not too impressed but they were very keen to do the job as it was so intricate for them and nothing like it had been done before, they soon got themselves sorted out and done works for free as they were grateful for my patience. I must admit I know it's not to every ones taste but I was really pleased with the results and having got some new door cards today will be having a couple more bits done next week to match.
I will post up the refitted centre console this weekend after I finish sorting out the seats.

They do have a web site, initially it was Dorset hydrographics but if you type in the dip shop, Dorset it should come up.
 

Nifty Fifty

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Points
74
Location
Wylye
Model of Z
2.0
Well done Andy, you could have lot's new mates very soon.;);)

Tony.
Tony, I will certainly be keeping my head down on this one!
This is one of those jobs you do not what to be doing too often as you have to have the patience of a saint and if like me I have very little, that's why I have to keep walking away and find the excuse for another tea break!

it really is a poor design by BMW.
Andy
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Points
226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
I have a few irritating jobs that I wanted to get sorted before I tax the Z for spring.

So I have taken a few days off to make a start;
Drivers door card replacement - existing one is started to delaminate
Centre console rebuild after hydro dipped.
Replace the centre storage bin
Seat bushes
New gear knob
Seat belt guides

View attachment 13408

So I started with seat belt guides this afternoon, I can honestly say what a bloody work up! But as they say practice makes perfect. I only have done the drivers seat, passenger seat tomorrow.
I looked at the guide in the technical section on the forum and would honestly say that looks more suited for the sport seats that have no guides fitted.
I have the standard Z3 with guides fitted and the usual problem of them having snapped.
I purchased new ones from Sopers about £17 each.

The drivers seat is the worst as it had been completly butchered by the previous owner and having dismantled the covers it transpired the repair consisted of a redi drive cavity wall fixing, an inch wood screw and plenty of sticks like s*** mastic! And super glue. A complete mess and bugged me every time I got the car!
View attachment 13411

View attachment 13409

With the seat on the bench the seat cover does not have zip at the rear but is held together with a snap together fastener, this just pulls apart. Then remove the 2 x black plastic push in buttons that hold the plastic back panel and pull this panel downwards to remove.
Remove the 2 x metal clips that hold the sponge seat to the frame, then remove the sponge section in the head rest and the whole seat cover can be pulled upwards and off the frame.

View attachment 13412

View attachment 13413

The new seat belt guide comprises of guide, backing plate and push on lock washers. The backing plate I think is for seats that do not have guides already fitted as I found my seats had one of these already sewn in and if you used the new backing plate the push on washers will not fit. However I did find these push on lock washers were a real pain in the backside and hard to fit as the top one is right up in the head rest section and hard to get at.

View attachment 13414

View attachment 13415

After cleaning all the mastic off the best I could and fitting the new guide the fitting was the reversal and more than happy with the results. Other seat tomorrow ! Overall it took a good couple of hours and a tea break to calm down as its a real painful job.

Final result - shame I have little white patch where the previous super glue peeled off, but still very happy and 100% better than when I started.

View attachment 13416

Seat bushes tomorrow as the seats are out.
I bought these from Barry (Southernboy). There a doddle to fit to either already snapped guides which mine are to knit them together or to put to new ones to stop them from snapping. They weren't expensive and in my view worth every penny. ;)
Screenshot_2015-03-13-08-26-47.png
 
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