Droopy Seat Belts

[09mageec]

The car has 205k on it now, and is beginning to experience some sloppy belt retraction from what ever spring loaded assembly is behind the pillar, both driver and passenger sides. Has anyone ever fixed this or know how to go about doing it?

[slater]

i think i remember someone stating that they cleaned the belts with some product (can't remember - woolite, perhaps) and that helped.

[09mageec]

i think i remember someone stating that they cleaned the belts with some product (can't remember - woolite, perhaps) and that helped.
Reeeally, interesting...

[theothersawyer]

My driver side does the same thing!

[ryankokesh]

I heard that you clean them with windex. No idea why that might work, though.

I bet BP knows.

[09mageec]

My driver side does the same thing!
How annoying is it?? haha


I heard that you clean them with windex. No idea why that might work, though.
Maybe there there's a layer of dust on them, that gets baked on from heat in the summer months, causing friction within the assembly...

[rcwells]

I used Plexus on mine and it helped some, but I've been told that Pledge furniture polish works great. Pull it all the way out and wipe it really good with it as it retracts.

[09mageec]

Sounds like it makes sense, however, I don't want to risk getting the oil from that on my clothes.

[az3579]

I heard that you clean them with windex. No idea why that might work, though.

I bet BP knows.

Nope. I've been putting up with this issue with years. I can't be bothered to put the work in to disassemble my B pillar.

[fredo]

My driver's belt is doing the same. In the beginning (I bought car in Feb-2015) it kind of bothered me. But I'm used to it by now.

[az3579]

One way of looking at it is that if both fronts have the problem, it's probably a good thing. If someone else drives your car, there's way less of a chance that the person would damage your door trim by just letting go of the seatbelt and having it fly back with force. Same goes for passengers. Most non-car people won't pay any attention to your door trim, so if the seatbelt doesn't fly back, you don't have to worry about your door trim!

[09mageec]

One way of looking at it is that if both fronts have the problem, it's probably a good thing. If someone else drives your car, there's way less of a chance that the person would damage your door trim by just letting go of the seatbelt and having it fly back with force. Same goes for passengers. Most non-car people won't pay any attention to your door trim, so if the seatbelt doesn't fly back, you don't have to worry about your door trim!

This is true. However, anyone that's sitting shotgun knows me, and if someone knows me, they sure know how I am with this car, haha. Any passengers that misbehave know that its immediate grounds for the ejecto-seat to be deployed...

[az3579]

This is true. However, anyone that's sitting shotgun knows me, and if someone knows me, they sure know how I am with this car, haha. Any passengers that misbehave know that its immediate grounds for the ejecto-seat to be deployed...

Good luck explaining this to co-workers when you're going out to lunch... :(

[09mageec]

Ugh [emoji19]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[theothersawyer]

How annoying is it?? haha


It drives me insane!

[Oli77]

I remember us having a discussion about this several years ago but can't find the thread. Someone was saying that you have to be very careful what product you put on your belt (so it keeps its' integrity/strength) and I too remember woolite.

I did it at the time and it helped a lot.

[az3579]

I remember us having a discussion about this several years ago but can't find the thread. Someone was saying that you have to be very careful what product you put on your belt (so it keeps its' integrity/strength) and I too remember woolite.

I did it at the time and it helped a lot.
It's not a matter of cleaning the belt per se, though you should do that as well. You have to take out the retractor assembly and clean it.

Sent from my LG V10 on Tapatalk

[09mageec]

This is what i'm thinking of doing this weekend BP. On a side note, anyone know if Autozone/AdvanceAuto carries non-marring pry tools, or know who carries them in store? I want to do my auxiliary unit this weekend and I would prefer not to have to order a set just yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[az3579]

This is what i'm thinking of doing this weekend BP. On a side note, anyone know if Autozone/AdvanceAuto carries non-marring pry tools, or know who carries them in store? I want to do my auxiliary unit this weekend and I would prefer not to have to order a set just yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Harbor Freight has them - a set is like $5-6.

[09mageec]

PERFECT!! There is a Harbor Freight right down the road. I dont know why I didnt think of that! Thanks BP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[az3579]

PERFECT!! There is a Harbor Freight right down the road. I dont know why I didnt think of that! Thanks BP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If yours doesn't stock it locally, I know for a fact that the one in Bridgeport does. That's where I got my set.

[ELCID86]

PERFECT!! There is a Harbor Freight right down the road. I dont know why I didnt think of that! Thanks BP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Take the coupon!

[09mageec]

Take the coupon!

Where can I find it? Although I doubt that I'd be able to use it on a pry tool that costs less than $10 :/
Or maybe I just need more tools! Haha

[ELCID86]

Oh you need more! I get them in the mail and they are in about any car magazine. Usually a free flashlight or multimeter or 20% off.

[az3579]

Where can I find it? Although I doubt that I'd be able to use it on a pry tool that costs less than $10 :/
Or maybe I just need more tools! Haha

Even if they were $10 (double the price of what I bought mine for), $10 is definitely a "who cares" kind of price. :)

[ELCID86]

Other options.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/5a41004fa5bb7110ea834428d1178700.jpg

[09mageec]

Even if they were $10 (double the price of what I bought mine for), $10 is definitely a "who cares" kind of price. :)

I'm sayin! This is me doing everything in my ability to walk into a tool store, and proceed to walk out with one small pry tool in a plastic bag [emoji38]

[09mageec]

Other options.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160413/5a41004fa5bb7110ea834428d1178700.jpg

Yeah, I looked everywhere, but I wanted to snag something tomorrow to get the DIY done... The weather up here in CT is finally supposed to warm up this week/weekend and I want to have the car ready for some windows down, light tunes action!

[ELCID86]

Watch those saggy c-pillars with the windows down (if yours are bad that will make them worse).

[09mageec]

Haha, they've been removed already, last spring. I'm a windows down guy as soon as its 55°+ and they were driving me nuts..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[az3579]

I'm sayin! This is me doing everything in my ability to walk into a tool store, and proceed to walk out with one small pry tool in a plastic bag [emoji38]

One??? Child's play. You get a whole set for that $5 or $6. :biggrin

[09mageec]

Badass!!! Harbor Freight FTW


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[russiamutha]

Just a fair warning, you will likely break clip area of B-pillar covers when you remove them. Clean the belt with simple green or soap water and clean/re-grease spring mechanism. Alternatively you can grab another assembly from your local junk yard or eBay. I do have assemblies from 04 M3, if part numbers match - feel free to PM me and it's yours for free as long you pay for shipping.