Flipped seat belt?

xdriv3 · 02-02-2023, 06:35 PM

**Pics uploading flipped -- I'm unable to fix it on my end -- my apologies in advance!**

Hoping for some input---

I just noticed that my rear passenger seat belt appears to be twisted.

I was able to fully pull and retract the seat belt without issues. The retractor works fine. I checked the bottom portion of the belt that's bolted to the seat portion -- nothing is twisted there.

The buckle itself is not something that can be twisted into the wrong position either -- the small slot is rather narrow and too slim to allow the belt to twist.

I've attached some pics for comparison. If you look at the small plastic circle that keeps the buckle in place --- the tongue seems to be resting on the right side (front and rear circle plastic piece on the belt is oriented the same way on both sides.

I brought my car to the dealer inquiring this but they stated that I could be subjected to a diagnostic charge. I'm thinking this is a manufacturer defect --- I can't imagine how the buckle was flipped on the wrong side. Even if I can flip it (I know the trick to do it..as I do it for my kids car seat buckle all the time).. I don't think it would fix the orientation of the belt. In other words, the belt will always be twisted.

Any thoughts?

aka Hootie · 02-02-2023, 07:12 PM

I have had that happen before in a Lexus I owned years ago. It happened after I bought the car. I was able to play around with it, folding the belt and moving the buckle to get it back to the other side.

TurtleBoy · 02-02-2023, 07:15 PM

If you can't untwist it taking the entire belt out then it looks like it was twisted when they installed. Tell the dealer you aren't interested in paying a diagnostic fee, you just want them to fix the issue under warranty.

c_hri_s · 02-03-2023, 06:45 AM

What if you pull it all the way out, then twist the belt before it retracts (so it goes onto the spool with a twist in it). As your kids will never completely pull the belt out, it'll stay that way.

But yes, if it's under warranty then I'd be down insisting that they don't need to diagnose something that you can see with your eyes in 30 seconds.

Tejas1836 · 02-03-2023, 07:40 AM

I've fixed this many times on other vehicles, just takes a little patience. You can fold the belt on itself in the seatbelt clasp slot to turn it around. Very tight, goes slowly but I've never not been able to fix it.

skyline408 · 02-03-2023, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

I've fixed this many times on other vehicles, just takes a little patience. You can fold the belt on itself in the seatbelt clasp slot to turn it around. Very tight, goes slowly but I've never not been able to fix it.

If you look at the actual belt, it was reversed mounted at the bottom. Flipping the buckle won't fix this. It was actually assembled incorrectly.

dan1495 · 02-03-2023, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyline408

If you look at the actual belt, it was reversed mounted at the bottom. Flipping the buckle won't fix this. It was actually assembled incorrectly.

This is interesting to me and confirms an issue I’m having with my M440i. I’ve tried twisting the belt as described in prior posts but it still always ended up twisted. I finally figured out that was my problem as well. I thought I was crazy.

Tejas1836 · 02-03-2023, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyline408

If you look at the actual belt, it was reversed mounted at the bottom. Flipping the buckle won't fix this. It was actually assembled incorrectly.

Looks OK at the bottom, may be twisted in the roller, need to pull it all the way out

skyline408 · 02-03-2023, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

Looks OK at the bottom, may be twisted in the roller, need to pull it all the way out

I don't think it's the roller that's twisted. Seatbelts are designed to not roll up when it's twisted at the top. It will stop rolling up.

xdriv3 · 09-28-2023, 08:34 PM

Bumping this thread --- finally had time to bring it in and the service center told me it's not covered under warranty. They told me its from use that caused the belt to flip.. I have no idea how. Needless to say, I left it at that as they say they would charge me to disassemble and fix.

Should I bring it back in to the same dealer a second time while there an oil change [hoping another tech/service advisor would look at it] or should I bring it to another dealership? The SA told me that he checked w/ the manager and he wouldn't budge. Since I "didn't buy the vehicle from them" they couldn't do any goodwill for me.

Honestly, if it's a manufacturer defect --- I am offended by them suggesting that since I didn't buy the car from them - they wouldn't help me.

Is this something that can be escalated up to BMW corporate?

02-02-2023, 06:35 PM	#1
xdriv3 Private 14 Rep 54 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Flipped seat belt? Pics uploading flipped -- I'm unable to fix it on my end -- my apologies in advance! Hoping for some input--- I just noticed that my rear passenger seat belt appears to be twisted. I was able to fully pull and retract the seat belt without issues. The retractor works fine. I checked the bottom portion of the belt that's bolted to the seat portion -- nothing is twisted there. The buckle itself is not something that can be twisted into the wrong position either -- the small slot is rather narrow and too slim to allow the belt to twist. I've attached some pics for comparison. If you look at the small plastic circle that keeps the buckle in place --- the tongue seems to be resting on the right side (front and rear circle plastic piece on the belt is oriented the same way on both sides. I brought my car to the dealer inquiring this but they stated that I could be subjected to a diagnostic charge. I'm thinking this is a manufacturer defect --- I can't imagine how the buckle was flipped on the wrong side. Even if I can flip it (I know the trick to do it..as I do it for my kids car seat buckle all the time).. I don't think it would fix the orientation of the belt. In other words, the belt will always be twisted. Any thoughts? Attached Images
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02-02-2023, 07:12 PM	#2
aka Hootie Private First Class 49 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 SS/BLK, 2023 X5 45e Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: East Coast iTrader: (1)	I have had that happen before in a Lexus I owned years ago. It happened after I bought the car. I was able to play around with it, folding the belt and moving the buckle to get it back to the other side.
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02-02-2023, 07:15 PM	#3
TurtleBoy General 13266 Rep 19,785 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i,2021 M340i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	If you can't untwist it taking the entire belt out then it looks like it was twisted when they installed. Tell the dealer you aren't interested in paying a diagnostic fee, you just want them to fix the issue under warranty. __________________ 2021 BMW G20 M340i xDrive - Verde Ermes/Black - 03/2024.40 2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i - Phytonic Blue/Cognac - 11/2023.50
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02-03-2023, 06:45 AM	#4
c_hri_s Private First Class 39 Rep 123 Posts Drives: BMW X5 (G05) Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	What if you pull it all the way out, then twist the belt before it retracts (so it goes onto the spool with a twist in it). As your kids will never completely pull the belt out, it'll stay that way. But yes, if it's under warranty then I'd be down insisting that they don't need to diagnose something that you can see with your eyes in 30 seconds.
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02-03-2023, 07:40 AM	#5
Tejas1836 Captain 996 Rep 825 Posts Drives: 2023 X5MC Workmaster 75 Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Tejas iTrader: (0)	I've fixed this many times on other vehicles, just takes a little patience. You can fold the belt on itself in the seatbelt clasp slot to turn it around. Very tight, goes slowly but I've never not been able to fix it. __________________ Two is One and One is None
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09-28-2023, 08:34 PM	#10
xdriv3 Private 14 Rep 54 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Bumping this thread --- finally had time to bring it in and the service center told me it's not covered under warranty. They told me its from use that caused the belt to flip.. I have no idea how. Needless to say, I left it at that as they say they would charge me to disassemble and fix. Should I bring it back in to the same dealer a second time while there an oil change [hoping another tech/service advisor would look at it] or should I bring it to another dealership? The SA told me that he checked w/ the manager and he wouldn't budge. Since I "didn't buy the vehicle from them" they couldn't do any goodwill for me. Honestly, if it's a manufacturer defect --- I am offended by them suggesting that since I didn't buy the car from them - they wouldn't help me. Is this something that can be escalated up to BMW corporate?
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