3 Point Seat Belt

[Pawel66]

Another interesting topic I found in this sales leaflet is how the 3 point seat belt looked like. I was recreating my 3 point seat belts (I had grey ones, I could not find grey ones anywhere) and I used the metal length regulating buckle. Took me a lot of time to find one. I saw on all pictures I could find that there was a metal one used.

Here it comes on the leaflet picture - a black regulating buckle, looking like a plastic covered one... .

Pawel

[Jonny B]

There are several kinds of seat belts that have been typed about on the site. You should be able to use the search function (use the one that is fourth from the left on the main screen, not the one at the top right - the main search function will search the entire forum). The black plastic ones have a magnetic latch.

[Pawel66]

Jonny,

After the last couple of years I think I am a Master in Search Function .

Thanks for suggestion.

On seatbelts: I have just refurbished a pair, as in factory specs my upholstery comes wth grey belts, which I could not find. My only surprise was the length regulator coverd with plastic, not the main magnetic buckle.

Pawel

[Jonny B]

Good deal, Search Master! I like it!

Can you post a photo of the belts? I am curious to understand what you have.

[Pawel66]

Yeah - on our Forum you'd better make sure you do the search before you ask a question or otherwise you'd hear...  .

Sure, will do - when I get to the garage over the weekend.

I had the retractable Kangols - nice and new, but my wife told me she wanted them for her 190SL...

I bought old worn two point belts that had buckles in good shape and I just asked seat belt producing factory near Warsaw to replace the webbing with grey one and fit the length regulator to make them 3 point. So they are not all original, but they look decent, I think. I do not have them fitted in the car yet.

I did not know that the length regulator could be plastic coated - all those I have seen were just bear metal...

Pawel

[scoot]

The pic on the left shows some lady using a Kangol 3 point NOT retractable seat belt.  This is the most common for of 3 point seat belt on 60s Mercedes in the United states.  They are british.  If you have questions about them, I'm a "Kangol guy" and used to sell restored sets. 

I think they fit rather poorly in a Pagoda because of the position of the shoulder anchor, but I don't think any other belt would be better for the same reason.

People put retractable belts in Pagodas and I think they look crappy because of the modern giant plastic receiver  that says "PUSH" on it.  But that's what Mercedes went to around 1970 or 1971....

[Pawel66]

Scott, thank you!

Yes, I know - and what I made for my car is 3point not retractable belts, looking like those on the picture, just with length regulator in bear metal (as this is what I have seen everywhere) and grey webbing as per factory specs for upholstery 245.

There were retractable Kangols (I guess early 70-ties, Kangol Inertia reflex or some similar name) sold on e-bay UK with magnetic buckles exactly same type as the non-retractable Kangols that were fitted in our cars. They look great and stylish. This is what my wife took from me  . See the ebay picture.

Yes, the upper point is not comfortable. On e-bay DE you could buy a fitting somebody made that goes on headrests supports and holds the belt a bit above the backrest of the chair. It is made of chrome metal bar and looks quite nice. It is then easy to grab the belt with your hand to place it on you. See the picture - not of my car, I have a different belt obviously, this is the ebay picture.

Pawel

[scoot]

The retractable Kangols with the magnetic clasp is very rare, at least in the United States.  I think those are wonderful and I've never seen them in person, only read about them.

The belt holder connected to headrest looks very functional.  Nice.

Scott

[Pawel66]

Thank you!

They are on ebay. Quite expensive, but rare, as you say...

[Tyler S]

I bought and installed the Kangol retractable belts in my 250sl to replace the lap only belts. They are a bit finicky but do look the part. I temporarily mounted the retractor spool behind the seat using the existing threaded hole. I am planning on moving it under the parcel shelf in the near future in order to get the leg room back from the inability to move the seat all the way back (I'm 6'0").
The only drawback is the tension the belt exerts on my shoulder can be a little uncomfortable. But I do feel a wee bit safer and I am able to lean foreword. That you cannot do with the fixed 3 point belts. Headrests are next on the agenda.

[Dave H]

The Kangol reflex inertia belts are on sale on e bay now. Same seller as when i bought mine 3 years ago but a bit more expensive.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kangol-Reflex-Inertia-Reel-Seat-Belt-Classic-Car-Seat-belt-/142142065160?hash=item211853ca08

[Pawel66]

Dave, yes, the price on ebay went up...

I did mine exactly the same way as you did, just used stainless steel bar to move the roller up and bent it towards the trunk a bit - enough to make some more space for the chair travel, but not too much not to prevent the roller lock from working properly. I lost about 1-2cm of chair travel. A colleague in our club in Poland did it the way you are planning on doing and it works and fits great. it was just about making a stronger anchor point with a nut in the chassis and making a bit of a passage on the edge of the wooden floor (taking 2-3mm of wood on the distance of 6-7cm on the edge).

Yes, there is abit of tension you feel on your shoulder, especially on longer drives. Belt holder helps ease it a bit. The roller also makes some noise when you pull the webbing - but this I found quite funny rather than irritating. But feeling of safety is much much greater.

[scoot]

That's a really good price IMO.

[kiheimatt]

Hi Tyler S.

Did you by chance take any pictures of the upper seatbelt attachment point you made?

I'm trying to add 3-points, and my car did not come with them.

[scoot]

Hi Tyler S.

Did you by chance take any pictures of the upper seatbelt attachment point you made?

I'm trying to add 3-points, and my car did not come with them.

My understanding is all of the cars have the shoulder attachment point.  It is just upholstered over.

[Tyler S]

Scott is correct. There will either be a plastic plug filling the hole or it is covered by upholstery. It will be somewhat center in the triangle looking area of the b pillar about an inch from the top.

[Pawel66]

I promised pictures of the static 3 point Kangols I had to refurbish when my wife took the retractable Kangols from me... I made them grey, as per factory specs for my upholstery. I was looking for length regulators that look similar to those I thought should be fitted, until I spotted the MB leaflet picture I attached to may post above.

So on the pictures are refurbished Kangol belts.