Removing and Installing/Replacing Front Seat Belt

72 11 030 - Removing and installing or replacing front seat belt





Special tools required:
- 52 0 050 Tools and Equipment





Important!
Read and comply with safety regulations for handling airbag modules and pyrotechnical belt tensioners.

Inexpert handling can trigger off the airbag or the belt pretensioner and thereby cause injuries.

If a seat belt which is damaged due to an accident is exchanged, always check the affected seat for damage.





Necessary preliminary tasks:
- Remove front seat Front Seat, Normal, Electric
- Remove and install rear panel Removing and Installing/Replacing Rear Panel on Left or Right Front Seat Backrest (Normal/Manual) on front seat
- Remove and install rear left or right cover Removing and Installing/Replacing Outer Covers on Left or Right Front Seat (over coupling gear).





Important!
Do not detach coupling gear from flex shaft.

If a new belt system is fitted, always use a new coupling gear.

If a new coupling gear is fitted, always replace the top belt.





Note:
If a seat belt which is damaged due to an accident is exchanged, always check the retaining bracket of the belt tensioner on the seat runner for damage and replace if necessary.

A bent seatbelt tensioner retaining bracket on the seat runner may make it impossible to adjust the height of the seat!





Removing belt tensioner:

Unlock airbag plug connection Unlocking/Locking Airbag Plug Connections.

Disconnect plug for pyrotechnical belt tensioner (2).

Remove cable holder with cable (3).

Release screw (1) and remove pyrotechnical belt tensioner.

Installation:
Replace microencapsulated screw.

E46: - Tightening torque 72 11 01AZ.
E64: - Tightening torque 72 11 06AZ [1][2]Seat Belt Systems.





Installation Note:
Pin for turning lock (3) must extend into bore hole (1).

Retaining screw of belt tensioner is inserted in bore hole (2).





Installation Note:
Pin of belt tensioner must snap into place in bore hole of cable holder.

Make sure cable holder is correctly engaged.

Plug of pyrotechnical belt tensioner must not be under strain.





Checking/replacing retaining bracket of pyrotechnical belt tensioner:

Check retaining bracket (1) of pyrotechnical belt tensioner on seat runner for damage (bending), replace if necessary.

Repair kit, refer to BMW Parts Service.

To replace retaining bracket, release screw (2) and remove retaining bracket (1).

E46: Tightening torque 72 11 8AZ.





Note:
The operation Removing and installing belt tensioner ends here.





Removing inertia reel with flex shaft and coupling gear:

Release screw.

Installation Note:
Replace microencapsulated screw.

E46: - Tightening torque 72 11 11AZ.
E64: - Tightening torque 72 11 05AZ [1][2]Seat Belt Systems.

Remove end fitting.





Installation Note:
Plastic washer on end fitting must be fitted!

Coding of end fitting (lug) must run into bore hole on seat.





Release screws (1...2) of coupling gear and unclip cable from guides.

E46: - Tightening torque 72 11 18AZ.
E64: - Tightening torque 72 11 07AZ [1][2]Seat Belt Systems.





Note:
Replace driver (1) after removal with a new component as damage cannot be excluded.

When removing driver (1), ensure guide (3) and lever (2) of coupling gear are not damaged.

Remove driver (1) from backrest shaft.





Installation Note:
Do not fit new driver (1) on backrest shaft yet.

Backrest must be in as vertical a position as possible.

Driver (1) and lug are positioned at an angle towards top in direction of travel (arrow).





Installation Note:
Feed driver (1) into slot (3) in lever (2) of coupling gear.

Align lever (2) on coupling gear so that slot (3) is correctly positioned with respect to driver (1).





Installation Note:
Pin on coupling gear must reach into hole in seat.





Installation Note:
Make sure groove and pin are correctly positioned.

Clip flex shaft (1) into place with coupling gear (2).

Ensure complete engagement by pulling gently on flex shaft. Flex shaft must not clip out here!





Unclip flex shaft (3) from guides (1...2).

To remove flex shaft, open retainer on seat cover if necessary.

Installation Note:
If necessary, lock new retainers by bending with special tool 52 0 050 Tools and Equipment.





Release nut on inertia reel and remove inertia reel with flex shaft and coupling gear.

Installation Note:
Replace microencapsulated nut.

E46: - Tightening torque 72 11 17AZ.
E64: - Tightening torque 72 11 01AZ [1][2]Seat Belt Systems.





Installation Note:
Coding of inertia reel (lug) must run into opening in backrest.





Note:
The operation Removing inertia reel with flex shaft and coupling gear ends here.





Removing belt guide:

Note:
Protect belt guide against damage (scratches).

Trims of belt guide at front and rear (1) are destroyed when removed!

Installation Note:
Pay particular attention to cutting line between both trims.

If the trims are not fully clipped into place, this will result in grinding noises when the belt is pulled.





Release screw on belt guide.

Installation Note:
Replace microencapsulated screw.

E46: - Tightening torque 72 11 16AZ.
E64: - Tightening torque 72 11 02AZ [1][2]Seat Belt Systems.





Release further screw on belt guide and detach belt guide.

Remove complete seat belt with belt guide, inertia reel with flex shaft and coupling gear.

Do not kink flex shaft and do not transport inertia reel by flex shaft.