Seatbelt guides question

[Jasn]

Hi

I know this has been done to death, but I've read several DIY guides about replacing the seatbelt guides on the Z3 and yet I am having trouble. I have the seat version where the leather wraps all the way around the back and is held together by long plastic clips up the middle and across the bottom. I can get all that undone, but I am then meant to slide the plastic liner that is under the leather down...and it won't budge, which leaves me with very little room to work. I can get my hands to the lower end of the seatbelt guide, but cannot pull it out. Any tips?

Also, is the inner part of the seatbelt guide stitched in? I was surprised to find stitching in the leather under where the guide would normally be...the leather doesn't appear to be cut there. I am wondering whether I have to unpick that stitching to get the inner part of the guide out. I am a bit suspicious the stitching may be from a previous repair attempt by the former owner, but I think I saw something similar on a photo of someone else's somewhere.

Jasn

 

[Jasn]

So of course shortly after I posted this I did find a description that confirms the original ones are sewn in. End of thread I guess.

 

[TrevD66]

@Jasn What state are yours in now? I had mine break and I was unable to get any of the "repairs" in the clips etc so I did this......

Heat shrink from Jaycar Electronics..... Not as good as replacing the guide but much better than having them break completely.
Unless you look closely, no one notices it.

Note: the flash has made the colour look different to what it is in sunlight.

 

[Jasn]

@Jasn What state are yours in now? I had mine break and I was unable to get any of the "repairs" in the clips etc so I did this......View attachment 111547
Heat shrink from Jaycar Electronics..... Not as good as replacing the guide but much better than having them break completely.
Unless you look closely, no one notices it.

Note: the flash has made the colour look different to what it is in sunlight.

Unfortunately my driver's side one is missing completely and the passenger side has the bottom part missing (apart from the bit under the leather). I'd be happy with what you've done there, but it won't work for mine. If I manage to get them replaced I will do something like that to reduce the chances they will break again.

 

[TrevD66]

Unfortunately my driver's side one is missing completely and the passenger side has the bottom part missing (apart from the bit under the leather). I'd be happy with what you've done there, but it won't work for mine. If I manage to get them replaced I will do something like that to reduce the chances they will break again.

I was lucky in that the drivers side had broken but not come away from the seat.... the passenger side was OK.
I put this on both... and for that matter on my Fathers car as well to sort his.
Now very functional and do not look too bad.