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Rear seat belts

Started by joshm, 26 April 2010, 07:19 AM

joshm

Does anyone have any experience of fitting rear belts in a W116?
Is it simply a case of getting a generic universal belt kit of some description, or is it more involved than that?
Thanks! Josh

wbrian63

6.9's came standard with rear seatbelts, so all the mounting points are there. Find yourself a car that has them and you should be able to install them on your car. I think they may have also been standard in the 450SEL's.

I can't remember whether the C-panel trim is where the upper attachment point is for the belts, but if I'm right, you'll also need this part of the interior. Sadly, these are a royal PITA to remove, and frequently, even if in good condition (which many are not), the vinyl cracks as the part is being removed.
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

joshm

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you explain or point at what the C-panel is?

wbrian63

Sorry - it's a "body shop" term. There are 3 pillars in a standard 4-door car. The pillar (structural member) at the front windshield (corner of the roof down to the body in front of the front doors) is called the A-pillar. The pillar in the middle (roof middle down to body between front and rear doors) is called the B-pillar. The last pillar is the C-pillar.

(I'm not certain if 2-door cars, or cars with no center pillar if the rear pillar remains the C-pillar...)

So, what I'm referring to is the interior panel that covers the C-pillar. If your car has rear reading lamps, they're attached there as well.

I'll have a look at my 6.9 tonight and see if my suspicions are correct.

Regards
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

WGB

Apart from the necessary holes in the C pillar trim I would imagine a standard rear set of belts with lap-sash outers and a central lap belt would fit without modification.

Take out your seats and all the mounting points should be there.

Bill

another sad 280s

i never knew that they came without seat belts

Papalangi

My US spec 1976 450SEL came with outboard 3 point belts but no center lap belt.  I bought a belt from NAPA for the center.  The bolt threads are unusual, at least in the US.  They were 7/16" fine thread.  I think it's a US thing to ensure that correct grade bolts are used and maybe fine threads have better pull out resistance.

Michael
'83 300SD, I'm back!  It's the son's new car (12/2020)
1976 450SEL, 116.033  Sold it to buy a '97 Crown Vic.  Made sense at the time.
1971 250C, 114.023
1976 280C
1970 250/8

samuli

I once swapped a set from w201 without any problem, I know w124 would fit as well. I am quite sure that w123 and w126 ones would go in very easily too. Please see the end of this post:

http://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/removal-of-rear-seat/

Squiggle Dog

I am amazed that with all of the safety features and such that some models were built without seat belts in the back seat! I know Euro cars tend to not have rear shoulder belts, but wow.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Big_Richard

In australia wearing seat belts at all only became compulsory at approximatly 1970 (some states earlier)

I dont remember the specifics but when i was a kid many older cars didnt have rear seat belts at all, and this was perfectly legal and you were not required to retrofit them either. But if they were installed, you had to wear them... My mother copped a whopping $25 fine for my recalcitrant behaviour...  ::)

WGB

In Australia a  new set of Generic rear inertia reel seat belts with lap central belt would only be around the $200 mark and would fit and function every bit as well as the M-B branded ones.

Bill

joshm

Thanks for the replies - I'll investigate further based on your responses.

In the UK, I believe that legislation was passed in 1987 whereby newly-manufactured cars had to have rear belts. In 1991, wearing those belts became law.

Josh

ripley

Hi, do someone know were to buy rear central seatbelt in Europe? Thanks.

ptashek

Quote from: ripley on 30 June 2022, 07:55 AMHi, do someone know were to buy rear central seatbelt in Europe? Thanks.

German eBay should be a good source.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

ripley

Quote from: ptashek on 30 June 2022, 08:24 PM
Quote from: ripley on 30 June 2022, 07:55 AMHi, do someone know were to buy rear central seatbelt in Europe? Thanks.

German eBay should be a good source.


Hi, i tried that, could't find original one...