F55/F56 F56 Justa seat belts tangling up
#26
10-21-2014, 07:35 AM
5th Gear
#27
10-21-2014, 08:11 AM
3rd Gear
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Ha! Just saw this thread and thought it must be only me who is tangling these things. It has done this to me several times so far and usually, a sharp tug solves it but it got really folded over and I had to actually pop off the plastic trim piece over th swivel to free it.
Here is what I think: It's a user-created issue. My wife drives the Mini more than I do and has never had it happen to her at all. I suspect that there is some particular body mechanic that induces this. Some of us probably just happen do create this condition without thinking. I drive mostly an older 4Runner and have a habit of "whipping" the belt over my shoulder while un-buckling and suspect this muscle-memory motion creates the issue. At least in my case. What I have done is slowwwwed down on whipping out the seatbelt as I un-buckle. That gives it time to guide itself through the swivel. As long as I am paying attention and remember this, zero issues.
I would personally not take a car to the dealership for this. They won't know what to tell you except "Do it differently". Hope this helps.
Here is what I think: It's a user-created issue. My wife drives the Mini more than I do and has never had it happen to her at all. I suspect that there is some particular body mechanic that induces this. Some of us probably just happen do create this condition without thinking. I drive mostly an older 4Runner and have a habit of "whipping" the belt over my shoulder while un-buckling and suspect this muscle-memory motion creates the issue. At least in my case. What I have done is slowwwwed down on whipping out the seatbelt as I un-buckle. That gives it time to guide itself through the swivel. As long as I am paying attention and remember this, zero issues.
I would personally not take a car to the dealership for this. They won't know what to tell you except "Do it differently". Hope this helps.
A user-created issue for sure. Amazing!! Not a dealer problem.
#28
10-21-2014, 08:28 AM
Just noticed this issue on my F56/S this weekend while cleaning the car.
Passenger side seat belt is twisted. I tried for only a brief second to fix it with no luck. Will look at it again this weekend. Frustrating as this belt is rarely used, only when my wife is riding in my car. My drivers belt which gets used every day is fine and I don't gently let it go when I get out. Click the release and let it go.
Passenger side seat belt is twisted. I tried for only a brief second to fix it with no luck. Will look at it again this weekend. Frustrating as this belt is rarely used, only when my wife is riding in my car. My drivers belt which gets used every day is fine and I don't gently let it go when I get out. Click the release and let it go.
#29
10-21-2014, 08:44 AM
If I were to guess, I suspect part of the issue is that the way for the seatbelt in the swivel is both curved as well as very narrow. So, there is little room for it to un-fold itself if it gets fed through the wrong way. How it seems to me, at least. Again, the real solution is "user-ology". Hope this helps.
#30
10-21-2014, 09:03 AM
Pop off the plastic pillar trim piece (just grab with your fingers and pull straight out...). The seatbelt pass through it. This will give you direct access to the swivel retainer. You can then spin the whole swivel around and un-fold the seatbelt more easily. The trim piece then just snaps back in.
Will give it a try.
#31
10-21-2014, 08:37 PM
I think part of the issue may be that for us smaller ladies, the belt retractor is significantly behind the seat, since the seat itself is further forward. I definitely would not classify myself as a seatbelt "whipper," just a short girl whose seatbelt has a long way to suck back. Never once had an issue like this on my 2006, so it's awfully frustrating.
#32
10-22-2014, 06:26 AM
I think part of the issue may be that for us smaller ladies, the belt retractor is significantly behind the seat, since the seat itself is further forward. I definitely would not classify myself as a seatbelt "whipper," just a short girl whose seatbelt has a long way to suck back. Never once had an issue like this on my 2006, so it's awfully frustrating.
Suspect it's a combination of body mechanics and speed than size of driver. "Go slow" is my advice.
#33
10-22-2014, 07:48 AM
2nd Gear
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My wife and I have been driving cars a long time, but this is the only car we've ever seen this happen. I've been fine, but it's happened to my wife three times. While it may have something to do with body mechanics or how one person releases the belt versus another, saying this is a user issue seems a bit short sighted in my opinion.
Note my previous car was an R50, so this seems very specific to the F56 versus a MINI/BMW design.
Note my previous car was an R50, so this seems very specific to the F56 versus a MINI/BMW design.
#34
06-07-2015, 04:47 AM
Hi,
Same issue here in France with my new F56. I've owned for years Bmw and a R56 (and other brands) and never encountered this problem. Its obviously a design issue and not a user one...we shouldn't be the ones finding a solution. I paid this car 38K€ And I am expecting MINI to solve the issue, not me!!!!
Same issue here in France with my new F56. I've owned for years Bmw and a R56 (and other brands) and never encountered this problem. Its obviously a design issue and not a user one...we shouldn't be the ones finding a solution. I paid this car 38K€ And I am expecting MINI to solve the issue, not me!!!!
#35
06-07-2015, 08:38 AM
Wow - that doesn't sound good. I had just been thinking about getting the set of two MINI Seat Belt Holders (part #52302208036) that attach to the headrest posts because I have a relatively short torso and seat belts tend to cut across my neck, and because I hate having to do an acrobatic contortion act to reach my seatbelt.
Has anyone tried these seat belt holders? Do you think they would mitigate Mini-Bear's twisting and disappearing seat belt situation?
Has anyone tried these seat belt holders? Do you think they would mitigate Mini-Bear's twisting and disappearing seat belt situation?
#37
06-13-2015, 05:49 AM
2nd Gear
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