Are BMW seat belts simply rubbish?

[genphreak]

Word up G............ Just kidding I'm white.

Woah... r u juz sayin' that cos I'm Black?

[genphreak]

Very, very comfortable and fitting when you drive to your office with suit and necktie, and maybe you get attention of the people when you unwind at the bakery shop to get your morning ......

Yes, they'd suit a hiline quite well too Erich

If you could stretch the wallet to pay out a total of US$1.60 you could fit a set in the rear so ur passengers don't nut themselves on those flash mohogany dinner tables (whilst desprately trying to hang onto their drinks as u whistle past all those manacing trees with the old V12 blasting its heart out under WOT)... Nick

[Zeuk in Oz]

Interesting thread !
A client of mine is a mechanical engineer who investigates car crashes - thats all he does !
In his opinion the only seatbelts that stay on the body where there are intended in a crash are ... wait for it... Volvos. He drives a Volvo 740 with no air bag - he doesn't think front airbags are much good other than to save on facial surgery. He loves window bags.
It is interesting that Volvo are now investigating a change to the 3 point belt to make them more scure - one of the options was to have a 4th anchor point and attach a belt from it to the existing belt.
Alternatively they are looking at 2 belts worn simultaneously but from different sides.
I guess everyone is always willing to re-invent the wheel and make a name for themselves.

[SRR2]

I wonder how long it will take for BMW to shut this nitwit down for trademark infringement.

[mikell]

How many HP will these add? 'Course, you'd want a big hood scoop to go with this performance enhancement.

[DanDombrowski]

Gotta jump in on the 'hitting a tree' part.

The most damaging collision in a car wreck isn't the cars hitting each other or you hitting the car, but its your organs hitting your rib cage. The faster you stop yourself, the MORE you will be hurt.

That doesn't mean racing belts are bad, but you just have to take a lot more into context when comparing them. A stiffer material will slow you down faster, and consequently is more detrimental to your health. Do you know if this material is more or less stiff than the stocks? If they don't know, you don't know.

On the other hand, if you distribute the strain energy over more of your body (most racing belts do), you stand a better chance. Have these been crash tested? Crash testing cars and belts with painted dummies is EXPENSIVE. I doubt they have anywhere NEAR the R&D that BMW has put into the placement, materials, and creation of their belts.

The other benefit of racing belts which in many cases outweighs the costs of a stiffer belt is that it keeps you from flailing around in a servere rollover.

Now, once again, I'm at work and can't look at the ebay auction itself. But unless I see a whole lotta research and engineering to back those up, their product is nothing more than a guess at safety.

[rockyfeller]

lol!

[genphreak]

Interesting thread !
A client of mine is a mechanical engineer who investigates car crashes - thats all he does !
In his opinion the only seatbelts that stay on the body where there are intended in a crash are ... wait for it... Volvos.

Maybe I should write the vendor an email and ask if they do a Volvo version... perhaps it will be engineered to a higher standard to 'surpass the OEM specification'

If what we have so far is in any way indicative- it scares me to think what will be on eBay in a few years time.

Fun stuff Zeuk Tx

[genphreak]

LOL well I am sure they represent a 'weight gain' so as to increase the car's 'ambient power to weight ratio' or something like that... but I guess those great minds behind those various morally bankrupt marketing machines manufacturing those 'Performance' intake manifold vacuum cleaners haven't quite diversified into these (yet)... nick

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

These set ups don't give slack like the stock ones.

Everytime you want to lean forward and reach for the glove box or something or try to turn to check a blind spot...You are glued in.