Seat Belts

[n/a]

Hi all,

I am looking to purchase some retractible seat belts for my 250SL (it has the three body contact points. Has anyone done this and if so can you recommend a supplier where I can source the parts?

Cheers
Andrew

[n/a]

I'm not sure where I got this WEB address, but just checked it and it is still good.

It shows pictures and narration to put retractable belts into a 230SL, but I have compared the pictures with my wifes 1970 280SL and they look the same.

http://www.x10home.com/230SL/230SLBelts.html

I have not done the switch because of working on other projects.

Good luck.

dave

dave

[n/a]

Thanks Dave. Amazing how you found that.

[JOS]

Andrew call Ray Paul SL Classics at 800-293-2358

He can get you all you need to do your seat belts, I did my car a few years ago.

[n/a]

Try the seat belts from a 77-80 450SL.

[blairwag]

I've got a 1971 280SL and wish to do the EXACT SAME Thing. I'd like to mimmic what someone else already (successfully) did rather than learn how to piece this together myself. The web link, offered by dave7824, is awesome but requires piecing seat belt parts from multiple cars/manufactures. I'm a little leary of that. Using the 77-80 450SL seat belt parts as suggested by halfviking sounds very good. However, I'd really like to see it done alread y -maybe with some tips on the installation procedure.
I'm subscribing to this thread and hope to nail something in soon! thanx all!

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[blairwag]

I called and spoke to Ray Paul SL Classics at (800-293-2358) and discussed this. He was very helpful and very honest. Basically there is no "kit" that can be used to remove the existing belts and plug-in replace with automatic retracting belts. He said these are essentially our options:
1) MB will sell a set of belts, but they are big $$$ and a lot of work - and they don't do the car nor the job justice - they're not easy to use when installed.
2) Attempt pulling off a set from an old R107 chassis (like a 450SL) and retrofitting them, that is installing them on the 280SL in a manner similar to how they were installed on the original car.
3) Locate an old MG or Triumph (not sure of the years nor models that are best), and attempt to retrofit the belt assemblies to the 280SL.

I was pleased with Paul's candor, but disappointed that there wasn't a relatively easy to install "kit" that would do the job. I don't mind drilling and bolting, but I do not have the means nor intent to do any welding.

It looks like Alan McReynolds' solution (see http://www.x10home.com/230SL/230SLBelts.html ) looks a lot better, now. Unfortunately, I couldn't contact him for more technical details on the actual installation. The email he left on the web page (mailto:mcreynol@ricochet.net <mcreynol@ricochet.net>) is no longer available.

Any other suggestions?



--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[George Davis]

Blairwag,

on my '69 280 SL, I replaced the non-retractable belts with retractable belts from Andover Company.  I ordered two belt kits, and also ordered the optional longer buckle ends (that bolt to the trans tunnel).  Total price maybe $150 or so.  Pretty easy to install using the factor points and hardware, and they work well enough, but there are two disadvantages to them.  First is that the retractor mechanism mounts behind the seats and reduces rearward seat travel by about 2.5 inches.  It's ok for me, but anyone with longer legs might be cramped.  Second, one of the mounting brackets is fairly long, and to make it work I had to bend it to fit under the retractor.  Not the best arrangement, but (I hope) not unsafe.  Anyway, it's an option, but there are probably better approaches.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[blairwag]

Not sure if this is the perfect solution. I'm going to do a little more research, but this looks aweful good (perhaps too good?).

JC Whitney seems to have a generic retractable seat belt kit for any card. You can find very limited details here:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&langId=-1&productId=161397&mediaCode=ZX&appId=435689

If Alan McReynolds' comments are true about a standard for the bolt size/thread for the lags, this just might be a plug-in replacement. Only the retractor housing will need new holes drilled for it's mounting. I would expect this to be mounted just like Alan McReynolds did in the read compartment well, under the cover panels.

These are $110.00 US each, plus S&H (about $15.00 continental USA), so the pair will cost about $235.00 US (plus tax if in Indiana).

Though this solution looks even easier to install than Alan McReynolds', I'm not sure it will work. But it sure looks good. Stay tuned!


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[JOS]

Andrew
Go to Pagoda113.com
(1) Go to Knowledge base
(2) Click search
(3) Type seat belts
You will find pictures and all the information that you need on seat belts.

[rwmastel]

JOS seems to have the right setup:
http://pagoda113.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=3846000021&f=2076001521&m=5066091822

I found the following messages over there:

quote:Mark,
You can call me at 704-482-9860 ext13
Last year I installed a retractable seat belt system in my 1966 230sl using new parts from a W107.

John O. Salazar

quote:Hi, I got my 3 point retracting MB original belts from Tom @ Caliber Motorcars (California Dealer) 800 252 6877

They were new in MB boxes and cost $400+
Came with poor xerox instructions. I figured them out myself. It took six hours to install both and I did have to use all four new brackets even though the holes were there and some brackets were already in place. I've tried to post pictures here but the resolution is too high. If you have hi speed access I can send you or anyone else pics of the installation. John jlieswyn@mchsi.com

quote:Tony,

One type of 3-point seatbelt that the 113s used were made by a company called Kangol; these are the belts I have in my 230SL. These belts used a magetic clasp mechanism, rather than the more common buckle type connection. The belts are no longer made, but can sometimes be found on eBay. You might also have some luck with finding these at specialists such as SL Tech (where I bought my first set), or Bud's Benz (in the US), or places closer to your home like Van Dijk in the Netherlands or Socrim in Italy.

Good Luck,

-David Pease
'66 Euro 230SL

quote: posted May 30 03 07:55 AM  
I installed retractable 3-point Andover belts in my 280 SL, but it had the upper mounting point from the factory. In a 230 SL I think you will have to drill and install a reinforcing plate for the upper mount.

I also ordered longer buckle ends (the end that attaches to the trans tunnel) than the ones that normally come with the belt set, but right off hand don't recall how long they are.

I had to bend the mounting bracket for the retractor mechanism to mount it, and it limits rearward seat travel, taking off maybe 3 inches of travel.

Somewhere on this site is a picture of seat belts someone mounted in an interesting manner. The retractor is actually under the rear parcel shelf panels, kinda slick. Do a seach on seat belts, you'll probably find a lot of info on them.

George Davis
1969 280SL Euro

quote:I fitted inertia reel seatbelts to my 280SL from a 115. It was a reasonably simple operation, most of it was a matter of bolting them in - yes they are backwards instead of sideways, but they lock fine it seems. The major hassle with it was the stalks were too long, so I had to have them detached from the locking plate, shortened and welded back together.

Hope that's some help.

Maxwell
1968 280SL

quote:Well, I've used Bud's too, but not for refurbishment. Instead, I purchased a pair of seatbelts from Andover to use in my Pagoda while waiting for the refurbishment of the Kangols. The Andover restraints work well and look pretty good (very good webbing and fine, but generic chrome buckle assembly).

Allen
1966 230SL Silver/Maroon

quote:Have you tried this place as well? Up in Columbia, MD -- though I would NEVER subject my baby to Washington's Beltway...

http://www.andoauto.com/Mercedes.htm

quote:Hi, Rick,

Here's another contact:

Snake-Oyl Products Inc.
Carpet Underlay, Firewall Insulation, Seatbelt
Restoration
114 N. Glenwood Blvd.
Tyler, TX., 75702
Tel: 903-526-4500

I've heard some good things about them, and I'll probably send my belts to them to be redone. I spoke to one person there, and she was exteremely knowledgeable about my Kangol belts. Hopefully I'll get my belts done this winter.

-David Pease
'66 Euro 230SL

quote:Niemollers in Germany has 3point retracting seatbelts, brand new, in Mercedes boxes, made in Germany, for 168 euros each plus shipping.

I had already bought the same belts from Caliber motors 800 252 6877 for $220 each plus shipping. Tom Hanson is the contact. He said these belts are 280SE 1971-1974 original equipment belts. They're 3x the cost of Andover restraints universal fit, but these are a perfect fit and allow the seats to slide fully back on the tracks. These are shoulder/lap belt combos just like you'd find in a modern car, with the retracting reel mechanism mounted at the base of the "B" pillar. The installation looks difficult, I haven't started it yet but I'll let you all know how it goes when I get the car back to Iowa and start work on it.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[66andBlue]

Dave or William,
the site
http://www.x10home.com/230SL/230SLBelts.html
is now dead.
Did either one of you perhaps save the pictures?
Thanks!

Alfred

1966 blue 230SL automatic

[blairwag]

Sorry, unfortunately, I did NOT save the pictures.
I've net yet attempted the job. I'd like to go with the SL107
belts, but am hesitant until I see what they look like, and how
they're installed in a '72 or '73 450SL.
If anyone knows of a 450SL in that year range in the North west New Jersey (USA) area, please, let me know.


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[n/a]

Millsa99,
I have purchased a set of generic retractable seatbelts, and am in process of having them installed under the rear parcel shelf, then they thread through a slot in the side of the parcel shelf, and then connect to the original mounting places. It also uses a plastic arm on the buckle side. As soon as I am done I can give you more details, as well as the pricing. It is much cleaner install as it does not impeded seat travel.