Seat Belt release (orange button)

[mockingbird812]

I could not see the photo above a t work. What is the definition of a "MKI" VW? What year span and which model(s)? Thanks, this has been very helpful.

[berger]

I could not see the photo above a t work. What is the definition of a "MKI" VW? What year span and which model(s)? Thanks, this has been very helpful.

Most of the VW models....Golf, Rabbit etc...from the 1980s. Even eighties Audi models will fall into the same category. I had Audi seats in my Iltis and they would also fit a Golf/Rabbit.

[mockingbird812]

Any chance someone could pop one of these release buttons out of the housing and take a couple of photos that I could use when I head to the junk yard? (I am working away from home for an extended period and do not have access to my Pinz).

Thanks!

[compunerdy]

My buckles say Klippan on them and look similar to the ones shown here..

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/topic/96948-f ... -and-rare/

Are these not factory or did they just use different manufacturers throughout the years?

[mockingbird812]

Boy, that sure looks like what is in my Pinz. I do need a photo of one of the orange buttons removed from the housing, so I will know what to get at the junk yard.

Thanks for posting.

[compunerdy]

The VW ones I have seen look similar in shape but are different. Ours are riveted together so I cannot pop one apart for you. I did find that they where used in Mercedes..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-107-45 ... 1227715318

This link shows the buckles up close..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-SL-Kli ... fc&vxp=mtr

Different length cables obviously...

[compunerdy]

Used in Alfa Romeo as well..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-Romeo-GTV- ... bd&vxp=mtr

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Tim. I believe (experts correct me) that you do not need to disassemble the black housing to remove the orange button. The orange button should pop out as it just clips onto a metal latch inside the housing. Don't anyone experiment with their seat belt at the risk of damaging it. If someone is comfortable removing the orange button and can take a couple photos, that would be great. I will try the junk yard tomorrow and see what I come up with.

[mockingbird812]

After five junkyards, one VW dealership, and one VW repair shop, no joy! At this point I may give one of our sponsors a call to see if they have any parts vehicles that might have this seatbelt release button on them available.

[mockingbird812]

My seat belts are different than the "MKI" belts posted by Berger. They are more like Tim (Compunerdy's) links above. Here are mine compared to Berger's photo and Tim's link for an Alfa Romero (sequence is 1st photo = Tim, 2nd = Berger's, 3rd = mine).....

[pcolette]

The original Pinz seat belts that I have seen are unique to the Pinz. There have been many other aftermarket seat belts used with success. I have a set of Beams seat belts on my '73 and they work great.

I have a female buckle that I keep as a spare and took it apart today out of curiosity. The orange "PRESS" button cannot be removed without drilling out the 2 rivets and carefully snapping off the 2 halves of the cover. In doing so the spring is released so be sure to notice it's placement before removing the bottom half (see photo). To remove the button, the metal pin that the male buckle connects to has to be removed. It too has to be replaced a specific way for the male buckle to latch correctly.

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[pcolette]

Additional photos:

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To answer the obvious question, sorry but the buckle is not for sale. I would check with Scott at EI and Dennis Williams at Linden Engineering to see if they have some used female buckles available. Or maybe another forum member does?

Hope this helps.

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Paul for the great photos and the time that you took. I guess my button disintegrated more tha I thought as my orange button appeared to me to just press into place and not attach the way your photos indicate. I'll check with the sponsor at the beginning of the week and see what they have.

Does anyone think the Alfa Romeo seat belt (see Paul's link a few posts above) is the same as the PINZ wrt the release button design?

[pcolette]

The Alfa Romeo one certainly looks the same to me other than that the cable portion is much shorter on the Alfa. I would expect that the internal parts are the same.

[mockingbird812]

Those are my thoughts too Paul. I have that piece on my "watch list".