Oldest 3 or 5 series with 3 proper rear seatbelts?

[Minty]

Permission granted for me to choose the next car , one rule - must have 3 proper seat belts in the back, lap belts not allowed!

Can someone let me know which is the oldest 5 or 3 series that would fit the bill, I am hoping an E28 or an E30 will be possible.. or could a centre seatbelt be added if not?

[smartie]

E36 & E28 don't as standard, nor does E38 (& series) though it was on option (!!) - Option also on E46.

[SJobson]

My E34 didn't have a full three point centre belt, and I don't think the E36 3-series did either. So the E39 would be the oldest.

[JimexPL]

E36 never had one, E46 initially had one as an option and it later became standard (as did a centre headrest)

[Minty]

oh dear, its all getting a bit modern... has anyone retro-fitted seatbelts ?

[JimexPL]

You can buy weld in mounting points from many of the aftermarket specialists for harness eye bolts. These use the same thread as a standard seat belt bolt, so would be suitable. Years ago it used to be a common mod to family cars when rear seat belts became a popular addition.
I've had mounting points fitted by a respected local motor engineering company on a LandRover roll cage - cost me £50 per side plus the price of the belt.

[Job38]

E34 did have centre shoulder belt as an option I believe.

[belleair302]

But it was not standard. Later E39's have three shoulder belts but again not all cars came with them from new.

[clonmult]

Minty said:

oh dear, its all getting a bit modern... has anyone retro-fitted seatbelts ?

I'm in the same situation ....

Sold the E36 Coupe, and picked up .... a Renault Laguna as a stopgap. Reckon the best bet is likely to be an E39.

I've seen a few E39s with the built in booster seat - that'd be absolutely fantastic, but it was probably just a rarely chosen option?

[E30M3SE]

There is a company in Stanmore Middx called Reflex who supply and fit all sorts of seat belts and alike.

Google them.

[clonmult]

E30M3SE said:

There is a company in Stanmore Middx called Reflex who supply and fit all sorts of seat belts and alike.

Google them.

http://www.reflexsafety.co.uk/

I mailed them, they quoted around 2-300 quid depending on car.

Get a feeling that the new mount for the center belt in an E36 would be pretty unsightly though.

[Minty]

Am also looking at W124 Mercedes 300TE 24v now.. I must be getting old!

[clonmult]

Minty said:

Am also looking at W124 Mercedes 300TE 24v now.. I must be getting old!

Good motors, should last a lifetime or three.

[Coq au Vin]

Job38 said:

E34 did have centre shoulder belt as an option I believe.

Interesting. Do you know if all E34s have anchorages for the three point centre belt? My late 1995 model only has a lap belt in the rear, but if it's just a matter of bolting a 3 point belt into existing anchorages I reckon it would be well worth doing...

[Marquis_Rex]

My E21 has rear seat belts, but not a central one in the rear. Therefore I'm definate that an E28 and E30 have them also.

edited to say, whoops I just re-read- ignore please.

Good luck in your search. If it means anything, I just added seatbelts to my 1970 Dodge Challenger- they were not Inertia reel, but like the ones in aircrafts.

Edited by Marquis_Rex on Monday 4th August 21:43

[Mustard]

Minty said:

Am also looking at W124 Mercedes 300TE 24v now.. I must be getting old!

guy (who also posts on here) at www.w124.co.uk can sort your W124 estate to have a 3rd proper belt.

as regard to w124's being cheap, you get very much what you pay for!