Originally Posted by artguy

Just wanted to share. I had read on another post that someone had bought a newer part number version of the MINI seatbelt holders for their coupe. Many had said they purchased them and they were junk. I had my guy order a set with the new part#, and when they came in, we cracked both new and old to see what the difference was.

I myself am tired of having to reset the darn passenger belt every time someone comes along for a drive. The belt always ends up half out and the buckle clanks around. It makes me crazy!

The extender/holder attaches under the headrest, and provides a curved loop/finger to hold the belt forward and away from the back of the car.

So on to the comparison. The original version had a hook piece that moved up and down about an inch and a half. The hook piece snaps onto the mounted piece and is made to pop apart if too much tension is applied. Apparently purchasers of the original had them popping apart left and right under very little stress, and most tossed them out or taped them together.

The NEW version looks identical BUT has one major difference. The hook now moves up and down almost completely from top side to bottom.

Now the hook that holds the belt has a LOT more freedom of movement, so if it does have pressure applied it will move/swivel up and down and not pop apart. If you really give it a hard pull it WILL come apart, but when I tried it on the old version it popped off almost instantly. New version required a good hard pull.

Originally Posted by artguy

part no. 52302213297 seat belt holder

This is the NEW replacement part. I picked up the coupe this afternoon, and installed them. They work great. Seat belt now rests along the far edge of the driver and passenger seats. The buckles no longer clank up against the metal columns.

Originally Posted by NHMini

Thanks for the link.

I was hoping to do better than from the dealer. Sewell's price, along with shipping and the fact that the part is not listed as in-stock makes that doubtful.

Looks like if I want them I will have to pay essentially list price, and wait, too.

I'm currently not willing to risk it on an unknown modification to a previous version/part that in my hands, and many others, broke with little provocation.

Oh well!

Maybe I should stick velcro on my shirt to keep the seatbelt from slipping down?