I don't think the radio has a separate input specifically for the seat belt chime - I think the radio just gets a single input from the car's computer, and the computer just sends a "bong" to the radio whenever it's needed (door ajar, key in ignition, seat belt, lights etcetera).

You'll probably need to convince the computer that the seat belt is fastened, rather than trying to stifle that one individual "bong" at the radio.

 

It depends on different features if this option is available.

And unfortunately that is as low as it will go. But to be fair what is loud to you may be very quite to someone else.

It is coming from the computer.

Yes the computer does tell the radio head unit that the seat belt is unfastened but the computer also tells the head unit what weight sensors are triggered as well to tellt he air bag to be on or off.

This has been discussed in over 20 different threads here.

There are two different weight limits and a seat belt chime as follows:

1. Less than 8 lbs no seat belt chime (some cars it seems to be 5 lbs and others as much as 12 lbs but around 8 is where it is supposed to be.

2. More than 8 lbs but less than 80 lbs chime and air bag should be off.

3. more than 80 lbs chime and air bag on.

No as for making the gong, chime what ever you want to call it it is not as simple as just twisting two wires together. If it was there would have been a solution and we would all know about it.

THis car is computer controlled and until Mini changes the programing there is not much that can be done other than to plug in a seat belt buckle to make the sound stop. Now if that is connected to a seat belt or if it is just a buckle with out a seat belt it does not matter.

The only thing is that Mini will NOT sell just a belt buckle as it can easily be used to by pass a law and they do not want the liability if some one is injured.

 

First, health insurance certainly does cover medical costs from vehicular accidents. They may pay it outright, or they may limit their payment to whatever your auto insurance doesn't cover. In other words, they may stipulate that they'll be the "secondary" insurer after the auto insurance company.

Second, the reason that you're catching flak for your "you are not directly hurting someone if you don't wear your seatbelt and get in an accident, but someone has to pay to put you back together" comment is that frankly, it's a stupid rationale that many people can (and do) use to try to justify regulating/outlawing any activity more risky than lying quietly in a dark room and breathing in slow, deep breaths.

If you take that kind of attitude to its logical conclusion, motorcycles should be outlawed, helmet use in cars should be mandatory (brain injuries are the most common serious/expensive injury in car accidents), and tobacco and alcohol should be banned outright because of added health costs that insurance usually ends up paying for.

 

Here is some more info on the Seatbelt issue

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...01-post82.html

 

I never said it was good logic only that it is the logic used to make the laws. Any regardless of why it is made it has been and regardless if you think you should or you shouldn't pay for other peoples' stupidity that is only going to become more the case with the increasing government control that is the "change" which is in process.

 

More good information over in the mods section and a thread there on this same subject.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...2-post102.html

 

Great info Schatzy!!!!

 

We are still working on this project and it will probably we a few weeks before we actually have a solution other than get a used buckle to put in the receptacle.

But i will keep this thread in mind to keep updated.

 

Provided you are driving alone. If you are driving with others and you flip your car, then there a good chance that your body can damage another person in the car.

 

Has anyone found a way to get into the Programing in these cars? I know there are programs out there to reprogram many other models e.g. mustang, nissan, corvette, camaro etc. If we can get into the program of the car, I'm confident we could just turn that off.

 

I'm looking at various laptop-based scan/reprogram utilities for BMW/MINI. There's a few on the market for VW/Audi, but very few out there for BMW/MINI.

If I had enough money, I'd look into getting this one:
http://www.pcretriever.com/default.php

 

I went to clickercheater and got an insert; this has been only car that I've encountered where the chime can't be disabled; have a house in NH (no seatbelt law) and feel it should be my choice (same with motorcycle helmets); as long as you take responsibility for your choices and don't try to sue everybody under the sun for that choice what's the harm?

 

I sure hope it turns out to be something simple, but I seriously doubt we'll be that lucky. In the meantime, I've just been trying to remember to put my belt on before I start the car, that way I don't get any boopboopboops.

I don't know why that sound annoys me so.........

To answer GrnMtnMini, if you think you're safe driving your car without a belt, fine. I've seen too many people hurt or killed who might have been OK if they'd had their belt on not to wear mine.

That said, I wish we still had height adjustment on the retractor side on the B post like on the first gen cars, this thing cuts across my neck something fierce........

 

The BIMCOM (BMW/MINI version of VAGCOM), which is what I think you're referring to was in developement but then word of it died off. There was a thread on NAM way back when here.

The harm is that you are a member of health and auto insurance policies that thousands of others pay premiums to and you taking responsibility for your choice is to expect insurance to pay for your choice at the expense of everyone else under the sun. If you're a wealthy enough and self insured, go for it, otherwise don't complain when people who might be paying for your care tell you to be more responsible.

 

There is a long thread over in Mdifications>Electrical with 131 posts.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-reminder.html

I and a few others are working on it but at this point it is looking more and more like it will have to be a program hack, as this is not just a simple on/off switch, but uses seat occupancy detectors, Hall Switches (they change digital signals) air bag switches, and blet tighteners that are all part of the "Multi Restraint System". I have been testing the signal that is sent to teh seat belt buckle and have been having trouble getting a good test on it. just hooking up the Oscope causes a air bag fault light to come on. I think i am going to have to take out the center console to get directly to the "multi Restraint System" module as it sits directly between the seats below the hand brake.

I will post more info as it becomes available.

P.S. I always use my seat belt and my passangers are required to as well, but the thing that drives me crazy is that when i put my laptop case on the passanger seat it makes the Gong go off.

And to those mentioning not using seat belts. My insurance company has a program where if you did not have your seatbelt on during an accident your insurance is reduced dramatically. And i woudl be willing to bet more and more insurance companies will be going this way.

And to those that say seat belts really do keep you safe, that is ture in most cases but not in teh case of a friend. If he had his seat belt on he would not be with us today as the steering column was embedded in the headrest where his head would have been if wearing his seatbelt. But i do agree that many times they do assist in keeping people safe that is why i use mine all the time.

 

Whats funny about this seat belt reminder is that I am pretty sure it is something they can control. The loaner I am driving you can barely hear it when its activated. If mine was as soft a reminder as the one in my loaner it would not be an issue.

 

Obviously there is a state that feels there is no harm; I can tell you that the feds forced Vt. and Mass. into seatbelt laws by threatening to withhold highway funds; without getting too far off subject car manufacturers should not dictate behavior; if you want to wear a seatbelt you will regardless of a reminder; not being able to disable the reminder brought back flashbacks to our early seventies VW that would not let you start the car w/o being buckled up; interestingly enough that was only in the us spec'd models

 

........and only one year too, 1974.

The technology wasn't well enough developed then to make it work, nowadays I think it would, and I'd be OK with it...........(the seatbelt interlock thing)

 

I couldn't remember if it was our '72 411 or '74 412 stationwagon

 

Wow, you had a 411 and a 412? You were a glutton for punishment! Those were not considered some of VW's high watermark cars.......I worked for Porsche then, and the engines they used were basically the same as what we had in the 914, but for some reason, they worked a whole lot better in our cars........

 

FYI, I believe ALL car mfgrs. had some sort of seatbelt interlock system that would not let you start the car until you had clicked your seatbelts. It only lasted a year or two, everyone was pissed-off about it. I think it lasted from 1973 - 1974 or 1975...

Another stupid thing they did was to install a little lever next to the ignition key slot that had to be held down in order to remove the key from the ignition lock. That was about the stupidest thing I ever saw and why it was implemented I do not know.

 

We had the 411 and 412 in Germany and believe me the german VW dealers hated to see us show up with the US spec "fuel injected" cars; the German spec'd ones were all carburated and ran a lot better