When I drive with the windows down and nobody is sitting in the passenger seat, the belt buckle on that passenger side rattles and rattles. I tried to push up the belt buckle thingie all the way to the top and sometimes that solves it temporarily but not for long. It annoys the hell out of me.

Anyone knows how to fix this?

Thanks!

Cheers,

- Dietrich

 

I plug the belt in, that stops it rattling. Usually this isn't a problem because I don't run with the windows down, there's air conditioning for that sort of thing. I did have that problem once when I was on the track, for a while I thought a CV joint was failing, but once I realised what it was plugging the belt in solved it.

 

Wind is a side effect of windows down. Plugging it in will fix it. But rolling windows down is the way to go. Artificial environments are over rated. Windows down lets you feel, smell, and hear the outside. But hey if you don't like it don't do it just stay inside and don't experience the world.

 

I've had luck fixing this by changing where the buckle sits on the belt. Slide it either up or down and there's usually a place that will minimize the shaking.

 

The rattling freaked me out too before I figured out it was the seatbelt making noise

As far as the AC goes I only use it when the temp is 85+ degrees out. Otherwise its windows and sun roof wide open.

 

That's funny, I was complainin' about that today. I run with the AC on and the windows down (sunroof open).

On the way home, the pass. seatbelt buckle was rapping against the "b" pillar. I did what Ken does.... just keep sliding the buckle up or down until I find a happy medium.

I don't suppose there's much to do except buckle the seatbelt.

Oh well.... just crank up the tunes...lol.


Mark

 

Thanks for all the responses. I did try the positioning of the buckle but that didn't really help. I'm probably driving too fast.

This is my first hardtop while in Miami. All my previous cars were convertibles so I'm definitely an in-your-wind-kind-of-guy but the JCW Convertible version wasn't out when I looking to get a new car and I had to get something end of March.

Other than what MINI calls 'idiosynchracies' (e.g., other **** that everybody confuses with volume control, sport button default is OFF), love zipping around. Plus, with the windows down, it's easier to hear the bubbles and pops of my exhaust.

Also fun to see the surprised looks of Porsche drivers when I pull away from a traffic light (done that to a Boxster and stayed with a Carrera 4S on 395). But then again, the traffic in street racing is a major component on top of equipment, skill, and guts.

Cheers,

-D

 

Oh boy, that's the equivalent of ringing the dinner bell for the safety *****.....

Back to the subject at hand... I'm seriously thinking of using some velcro and putting a little piece on the "b" pillar and a small piece on buckle. Perhaps it will keep it stuck hard enough not to allow it to rattle around.

Mark

 

Ah... well, yes, one of the taglines of my current client (Italian luxury sports car manufacturer) is:

"Life is short. Drive fast."

Cheers,

-D

 

Besides playing around with the height of the buckle to try to find the sweet spot, I've also found it is important to make sure the belt is not twisted in any way. I like the idea about just clicking it in though.

 

Absafreakinlutely.... I agree.

 

Anybody have a different solution other than buckling up the passenger seatbelt?

I just did this on my way home. The rattling otherwise is quite annoying.

 

My windows are always down when it's nice out, especially now with the A/C in my car deleted.
I just pull the passenger seat belt around onto the seat...the side of the back rest just holds it there.

I know my car is 1st gen, but I think it would work with the 2nd gen seats too.

 

I took the MINI down to Ocoee last weekend and drove the 1000+ miles with the windows down. Don't recall hearing the seatbelt buckle rapping but I do remember topping that baby out(had to see if that tune was worth the money) with a 67 Vdub pushing 200 at the wheels!

 

Ahh an AC delete I need to get one for the 2nd gen since I NEVER use that thing anyway. Do you know if the MINI One's come with AC?

 

Okay, not sure if this will work but I tried this tonight.





Excuse the crappy lighting but I'll try this and if it works, I'll clean it up.

This might be the cure for me.

Mark

 

At least some do, the one we had in the UK a couple of years ago did. According to MINI.co.uk, its standard on MINI 1s.

 

One question... why???? OMG, with the weather being so humid today, I had the windows down but the AC CRANKED....

Why would you want to get rid of the AC. HP reasons? Weight? Just wondering.


Mark

 

i live in nor cal dry dry dry

 

That I can understand but Oxyblue lives in the same town I do. The humidity can get nasty... I can't believe anyone could live in the south and not have AC.

I'm just to hot blooded.

Mark

 

Unless it's raining it's just automatic for me to hit the sunroof and open the windows. My history is mainly with aircooled cars that either didn't come with AC(classic Vdubs) or had a separate belt for just the compressor(914's & 911's) that was always off since they didn't work worth a damn anyway.

 

I do the same except when it is raining... that is, at least until I start getting soaked.

Mark

 

I just plug the seatbelt in. If you have the thing adjusted just right it sounds like you have baseball cards in your spokes....

 

JUST roll the windows up by about 6 inches from bottom..!
doesn't affect ventilation & definitely stops the annoying rattle for me..!

 

I haven't had this problem yet, But mine does seem to ride right where the silver checkered ring on the door is and I don't want it scratching that up. I guess I'll plug it in. I haven't had the windows down very often. Don't get me wrong... I want to, but I still have the new car smell and I want to keep that in as long as I can. I've been running the A/C with the recirculation on. Once the new car smell is all but gone, I'm sure I'll have the windows down and the sunroof open all the time.