I purchased a Seat Belt Holder that is supposed to be a quick and simple install under the headrest. However, the headrest locks on its tracks and won't budge once it reaches the top and the lock button has no effect on the removal.

So whats the secret? Does anyone know?

I thought I could do it myself to avoid an hour or half hour labor ($105.hr) at MINI for a supposedly two minute job.

Thank you,

 

There are two spring loaded locks on the headrest posts. One has a large button that one uses to adjust the headrest. The second button is recessed on the other chrome post. After using the big button to get the headrest all the way to the top, use a fingernail or other object to push in the button on the other post, and it will lift out.

Before you go to the trouble of doing this, you may want to just return the seatbelt holders...they are poorly designed, and will constantly pull apart at the hinge. I trashed mine after less than a week.

 

Following your procedure and it took all of two minutes to remove and replace. The MINI owner's manual fails to mention the second button.

The belt holder is poorly made but I have severe arthritis and have a hard time reaching back over my sholder.

Thanks again, best regards and keep your shiney side up,

BoB

 

Bob, you're welcome! Just a suggestion....after I trashed my seat belt holders, I now place the seatbelt over the seat's side bolster, when I get out. I do this for the passenger seatbelt as well, which eliminates any rattles. When I get in the MINI, the seatbelt is then easy to grab.
For me, actually works better than the seat belt holder.

 

I do this, too. The OEM holder broke very easily (on the passenger side, because my kids are morons). But, besides that, it caused the seat belt to rest right on my neck. Very annoying.

 

Yes, those seatbelt holders are very breakable plastic J*NK. The lady of the house had the passenger side unit in two pieces the first time she tried it. I put snapped it back together later on, but it's "disassembled" a couple more times since under useage, and I'm doubting it's going to be around long. I think that these units are pretty unecessary IF you keep that little slider on the belt up high enough that the chrome male connector is held up HIGH near the door. I'm 50/50 on the seatbelt holders now that I've owned them for a couple months.

 

Can't find anyone who knows where you get a seat belt slider when it is missing!

 

Surfblue adds: PLUS ONE!!! Just toss em now and avoid the aggravation. They are JUNK. I put mine on in a minute, had them on long enough to discover that they COME APART far too easily. I still have mine if someone wants them cheap. I can flat rate them for around six bucks to anywhere in the US. I have 100% positive after years on ebay, btw.

 

I wanted to get a set when I got my 09. my parts guy tried to talk me out of it, said "worst MINI accessory ever" (poorly designed). I didnt listen, and bought a set. He was right. They are terrible. Returned them about an hour after I bought them.

For all the reasons above. Very poorly designed.

 

Darn I was hoping that they would be just the thing to fix my issue with the belts being back too far.

 

I was hoping the same thing! Now i'm back to square one.

 

I know that I complained to company about them. We seem to have a problem with the driver side belt getting twisted. The passenger side is not twisted but it locks up and I feel like I am imprisoned. We have asked them to check the belt to see if it is twisted and they tell us it isn't, but I guess we have never explained that it locks up on the passenger.

 

So is there anything that there is out that can work like that? I have back issues and constantly turning back to grab my seatbelt is getting old..

 

Yayyy! Thank you for the tip. Now can *easily* flop the rear seats down to make room for my snowboard and stuff.

Let it Snow!