Seatbelt neck adjuster

chrisw

My wife's a bit on the short side and the seatbelt rubs and cuts into her neck.

There are several different types of clips and straps available on line which appear to work by sliding the shoulder part along the waist part.

Does anyone know if these would interfere with the proper operation of the seatbelt or could recommend a particular type?

Thanks,

Arunmor

This would be an alternative approach

https://www.amazon.co.uk/booster-seat-short-drivers/s?k=booster+seat+for+short+drivers

Brie

Best thing I've ever found was a sleeve that you put round the belt so there's padding between the neck and the belt. Must admit that engineering of belts is obviously done based on tall slim men. Buxom women or men with a large tum don't fit in and I have wondered as a result how many of us are actually protected the way we should be by ill fitting belts.

Mildly_Miffed

It's not just a comfort thing - in the event of a collision, that belt is going to do a lot worse than chafe her neck.

I'm really not convinced that some random shonky doofer that clips between the two bits of belt is a good plan. It's entirely feasible that it won't pull the upper belt down, but pull the lap belt up.

Doesn't the car have an adjustable upper mount? Most even vaguely recent ones do.
Exactly how it adjusts will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but it'll be something along these lines:

Iceweasel

Seat raised to max height?

chrisw

The booster seat might be an idea, she'll have to try one out.

Its a 2025 car but definitely no upper adjustment fitted.

Mildly_Miffed

That's actually genuinely surprising - what car is it?

One to bear in mind for your next car purchase, then - did you not notice on the pre-purchase test drive?

chrisw

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934609#Comment_81934609

It's a BMW i4, my last 2 series didn't have an adjustable upper mount either but didn't seem as bad.

It wasn't immediately apparent on a short test drive, it's only after a few miles she complains about it rubbing on her neck and making it sore.

Goudy

This is a problem that has been around a while with certain BMW's.

These days those clips and adjusters are a bit of a liability in an accident. The seat belt system will fire the pretensioners in the event of an accident and anything snagging the belt is going to do more harm than good.

The answer is it raise the seating position. If there isn't enough adjustment in the seat height mechanism then either an adult booster cushion or there are specific BMW Seat Risers kits available that can be fitted to raise the seat up around 30mm, then you still get the full height adjustment later.

This way you are not altering the seat belt so it will work as designed.

Arunmor

Before spending money try a series of cushions first and see how she goes.

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934684#Comment_81934684

I'm genuinely surprised - I thought you were going to say it was some cheap entry-point city car, probably from a shonky off-brand.

You really would expect any mainstream manufacturer to have such a basic safety feature sorted, especially on a car that's north of £50k starting price.

Very quick google, and people have been complaining about it for three years.
https://www.i4talk.com/threads/seatbelt-height.9086/