DIY - How to Disable e92 “ Seatbelt Assist ” arm - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

DIY - How to Disable e92 “ Seatbelt Assist ” arm

Published by .psd
09-25-2006

DIY - How to Disable e92 “ Seatbelt Assist ” arm

A) For those who don’t like to read directions: Take out the seatbelt fuse
B) For others who want a detailed directions, read below:

FIRST:
Do this in the daytime for more light.
Press in the key (do not press Start Button) - radio should come on, AND Seatbelt Assist.

1) Open the glove box and get out the flashlight. Take notice of both knobs at the end of the glove box. This is the fuse box.
2) Twist both knobs 90 degrees
3) Take the small paper diagram of the fuses out.
4) Look for the seatbelt icon with the number 25 beside it
5) Turn the small paper diagram over to the fuse map and find the location of ‘Fuse 25’
6) Take the fuse installer out and find the 10amp fuse in spot 25
7) Take the fuse out and store it in a safe place if you need to replace it.
8) Put the fuse installer back in the fuse box and close the fuse box cover. Make sure the twist knobs line up before closing the glove box.

Last:
Press in the key - radio should shut off.
Press in the key - radio should come on, but NO Seatbelt Assist.

Important Notes:
A) I took the car out and DID NOT put on the seatbelt, the chime for the seatbelt still comes on.
B) I am not 100% certian if this effects the airbags. I know that some cars passenger airbags will not come on if there is no one in the seat at the time of impact. Due to taking out the fuse, this might deactivate the sensor in the seat, but I am not sure... with that said, use at your own risk.

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By PresaMat on 09-25-2006, 04:52 AM

Great Post!!! Thanks very much - they look so fimsy I can't wait to get my car just to disable them! Thanks again.

Mat

By ZuerstBMW on 09-25-2006, 05:02 AM

And they look cheap.

By kapoo on 09-25-2006, 07:33 AM

Wow! Thnx for the help!! i know u saved alot of people from having to repair that in the future..

By RichP on 09-25-2006, 08:07 AM

Nice, I need to go pull the fuse on my headlight washers, unless its winter, they make more mess than they clean.

By jhalbri on 09-25-2006, 08:51 AM

Thanks .psd for the detailed info on disabling the seatbelt butler. Great info for everybody.

By Kenny C on 09-25-2006, 08:58 AM

Before I did that I would find out if taking out the fuse disables the airbag. Who knows if you KILL your passenger what YOUR consequences may be. Accidents happen and technology is there to help us out but you will have to live with yourself not to mention possible legal problems.

By picus on 09-25-2006, 09:36 AM

Sticky imo; great post.

By 3thirty5 on 09-25-2006, 09:42 AM

thanks for the great info! The seatbelt assist actually doesn't bother me that much... but when it does i'll know what to do!

By MrSilver on 09-25-2006, 09:45 AM

Thank you for your great post!!!!!

#10

By Ninjaneer on 09-25-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny C

Was thinking the same thing. Everyone seems so eager to disable it and neglected the airbag comment

Great post though

#11

By PiperD on 09-25-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny C

May also want to look into the seatbelt pretensioner as well - is that disabled if the fuse is out?

My hunch is that the airbag system would not be affected, since I believe the system looks for a certain amount of electrical resistance from each airbag, and alerts you if there's a problem. That was my experience from my '00 328, which had to have an airbag replaced. OBC kept generating fault codes because it wasn't detecting the driver airbag properly.

But that's just a hunch - I agree that I'd prefer to have a concrete answer as to what fuse 25 really does!

Still a good find by the OP tho

#12

By .psd on 09-25-2006, 10:55 AM

When I took Fuse 25 out, I drove around the block and noticed that the seatbelt chime came on (because I wasn't wearing my seatbelt), So it definitely detected me (without giving me the belt). Therefore the proper airbags should work because the seat knows there's a person in it.

#13

By rody on 09-25-2006, 11:03 AM

this doesn't shut down the chime ?

#14

By .psd on 09-25-2006, 11:09 AM

No, the chime is STILL active.

#15

By rody on 09-25-2006, 11:10 AM

isn't there a fuse to get the chime out

#16

By .psd on 09-25-2006, 12:15 PM

Not sure about the chime fuse.

#17

By zamboni on 09-25-2006, 12:26 PM

This mod is crazy and unsafe.

#18

By KUweatherman on 09-25-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rody

this doesn't shut down the chime ?

No, putting on your seatbelt does that...

#19

By rody on 09-25-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUweatherman

No, putting on your seatbelt does that...

we all know that, but if you drive every time for like 5 min it gets irritating

#20

By Pedal2Floor on 09-25-2006, 01:11 PM

I doubt that Fuse 25 does anything except handle the butler. If the butler is broken or damaged in such a way that caused the fuse to blow it would then disable other safety system - that seems pretty stupid plus NHSTA would not be too happy about that. Also, because the butler give you the belt does not mean it know you put it on which makes no sense for the safety systems.

I assume there is another system under the seat for the air bag as required by new regs and that the seat belt clicker has another sensor and the belt butler is completely out of the safety loop.

The fact that chime still plays tells me that safety systems have detected that you do not have your seat belt on.

I don't believe pulling the fuse will cause a problem. The only problem that remains is covering up the arm so that nobody tries to pull it out but hand like a toy and breaks it.

Truely, the belt butler is a piss poor feature and hope it goes away in MY08.

#21

By .psd on 09-25-2006, 02:14 PM

/\ You are totally right.
Fuse 25 only works the electrical mech for the seatbelt assist. Nothing more.
It's just like taking out a rear wiper fuse, sunroof fuse or power window fuse. When there is no fuse, the specific part simply does not work.