Z4 Seat Belt Handover System Fails, Solutions Needed

Had the same issue with my 2013 BMW M4 last month. The belt handover mechanism completely failed, wouldn't extend or retract. Got it diagnosed at the shop and it turned out the servo motor in the belt bringer unit was dead. Had to replace the entire belt handover assembly since these components aren't sold separately. It's not a critical safety issue as the seatbelt still functions normally, you just have to reach back further to grab it. But getting it fixed is worth it for the convenience. The repair took about 2 hours at the shop. Pretty straightforward job for any mechanic who regularly works on BMWs, as this is a fairly common problem on these models after 100,000 km. My advice: find a specialized BMW shop with certified techs. They'll have the right diagnostic tools and genuine parts for this repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience, that's super helpful! It sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. I'm leaning towards getting it fixed since reaching back for the belt is getting pretty annoying. Would you mind telling me roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also curious if you've had any other issues pop up with the belt system since getting it fixed?

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. Got my belt tensioner fixed and I'm glad I did, the repair was totally worth it. Cost me 455 € all in, which included the new belt bringer unit and labor. Since getting it sorted at the mechanic, it's been working perfectly smooth, no more awkward reaching back for the belt! I know that price might sound a bit steep, but honestly, the convenience factor makes it worthwhile. The belt handover now extends and retracts just like it did when the car was new. Haven't had a single problem with the system since the repair, which was about six weeks ago now. The job was pretty straightforward for my mechanic, they knew exactly what they were doing with these BMW systems. If you're still on the fence about getting it fixed, I'd say go for it. The daily annoyance of reaching back for the belt gets old real quick!

I actually went ahead and got it fixed last week! Found a really solid mechanic who specializes in BMWs. The whole thing cost me about 480 €, a bit more than what you paid, but still reasonable considering the work involved. The funny part was when they showed me the old belt tensioner, it was completely shot! The repair took about two and a half hours, and I hung around the shop watching them work. Got to say, these guys knew their stuff! They even caught a minor issue with the wiring that could've caused problems down the line and fixed it at no extra charge. Now my belt handover is working perfectly, no more awkward twisting around to grab it. Such a relief! Thanks again for giving me the confidence to get this sorted. Sometimes you just need that little push to stop putting off these repairs, you know?