Bulkhead removal/ seat belt mounting

[mckenro96]

I have a 2012 Berlingo, I wanted to remove the bulkhead behind the drivers sear but I notice it has the seat belt mounting for the 3rd seat on it. I was wondering if the bulkhead was removed was there anyway for another seat belt mounting to be put in its place.

[evdama]

Possibly one buried under the carpet.
I wonder if the Mutleysface have the bench seat option - they don't have bulkhead.
The rear seat footwells are plated over in the van so the floor pan might have something underneath there.

[Sol]

On my 2012 van with no bulkhead, the middle seat belt mount was on the crash bar that bolts in behind the drivers' seat. I think you would need to fit one of those crash bars if you don't have one with the bulkhead version.

As Evdama says the rear seat footwell is under a plate which can be removed, but there are no fixings down there, only a space for a rear passengers feet to go once the panel is removed.

[Root]

I have a 2012 Berlingo, I wanted to remove the bulkhead behind the drivers sear but I notice it has the seat belt mounting for the 3rd seat on it. I was wondering if the bulkhead was removed was there anyway for another seat belt mounting to be put in its place.

I've asked various people about this as want to do the same (have the ladder style one behind driver - want to remove but also want to be able to carry two passengers). Only suggestion I have had is welding a bar at a high level from one side to the other and attach the middle seatbelt fitting to it. Not ideal, but a possible solution. No idea what impact that has for MOT or safety of the seatbelt though and so haven't done it myself yet. Too scared. Please let me know if you find a solution!

[Sol]

I don't see any chance of an MOT pass with a home-made seatbelt mounting point.

[BigVtwin996]

lots of home built kit cars and restored classics with DIY seatbelt mounts...
Personally I don't like them as who knows the skill of the welder that puts everything together..
but the Inspectors etc seem to accept everything

[Pedronicus]

lots of home built kit cars and restored classics with DIY seatbelt mounts...

Do these not have to be inspected and get approval before use on the road?  Nothing to do with the MOT.

[Sol]

I'm certain they do a least in the UK. No kit car can be used without a DOT Engineer's inspection. Classic OEM cars not subject to the same tests. Remember when on Wheeler Dealers they took over a kit car build (Cobra replica) from a seller and had a nightmare getting it approved for the road, mostly due to emissions and noise levels but I expect the DOT check is strict on kit cars, especially now.

Anyway the MOT tester has the final say over safety related items, if something looks bodged then I wouldn't expect a pass.

Retrofitted factory parts are one thing, homemade items another.

[BigVtwin996]

Well.. you can buy a kit car pre compulsory testing or even any classic car....
that someone of unknown skill has fitted seat belts into.....
Have you ever seen them test seat belt installation during an MOT?
can they see any coirrosion within the prescribed limts, do they retract... do they withstand a tug.....

It is quite shocking what people get away with... I have done my coded welding certs and understand the various aspects of what happens when metal is welded, but I doubt the bloke who chops ou this and that and welds a few spreader plates in does.... and besides understandig it does not mean that it would pass an NCAP safty test.....

I think like most people I prefer manufacturer parts and fittings...
But if you have to do something outside of that the only question you need to consider is "Do I really feel that is safe"...
You can tell your insurance company anythng and they will record it... wide wheels arches you name it... if they don't want to pay out on a claim they will simply get an expert witness to reel of ftheir qualifications and ask you for yours....
The onus will be on you to proove that is it safe and acceptable...

[Sol]

I agree BigV, factory before DIY on safety items. I'm not being the "safety police", but as an engineer it gives me the heebie jeebies thinking of a home-made seatbelt mount.

Here's a sobering bit of maths:

Assuming an impact speed of 60mph, into a wall, or the frontal collision of two cars doing 30mph each (same closing speed, 60mph) then assuming a deceleration time of 0.05 seconds, the Newtonian equation f=ma (simplified here, but the calculation references the change in speed over the change in time) means that someone who weighs 75kg (body weight), if they were unrestrained, would have an impact force on a hard surface at the point of impact, of 4104kg. or 4.1 Tons.

The safe working load of the DIY seatbelt mount would have to be able to withstand a lot more than that, to guarantee that no passenger using it, would be ejected, face first, through the toughened windscreen like a battering ram, as the mounting point lets go in a collision.

That is probably un-survivable, even at 30mph. Food for thought.

.