what's it for?

[rellik]

I have a (new to me) 1995 525iT. I was cleaning yesterday and noticed that under both the passenger and driver seats there is a very small cable that runs out of a small flat cylinder. It is somewhat spring loaded and has a "U" shaped clip that looks like it's suppose to attach to something somewhere. Out of the bottom of the same cylinder is a covered cable that looks like it may run into the where the seatbelt lives. Can anyone tell me what this is and what it's supposed to do? (if I've explained it well enough)

[Torque]

Sounds to me like a plug for heated seats (unless you already have them - then that makes my guess worthless).

[rellik]

already have them. the whole thing looks mechanical rather than electrical.

[Sean H]

I believe that's the clip that attaches to the seat rail and the spool raises/lowers the shoulder belt height as you move the seat back and forth.

[rellik]

I believe that's the clip that attaches to the seat rail and the spool raises/lowers the shoulder belt height as you move the seat back and forth.

okay that makes more sense. so in theory I should be able to pull on it and there should be some type of reaction in the seatbelt

[Sean H]

okay that makes more sense. so in theory I should be able to pull on it and there should be some type of reaction in the seatbelt

Indeed. As you pull it out, the shoulder belt height should raise (rise?).
(Speaking of which, I need to re-attach the ones in my car...)

[ScottyWM]

I believe that's the clip that attaches to the seat rail and the spool raises/lowers the shoulder belt height as you move the seat back and forth.

This thing hanging attaches to the seat rail and adjust the shoulder belt height in the pillar as the seat moves forward and back, As Sean said. I fixed both of mine and then the driver's side promptly snapped.

[Jeff N.]

If you look carefully in the font of the seat, there's a small pulley the cable goes around. I bet yours broke because it jumped the pulley and jammed.

This thing hanging attaches to the seat rail and adjust the shoulder belt height in the pillar as the seat moves forward and back, As Sean said. I fixed both of mine and then the driver's side promptly snapped.

[rellik]

If you look carefully in the font of the seat, there's a small pulley the cable goes around. I bet yours broke because it jumped the pulley and jammed.

Thanks for the pic Scotty! that's it. Thanks for the location Jeff! my next questions is it is worth hooking back up?