Has anyone installed this - https://www.bkauto.com/R_1205_BMW_F30_F80_Shoulder_Harness_Mount_Bar_p/r-1205.htm

I've been looking for a way to get track seats and harnesses into the car without any serious modifications. This looks like it would do it. No back seat of course but no welding, drilling, etc.

I'm wondering if it's user-installable, if all groups accept it, and any other observations.

TIA

derpimpkar wrote

Has anyone installed this - https://www.bkauto.com/R_1205_BMW_F30_F80_Shoulder_Harness_Mount_Bar_p/r-1205.htm

I've been looking for a way to get track seats and harnesses into the car without any serious modifications. This looks like it would do it. No back seat of course but no welding, drilling, etc.

I'm wondering if it's user-installable, if all groups accept it, and any other observations.

TIA

There's a review in my signature.

I've been using the BK bar for years, since the E92. Currently I have one on my CS and E90 track car.

It doesn't permanently modify anything, it's tested to DOT standards, it connects straight to the seatbelt reinforced positions. All groups accept it.

BK is very well known, not only in the BMW world but also in the Porsche and Vette circles

SYT_Shadow wrote

There's a review in my signature.

I've been using the BK bar for years, since the E92. Currently I have one on my CS and E90 track car.

It doesn't permanently modify anything, it's tested to DOT standards, it connects straight to the seatbelt reinforced positions. All groups accept it.

BK is very well known, not only in the BMW world but also in the Porsche and Vette circles

What about cowboy hat circles?

Got a good laugh out of that yesterday

fanatic1 wrote

What about cowboy hat circles?

Got a good laugh out of that yesterday

I aim to entertain

SYT_Shadow wrote

derpimpkar wrote

Has anyone installed this - https://www.bkauto.com/R_1205_BMW_F30_F80_Shoulder_Harness_Mount_Bar_p/r-1205.htm

I've been looking for a way to get track seats and harnesses into the car without any serious modifications. This looks like it would do it. No back seat of course but no welding, drilling, etc.

I'm wondering if it's user-installable, if all groups accept it, and any other observations.

TIA

There's a review in my signature.

I've been using the BK bar for years, since the E92. Currently I have one on my CS and E90 track car.

It doesn't permanently modify anything, it's tested to DOT standards, it connects straight to the seatbelt reinforced positions. All groups accept it.

BK is very well known, not only in the BMW world but also in the Porsche and Vette circles

ty for the information. i found your review and the BK rails plus harness bar really seem like a good solution for me to get seats and harnesses in the car.

derpimpkar wrote

ty for the information. i found your review and the BK rails plus harness bar really seem like a good solution for me to get seats and harnesses in the car.

It works extremely well. Very solid. I'm not sure where you are in NC but my car will be at VIR if you want to see the solution yourself

SYT_Shadow wrote

derpimpkar wrote

ty for the information. i found your review and the BK rails plus harness bar really seem like a good solution for me to get seats and harnesses in the car.

It works extremely well. Very solid. I'm not sure where you are in NC but my car will be at VIR this weekend if you want to see the solution yourself

are you going to be at bmwcca at vir? i'm going to be there too, i would love to see your setup.

Does anyone know if there exists an F82 solution that’s similar to this (in terms of being this non-intrusive)? It would seem most people opt for bolt in half cages, but that requires you to cut holes in the carpet and remove the back seats entirely. That’s a bit too much for my liking but I’m completely tired of tracking with OEM 3 point and slippery leather seats with poor bolstering. Any advice appreciated!

I'm almost finished with my BK Harness Bar install. It is definitely solid. The install is pretty straight forward. I had to do one "outside of the box" thing...

I had to add washers and longer bolts to secure the bar to the rear mounting points. The mounting points were about 1/4 inch wider than the bar itself.

The harness bar was the easy part. The seat mounting and harness mounts are a serious pain in the ***. I used the OEM sliders, BK side mounts and OMP Champs. I chose this combo so it would be as straightforward as possible. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it took me 2 weekends to get it all sorted out.

I have the BK lap bar mounts for sale if you need them.

fanatic1 wrote

What about cowboy hat circles?

Got a good laugh out of that yesterday

Hey man. It’s been a while since we’ve last talked.

MAG22 wrote

I'm almost finished with my BK Harness Bar install. It is definitely solid. The install is pretty straight forward. I had to do one "outside of the box" thing...

I had to add washers and longer bolts to secure the bar to the rear mounting points. The mounting points were about 1/4 inch wider than the bar itself.

The harness bar was the easy part. The seat mounting and harness mounts are a serious pain in the ***. I used the OEM sliders, BK side mounts and OMP Champs. I chose this combo so it would be as straightforward as possible. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it took me 2 weekends to get it all sorted out.

I have the BK lap bar mounts for sale if you need them.

Following this as I'm currently looking at various solutions. Why the harness bar vs a schroth quick fit? I'm trying to educate myself on the options that leave the interior intact.

MAG22 wrote

I'm almost finished with my BK Harness Bar install. It is definitely solid. The install is pretty straight forward. I had to do one "outside of the box" thing...

I had to add washers and longer bolts to secure the bar to the rear mounting points. The mounting points were about 1/4 inch wider than the bar itself.

The harness bar was the easy part. The seat mounting and harness mounts are a serious pain in the ***. I used the OEM sliders, BK side mounts and OMP Champs. I chose this combo so it would be as straightforward as possible. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it took me 2 weekends to get it all sorted out.

I have the BK lap bar mounts for sale if you need them.

I have switched over to half cage but I swear installing that bar was such a pain in the ass for how simple it looks lol.

medphysdave wrote

Following this as I'm currently looking at various solutions. Why the harness bar vs a schroth quick fit? I'm trying to educate myself on the options that leave the interior intact.

Quick fit doesn’t work with oem seats. So you need buckets anyways. I think because of this the quick fit isn’t technically rated for the f8x cars which maybe causes issues with some clubs.

If you’re getting buckets going BK bar isn’t that much more of an investment and you get the benefit of a full harness. It does mean you need the BK seat mounts if you want to install it as intended. I’ve seen some people modify it to work with other seat mounts but that would be a choice some might advise against. I personally wouldn’t.

The BK bar can be completely installed and uninstalled in exactly 25mins in my f80 with the majority of the work being wrestling the rear seat bench in and out. I did it dozens of times when I did dual duty. Weekends with the bar and weekdays with a car seat.

I also effortlessly fit 4 spare wheels in the back seat (f80). Two bolts on the BK and I folded it forward for the trip to the track. Two bolts and it was ready to rock for the event.

It is a very popular solution with very few downsides. The major one being some feel it creates risk in the event of a rollover and the roof caves since it provides no roll over protection. That said f8xs are modern chassis with way more reinforced A/B/C pillars than the M chassis of the past. You are much safer with a harness for all other possible collisions. Plus I’d prefer it during a rollover then a 3pt which does nothing but let you bounce inside the cabin. I rolled my e36 with 3 points, it sucked. That’s said, it’s technically a risk. That also said, I’ve ran with a dozen clubs / bunch of instructors and no issues.