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Safety Harness Buying Guide
The #1 rule of harnesses is: "all the way tight, all the time". This applies to all activity - even when using a harness on the street. A loose harness will do nothing to protect you.
If that is rule #1, then #2 must be to understand how a harness functions properly and how to install one the right way. Installing a harness the wrong way can cause injury instead of prevent it. Schroth has some very innovative and in-depth installation setups but if you don't know what you're doing, you could be putting others at risk (as well as yourself).
Some other things to note:
Equal Restraint
Most clubs and track days have an equal restraint rule. The same level of safety must be used for the passenger as for the driver. Yes it adds additional cost but your passenger's safety is your responsibility. There's also respect to consider - with several instructors on staff, we can tell you that seeing minimal consideration for our safety sends the wrong message about how you drive!
HANS or FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) Devices
We hope you're using a HANS or similar FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) safety device. These currently offer the highest protections against injury. Your safety harness must be compatible with the head restraint! This usually means 2" shoulder straps instead of the traditional 3" size. The 3" straps do not fit correctly over most FHR yokes and are usually uncomfortable. A 2" Schroth harness can also be used without a head restraint which makes them more versatile - and no less safe! - than the old 3" designs. You can still use a 3" shoulder belt if you don't plan on using HANS/FHR.
All Schroth Competition harnesses meet FIA standards, which were revised in 2018. Schroth has new harness designs that meet the FIA 8853-2016 regulations and these are marked accordingly on our website. There may still be previous designs on our site which are still valid for five years from the date of manufacture and still offer excellent levels of protection. But if your sanctioning body requires the new standard make sure you shop accordingly.
Seat Safety
Harnesses must rest squarely over the top of the seat back and onto your shoulders. According to Schroth the shoulder belts must ride over your collar bone as close to the neck as possible. If a seatback has a slope at shoulder height, you must not install harnesses. The angle of the shoulder section will allow the harness to slip off each shoulder or be angled incorrectly on your chest (especially with HANS). Sternum straps across your chest are not recommended. The best example we have for you is the stock seats in the F8X M3/M4. These seats have a one-piece headrest and aggressive bolstering that forces the harness around the driver instead of over him/her. The only assured solution to this is to remove the stock seats and install racing seats. BMW changed the F82 seats to traditional racing shells for the M4 GTS and MotoGP Safety Car.
BMW F8X M3/M4 Seats:
Roll Bar Safety
Roll Bars offer huge protection in a roll-over accident. And have the added benefit of another harness installation point and even as a harness guide. But not all combinations of roll-bar, harness, and seat are acceptable or safe. If you are using a roll-bar, the safest setup is to have a race seat and a 4 or 6-point harness. If you do not have a roll-bar, a 4-point ASM harness is acceptable but a 4/6-point non-ASM Competition harness is not. Read on for more detail.
The largest issue with a roll-bar is the position and behavior of your body in a roll-over. Stock reclining seats are designed to fold backwards and stock 3-point belts allow your body to rotate and move during an incident. Schroth Street and ASM harnesses will as well. This minimizes your contact with the roof and other structure. However, Race/Competition harnesses do not have ASM and are designed to keep your body upright in the seat, which can be extremely harmful or fatal in a roll-over without a roll-bar. Competition harnesses must only be used with a roll-bar or roll-cage.
Race seats without a roll-bar are common and can be used at any time and with a 4 or 6-point harness. However, a stock 3-point seatbelt must not be used with a race seat because the lap belt runs over the top of the side bolsters instead of along your pelvis. If you plan to use race seats on a street car you MUST install at least a 4-point harness.
There is disagreement if a reclining seat should be used with a roll-bar. A reclining seat is designed to collapse in an accident which will cause your body to contact the roll-bar. Also, in a rear impact the reclining seat will fold forward and may pin you under the roll-bar. Some organizations and safety experts approve this setup but some do not. Consult with your club if you plan on keeping a street/reclining seat with a roll-bar. The roll-bar and race seat combination is going to offer the best protection anyway so you should plan to only use one with the other.
Post-Wreck Safety Gear Evaluation
We urge you to take 11 minutes out of your day and watch this video. It's not a sales pitch. This is a review of the safety gear on our (former) E36 325is ChampCar endurance racer. Our driver Phil found himself rolling 6.5 times at VIR. Here he, and BimmerWorld owner James, go over the car after the crash and discuss the status of safety equipment like seats and harnesses.
Safety Harness Decisions
So which harness should you use in your BMW? Harness usage can be narrowed down to two categories: Track/Racing or Street/School.
Track/Race: a former street car that has been heavily modified for only track use. The interior has been stripped, racing seats are used with a roll-cage or roll-bar, and other safety gear is present (window and side nets, fire system, etc). These installations are permanent.
Street/School: a street car with mild-moderate modifications, factory seats, no roll-cage or roll-bar, and will be driven mostly on the street but with occasional track events. Harness installations are usually temporary and the mounting gear may be hidden.
| Track/Race | ||
| Single Driver | ||
 Becketts | Becketts 2x2 The Lifeline Becketts 2x2 6-Point Harness is an entry-level harness system designed for budget-minded racers using a HANS or FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) device. The Becketts uses a 2" lap belt, T-bar sub strap, lightweight buckle, and 2" shoulder belts. Snap-in ends are wrapped into the belt and can be un-wrapped for use with a harness bar. The shoulder belts are a pull-down configuration, while the lap belt is a pull-up. The cam-lock buckle is designed for a very positive connection and a heavy-duty spring for a faster release. The Becketts 3" belts meet the very latest FIA standards for competition harnesses (Homologation: FIA 8853-2016). Certification is for 5 years from date of manufacture. | |
 Flexi | Flexi The Flexi harness is a very versatile 6-point harness that has a lap belt that can be installed as either pull-up or pull-down (most lap belts are fixed as one or the other). The 2" lap belt with snap-in anchors that are not sewn into the belt. If your drivers prefer one or the other the initial installation is easier. It uses the light weight Schroth RFR cam lock buckle. The Flexi also has a T-bar sub strap (with snap-in ends). Available as either 2" or 3" shoulder belts with wrap-around ends to fit to a bar/cage. Bolt-in or snap-in ends can be ordered separately. | |
 Profi | Profi The Profi line of belts have been the most popular but may be giving way to the very similar Flexi belt (Flexi used to be a feature of Profi belts). The main difference is that the Profi uses a fixed lap belt design with the pull-up orientation only (Flexi can be installed as either). It uses the light weight Schroth RFR cam lock buckle. The Flexi also has a T-bar sub strap (with snap-in ends). Available as either 2" or 3" shoulder belts with wrap-around ends to fit to a bar/cage. Older Profi designs used a combined 2"/3" shoulder belt that was not used in the latest FIA-legal belts. This eliminated extra webbing and sewing and now uses a continuous 2" or 3" strap. Snap-in anchors come with the lap and sub straps while the shoulders are wrap-around. Bolt-in or snap-in ends can be ordered separately. | |
 Clubman | Clubman The Clubman is very similar to the Profi but has less features and slightly different hardware that reduces the total cost. Yet the Clubman is still FIA 2016 and SFI 16.1 approved! There is no shortage of safety with the Clubman belt. The Clubman has 2" lap belts in a pull-up configuration, T-bar sub strap, and 2" or 3" shoulder belts. All belts include snap-in anchors. The slide adjusters and cam lock are bit heavier than in a Profi or Flexi harness and the Clubman is only available in a Black color. | |
 Becketts | Becketts 3x2 Not for use with HANS. The Lifeline Becketts 3x2 6-Point Harness is an entry-level harness system designed specifically for budget-minded racers not using a HANS or FHR (Frontal Head Restraint) device. The Becketts uses a 2" lap belt, T-bar sub strap, lightweight buckle, and 3" shoulder belts. Snap-in ends are wrapped into the belt and can be un-wrapped for use with a harness bar. The shoulder belts are a pull-down configuration, while the lap belt is a pull-up. The cam-lock buckle is designed for a very positive connection and a heavy-duty spring for a faster release. The Becketts 3" belts meet the very latest FIA standards for competition harnesses (Homologation: FIA 8853-2016). Certification is for 5 years from date of manufacture. | |
| Multiple Drivers | ||
 Copse | Copse / Copse Apex and Woodcote / Woodcote Apex The Apex models of these belts adds a fully adjustable sub strap while you're in the seat. It's the same adjuster as the lap and shoulder belts. While all belts can be adjusted at the anchor point, having a second adjuster at the cam buckle is essential with multiple drivers and a sliding seat. | |
 Enduro | Enduro Designed with all of Schroth's knowledge of driver changes is packed into this harness design. The Enduro belt is designed specifically for teams where multiple drivers and driver changes mean seconds are valuable. It's the easiest-to-use harness on the market and small details save big time and avoid costly mistakes. The Enduro is built with several helpful features: extra-large hand loops on lap belts, pull tabs on adjusters, ZIP adjusters for faster tightening, and built-in bungee loops. The Enduro is built with 2" or 3" shoulder belts, 2" lap belts, T-bar sub strap, and lightweight version of the rotary buckle. All belt ends are loose so install hardware is sold separately or use them in a wrap-around install. | |
| Flexi | Flexi The Flexi harness is a very versatile 6-point harness that has a lap belt that can be installed as either pull-up or pull-down (most lap belts are fixed as one or the other). The 2" lap belt with snap-in anchors that are not sewn into the belt. If your drivers prefer one or the other the initial installation is easier. It uses the light weight Schroth RFR cam lock buckle. The Flexi also has a T-bar sub strap (with snap-in ends). Available as either 2" or 3" shoulder belts with wrap-around ends to fit to a bar/cage. Bolt-in or snap-in ends can be ordered separately. | |
| Street/School | ||
| Using HANS | ||
 Quick Fit Pro | Quick Fit Pro This belt is simply the best harness for a mixed-use car that does not have a roll bar and is using stock seats. The Pro interfaces with the factory BMW restraint systems and is compatible with HANS. Quick Fit harnesses are car-specific and work with the stock seatbelt receptacles for a particular model. This retains the function of your pre-tensioners and airbags. The Pro version has better shoulder belt geometry that works with a HANS/FHR device. It uses a racing-style cam lock but with a push button release that makes it DOT compliant. All Quick Fit harnesses have semi-hidden hardware: they either connect to an existing seat belt buckle or a inconspicuous bolt-in anchor. You can remove the harness from the car when not in use and all that remains are two small anchors. The Quick Fit Pro includes Schroth ASM technology. | |
 Profi II ASM | Profi II ASM For drivers that feel most comfortable using a racing harness in a street car, the Profi II ASM fits the bill. The Profi II ASM is built with ASM technology instead of a anti-sub strap. Using a anti-sub strap on a stock factory seat is almost impossible as the seat was never designed for it. This belt has all of the features of the full Profi II racing system: light weight rotary buckle, 3" shoulder belts, 2" lap belts with pull-up configuration, and snap-in hardware. An FHR device can be used with this harness but we don't recommend it. Because it is based on a racing design, some additional work is required for installation - the snap-in buckles require eye-bolts to be securely mounted to the chassis. In most cases you can install them at existing seatbelt anchor points. An additional benefit to this harness is that if you decide to use a racing seat in the future, a sub-strap can be purchased separately and it clicks right in! A DOT-compliant buckle is also available. | |
| Profi 2x2 | Profi 2x2 This is the standard Profi racing harness - without the ASM as in the kit above. And it's available with 2" shoulder straps that are a better fit than the 3". This system will work better in a mixed-use car that has racing seats and you are willing to install the sub-straps (required if you're not using a ASM harness!). Sub straps must be mounted securely to either the seat frame or through the floor of the car and reinforced underneath. The Profi uses a 2" fixed lap belt design with the pull-up orientation. It uses the light weight Schroth RFR cam lock buckle and T-bar sub-strap. Available as either 2" or 3" shoulder belts with wrap-around ends to fit to a bar/cage. The Flexi is also a good fit but we included the Profi on this list because it's less expensive. | |
 Profi II (FIA 1998) | Profi II This is the previous-generation Profi design that is still valid until 2022. It has several features that set it apart from the Profi 2x2 or Flexi belts. It uses a 2"/3" shoulder belt design that is compatible with HANS/FHR and the 3" lower portion gives additional protection. The 2" lap belt is the Flexi design that can be mounted as either pull-up or pull-down. Snap-in anchors are included for the lap and T-bar sub-straps. Because it is based on a racing design, some additional work is required for installation - the snap-in buckles require eye-bolts to be securely mounted to the chassis. In most cases you can install them at existing seatbelt anchor points. The sub-strap must be mounted to a racing seat or through the floor with reinforcement. Even though it does not have the FIA-2016 certification it still carries the older FIA-1998 approval which was the standard for over twenty years. | |
| Not Using HANS | ||
 Quick Fit | Quick Fit This belt is simply the best harness for a mixed-use car that does not have a roll bar and is using stock seats. This is the standard model that does interface with the factory BMW restraint systems but is not HANS compatible. Quick Fit harnesses are car-specific and work with the stock seatbelt receptacles for a particular model. This retains the function of your pre-tensioners and airbags. The standard Quick Fit has shoulder belts that are spaced too far apart to be used with a HANS/FHR device. It uses a DOT-compliant push button buckle. All Quick Fit harnesses have semi-hidden hardware: they either connect to an existing seat belt buckle or a inconspicuous bolt-in anchor. You can remove the harness from the car when not in use and all that remains are two small anchors. The Quick Fit includes Schroth ASM technology. The Pro version can be used without HANS as well, which will be a better choice if you plan to use a HANS device later on. | |
 Rallye 4 | Rallye 4 The Rallye 4 is one of the original Schroth harness designs - in use for over twenty years! It was designed as a road-legal safety harness, not a full racing harness. Yet its attributes are impressive: ASM technology, DOT-compliant buckle, bolt-in anchors, comfortable padded lap belt, and quick disconnect rear section. The Rallye belts are not car specific. They are permanently installed using existing seat belt anchor points in the front and rear. The rear section can be disconnected from the front to allow use of the back seat. However, the front and rear sections remain in the vehicle (not like a Quick Fit that can be removed). There is also a Rallye 3 version but the Rallye 4 is better compatible with BMW chassis. | |
Schroth ASM for Street Harnesses
Schroth ASM stands for "Anti Sub-Marining" - a feature built into street harnesses that prevents the occupant from sliding under the lap belt in a crash (submarining). In a race car this is achieved by using a sub-strap (crotch belt) that mounts to the floor and is routed through the racing seat to the buckle. That's not possible or safe to do on a factory street seat. Schroth's solution is ingeniously simple and has proven effective in testing and the real world: ASM is an extra few inches of belt that is folded along the inside shoulder belt and hidden under a plastic cover. In a frontal accident the extra belt length is released and allows one side of your body to fall further forward than the other side. This causes your torso to twist, which prevents you from sliding under the lap belt. The ASM is on the right shoulder for a driver and the left shoulder for a passenger (in a LHD vehicle). This also has the benefit of forcing each occupant away from each other. ASM is a standard feature in all Rallye 3/4 and Quick Fit harnesses, as well as on the special Profi II ASM belt. The system is redundant in a Competition harness since those are designed with a sub-strap.
Watch (and Learn): Race Harness Install & Driver Adjustments
Schroth Mounting Hardware
All Schroth Tuning belts (Rallye, Quick Fit) will include mounting hardware to take the guesswork out of the installation. Competition belts have a lot more mounting options - snap-in, bolt-in, or wrap-around.
Snap-In: easiest for fast installation and removal. The snap-in bracket requires an eye-bolt at the anchor point or through the floor or panel with a reinforcing backing plate. The snap-in is the preferred install method because it allows the belt to move freely at almost any angle. It will accept a 2" or 3" belt.
Bolt-In: a more permanent install with a high-grade hex bolt used to an existing anchor point or through the floor or panel with a reinforcing backing plate. Bolt-in brackets typically require more planning to route the belt in the correct orientation. The best install will allow the bracket to pivot on the installation bolt so the belt can move freely. It will accept a 2" or 3" belt.
Wrap-Around: the ends of the belt are wrapped around a harness bar, roll bar, or roll cage tubing. The proper angles from the driver to the harness bar must be followed (from 0° to 20° downward angle from the driver's shoulders). That makes the wrap-around difficult for many applications where the harness bar may be too high or too low (a snap-in install to the rear seat area works better). Wrapping the belt must be done in the proper way as well and Schroth has many detailed diagrams for it.
Most Competition belts come with a combination of the above. Usually it's a snap-in lap belt and a snap-in sub-strap with wrap-around shoulder belts. If you plan to use eye-bolts for the shoulder straps you must order the snap-in brackets separately (unless the belt comes with them).
If you are not mounting to an existing seatbelt anchor position (the factory 3-point belt locations) you must use a reinforcing backing plate. In a typical installation the eye-bolt would mount through the floor with the backing plate on the underside of the floor (pointing to the ground). Never use a washer as the reinforcing plate. Seal around the backing plate with epoxy or sealant to keep moisture and fumes out.
BMW Schroth Harnesses Available at BimmerWorld:
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