I was getting out of the car this afternoon and found that I could not get the seat belt to retract back in, I took off the side pannel just enough to see if there was something blocking it but nothing was. Is there any way this ca be fixed or do I simply have to get a new seatbelt assembly, also how the heck do you get the seat belt to go up and down, it looks like it's got some weird pully system there that has a wire going to it from below?:confused

Second problem I need help with is the blower motor. For a while now it has been getting worse, the other day we had a sharp temperature change and I think that almost did it in. Problem now is that it is still working, all be it with less air comming out, but it makes this loud noise that sounds like something is rubbing agaist it, almost like a chopper is overhead :D is there a way to get at the blower (squrell cages i think they are called) that I could do this weekend? If so is there a DIY on this maybe even with pics?

Thanks for any and all help on this guys :)

Seat belt: pull it out completely and wash the complete belt with a mild detergent.
Often that helps already.
This is the ideal time to clean both sides of the top runner scrape off the build up of gunge then finish off with some mr sheene or similar, this helps the belt run freely over it. I did that and it works well.
If that does not help, here is a bit more difficult and "dangerous" repair I posted on Bimmerboard
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/290248/
Do it at your own risk!

blower motor: your 1988 model does not yet have a microfilter, so we can exclude this from the list to check.
I assume that the housing inside where the blower motor is located is full of old leaves etc, blocking the way. Clean that.
If that does not help, maybe the motor bearings are gone.
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_15.htm

I was getting out of the car this afternoon and found that I could not get the seat belt to retract back in, I took off the side pannel just enough to see if there was something blocking it but nothing was. Is there any way this ca be fixed or do I simply have to get a new seatbelt assembly, also how the heck do you get the seat belt to go up and down, it looks like it's got some weird pully system there that has a wire going to it from below?:confused

The height of the seatbelt is controlled by the position of the seat. Move the seat back and forth and watch the belt go up and down. Kind of cool.

A set of seat belts for the 7 are less than $100. Visit e38.org for an excellent write up on replacing them. Why screw around with something that just might save your life one day?

^^ thanks guys, yea for sure I need to get the belt fixed asap, it still has tension when it's on and will lock up if pulled. Shogun thanks once again for the excellent info I will read up and get to it. I had heard something about this up and down being tied to the seat just wasn't sure how, only thing is, I tried doing that and nothing happens, does this mean the motor for that is done?

With the blower motor I think it might just be the bearings cause before the current noise there was a "chirping" sound that it was making, i would think that would be the bearings no?

^^ thanks guys, yea for sure I need to get the belt fixed asap, it still has tension when it's on and will lock up if pulled. Shogun thanks once again for the excellent info I will read up and get to it. I had heard something about this up and down being tied to the seat just wasn't sure how, only thing is, I tried doing that and nothing happens, does this mean the motor for that is done?

With the blower motor I think it might just be the bearings cause before the current noise there was a "chirping" sound that it was making, i would think that would be the bearings no?

The cable for the seat belt height attaches to the bottom of the seat, when the seat moves it pulls the cable. It's possible the cable was detached at some point and never re-installed.

ah ok, so the thing I thought was a wire is just a cable inside a shieth?

yes, correct. Happens sometimes that the cable detaches from the bottom of the seat.