Re: '91 200Q Bose Pyrotechnic Device

[DeWitt Harrison <de@aztek-eng.com>]

On Mon, 07 Jun 1999 19:14:59 GMT, Phil Payne wrote:

>In message <v03130300b381843ac4d3@[206.106.147.12]> Phil Rose writes:
>
>> Years ago, after seeing people at the side of the highway standing by
>> helplessly while their car burned, I decided that a fire extinguisher was
>> good, cheap protection. But unless it's a rally/race car, where's that
>> extinguisher likely to be placed--the trunk, right? We do have an
>> extinguisher in our dorF Exploder, but not in my '91 200q. Time to rethink
>> that situation. I guess the passenger footwell has enough space to mount an
>> extinguisher. I suppose we'll just *make it* be enough space!
>
>I remember very many Germans having it mounted transversely on the floor
>immediately in front of the driver's seat.  I think some Mercedes cars
>even had a bracket fixed to the seat itself.

I have found this to be an excellent location. An aluminum mounting plate can
be easily fabricated to hold the extinguisher just ahead of the forward most
position of the driver's seat. By giving it a bit of a "Z" bend, you can share
the two forward seat bolts and, using threaded spacers, the two floor mat
retaining post attachment points. In a crash, the plate will definitely stay
put.
Whether the fire extinguisher stays put depends on how strongly its
bracket is made. I do not advise relying solely on the quick release
strap normally supplied with these devices. Some additional structure
to prevent forward movement during extreme deceleration is usually
needed.

>Has the advantage of being accessible to a trapped driver.

It also doesn't worry the passenger nearly as much as a passenger
side location although it could be a passenger comfort during
certain "test" rides.

DeWitt Harrison
Boulder, CO
88 5kcstq