Retrofit Sport Seats?

[gyrfalcon]

Has anyone tried to retrofit the sport seats and have an approximate cost for doing so? I've attempted to find the correct parts on realoem.com but it's really tough to figure out exactly which parts I need. Anyone want to sell some Coral Red manual sport seats?

[lambammm]

i have them but i wouldn't sell them lol. are you not satisfied with premium seats or regular seats?

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by lambammm

i have them but i wouldn't sell them lol. are you not satisfied with premium seats or regular seats?

The regular seats are great for everyday driving in my book. However, I started AutoXing my car and find myself wishing for a little bit of extra bolstering.

[john08135i]

THey should be same bolt up pattern arent they?

[lib]

The threads I've read regarding this always ended the same way. The consensus was the sport seats should be a direct drop-in replacement but to buy them new OEM you'd end up paying a lot more than they're worth.

Finding a used set in coral red will be difficult - it's a rare color and very few people swap out their sport seats.

Your best bet may be to find an aftermarket solution that you like.

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by lib

The threads I've read regarding this always ended the same way. The consensus was the sport seats should be a direct drop-in replacement but to buy them new OEM you'd end up paying a lot more than they're worth.

Finding a used set in coral red will be difficult - it's a rare color and very few people swap out their sport seats.

Your best bet may be to find an aftermarket solution that you like.

That's the impression I getting as well, but I'd really rather not go to an aftermarket seat for a daily driver. Does anyone know exactly how much it would cost for an OEM replacement or where I would get the seats? As long as they aren't over the 1000 bucks that the sport package would have cost, I could see them as being somewhat feasible choices.

[PrimoM3]

How do you feel about black leatherette?

[Robert]

might as well get recaro

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by Primo135

How do you feel about black leatherette?

Like it's not anywhere near as nice as my Coral Red Leather.:biggrin: :wink:

[lib]

In this thread a guy on e90post is claiming to have found the 3-series sport seats for $800 each: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179080

If they have 1'er seats for the same price that's probably about the best you can do.

[Robert]

[gyrfalcon]

The performance seats are nice but they are very hard to get in the US as they aren't sold to dealers, I'd lose my red seat color, and they cost something like $5K for both.

[Lester]

There was a post recently from someone wanting to trade his coral red for black. You might be able to get black, and trade for his Coral.

Dana_daray - Vista CA

Interior swap
Ok, I was just thinking about this and wanted to see if somebody would consider it. I have the coral red leather, and was looking to trade the front and rear seats for black ones. They are leather, not leatherette. I live in Vista, CA, but willing to drive as far as San francisco. Well just thought I would throw it out there.

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by gyrfalcon

The regular seats are great for everyday driving in my book. However, I started AutoXing my car and find myself wishing for a little bit of extra bolstering.

I totally agree. The non-sport seats are a life saver in the winter with a heavy jacket on. They provide that extra room.

[john08135i]

Yea ive researched this alot to. I really wouldnt mind somre recaros but what about the airbags then and airbag light?

ALso i saw yesterday somewhere the BMW performance seats are only gonna be like $1200 a pair.. i would LUV those..

and that guy wanting to trade his red seats for black has sport and will only trade for sports.

[ADA///M]

Originally Posted by john08135i

ALso i saw yesterday somewhere the BMW performance seats are only gonna be like $1200 a pair.. i would LUV those..

I'd say there is no chance at that happening. Maybe 1200 for labor just to install them lol.

I'd say at least 3k for the pair of seats...minimum.

[tommy]

The Recaros they're using, the Sporster CS, will be a hell of a lot cheaper than the BMW version. Yes, you'll lose the airbags, but you'll be able to get a color/fabric combination that you'll like.

And will be a better seat for autoxing than the sport seats ever would be.

That would be my recommendation (or another Recaro seat, if you prefer). I've got a Recaro Sport in my Benz, and it's good for both autoxing and daily driving. They should have a resistor to feed the airbag light as well.

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by tommy

The Recaros they're using, the Sporster CS, will be a hell of a lot cheaper than the BMW version. Yes, you'll lose the airbags, but you'll be able to get a color/fabric combination that you'll like.

And will be a better seat for autoxing than the sport seats ever would be.

That would be my recommendation (or another Recaro seat, if you prefer). I've got a Recaro Sport in my Benz, and it's good for both autoxing and daily driving. They should have a resistor to feed the airbag light as well.

You're probably right, but I really think the OEM sport seats are a nice middle ground between the ones I've got and the recaro types. I really just want a little bit more support for spirited driving and the occasional autocross. I can live without maximum grip and support in autox situations to keep my OEM look, color, and ease of entry.

SO.... is the general consensus that there is no way I'm ever going to be able to find a pair of Coral Red Sport Seats for my car? I've yet to hear any concrete pricing on what this would cost or who sells them. It would be nice to know if for nothing else than knowing if I win the lottery I have that option...

[qstix]

Originally Posted by robert

might as well get recaro

They probably are Recaros.. Recaro make nearly every seat for cars, and Aeroplanes for that matter.. You basic Ford Fieasta ( small cheap car in the UK ) probably has Recaros..

When there seats are being used to a sporty effect, like in the BMW Sport ( although not badged "Recaro" )Siera Coswoth, Mitsibishi EVO's, Gold R32 etc, then sometimes they are Badged Recaro..


All the 1ers will have the same fixing points for the seats, probably the same subframes too. The electric and Manual seats may have a different sub frame, but same fixing/mounting points..

Its only the shape of the padding on the base and back that are different..

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by qstix

They probably are Recaros..

They are rebranded Recaro Sportster CS, but this thread is getting off topic from where I was hoping to get answers.

[Add1ct]

I did this, got a great deal from a local member- basically new leatherette sport seats for $500 for the pair and got them in with the 4 bolts each, no errors on the dash/ with the airbags, I think the power bolsters require programming or switching of pins on the connectors or both and I am still investigating that, but very easy and waaaaaaayyyyy better

[Reach]

Originally Posted by gyrfalcon

SO.... is the general consensus that there is no way I'm ever going to be able to find a pair of Coral Red Sport Seats for my car? I've yet to hear any concrete pricing on what this would cost or who sells them.

The best thing you can do, if you really want to do this swap and at a cost-effective price point, is to continually search online and local wreckers for totaled 1ers and purchase parted-out seats. A good online starting place is car-part.com although I already looked there and they don't have any at the moment.

Check sites like this and ebay ever 2 weeks or so and you'll have a good chance of coming upon what you want within say 6 months or so. Since the car is so new, it may take longer before drivers start crashing them in greater #s though!

I did this when I wanted to swap my Z4's sport seats for MZ4 seats, and sure enough, a set became available for only $500 for each seat (+ freight shipping). Good luck!