Seats

[Delk]

I have one S2000 seat in and it fits pretty good. Needs to come out so I can paint the frame and mount the seat motor switch.

Removed the motors and base from the original seats and the rails and mounts from the new to me seats. Welded up an adaptor frame and everything bolted into the stock location. The seat belt mounts are all part of the motor base so this stayed the same. The S2000 seat also has a shoulder loop for thr belt that is far better then the BMW one.

The shoulder is a bit wider and touches the side of the body when the seat is all the way back but in general the clearance is good. Doesnt touch the door like I hear most of the aftermarket seats do.

It is far more comfortable and supportive then the original.

 

[Althulas]

Does it sit higher than the standard seat or is it just the angle of the photo? Looks good though. For the next seat can you post a how with the bracket mods be good for anyone who would like to follow suit.

 

[Delk]

I doesn't appear to sit any higher. I cant measure exact as the driver seat has already been pulled. It has alot more shape and the bolsters on the side make it look much taller. The seating area is at roughly the same height so that hasn't changed. In the picture it is also raised up a bit on the electric motors compared to the drivers side.

I still have 15mm of risers under the front rails from the stock seats that I will remove since they are not needed any longer.

The only remaining thing to sort out is how to mount the seat adjuster controls. I have removed the switch and just have it hanging loose at the moment. Eventually I may dye them so they are a bit darker but for now they will stay the same as they are.

As recommended on here I installed a jumper on the passenger seat occupancy sensor. I have also lost the heated seats. If I want I can install pads in the S2000 ones at a later date but I dont really use them so I am not going to worry about it now. It does look as if the seat covers come off much easier so it wouldn't be much trouble.

Now that I have sorted it out I will document and photo the drivers seat install.

The one thing I never liked about the car was the seats. They were just hard, flat and not comfortable especially on long runs. Sports seats are nice but expensive for questionable gains.

 

[Delk]

The motors and base was removed for use under the new seats. The original belts all remain attached to this base so none of that has changed.

The old manual adjustment rails and seat mounts were taken off of the S2000 seats. I drilled the rivets to remove the adjusters. The seat mounts will be reused after an adaptor frame is welded up. This allows everything to bolt together.

The seat belt guide is a big bonus.

 

[Lee]

I've been looking at seats to do exactly this. I've been eyeing up the Jag F-type seat.

How did it align with the bolting holes ?

Edit: I see your using the original frame.

 

[Delk]

Just looked up the F type seat and they look very nice. Narrower in the shoulder so that would be good. I went with the S2000 seat since I have stock belts and they already had the upper guide that isnt broken like the BMW ones.

The stock base and motor assembly is very offset. The floor mounts are outboard to clear the transmission tunnel. The upper mounts are centered on the seat base making alignment easy. The adapter I made was just a square out angle and flat bar. With it centered on the upper base mounts the S2000 seat rails just cleared the belt tensioner. I had to bend the outboard seat belt mount so it angled a little farther outboard to clear the back angle adjustment mechanism. The S2000 seats are just a bit wider then stock but not by much.

 

[Lee]

Just looked up the F type seat and they look very nice. Narrower in the shoulder so that would be good. I went with the S2000 seat since I have stock belts and they already had the upper guide that isnt broken like the BMW ones.

The stock base and motor assembly is very offset. The floor mounts are outboard to clear the transmission tunnel. The upper mounts are centered on the seat base making alignment easy. The adapter I made was just a square out angle and flat bar. With it centered on the upper base mounts the S2000 seat rails just cleared the belt tensioner. I had to bend the outboard seat belt mount so it angled a little farther outboard to clear the back angle adjustment mechanism. The S2000 seats are just a bit wider then stock but not by much.

Nice, I'm looking to go down the full custom seat mounts route, I want to do away with the original seat frame with motors and gain that space to lower the seat.

 

[Delk]

For what you do I can fully understand that. Mine only lives on the road so I kept the original setup.

The floor mounts are probably at least 100mm offset to the outside compared to the center of the seat. When I dropped the stock S2000 seat in the car just to look the inboard seat mount interfered with the trans tunnel pushing the whole thing over so it didn't even fit.

 

[Lee]

For what you do I can fully understand that. Mine only lives on the road so I kept the original setup.

The floor mounts are probably at least 100mm offset to the outside compared to the center of the seat. When I dropped the stock S2000 seat in the car just to look the inboard seat mount interfered with the trans tunnel pushing the whole thing over so it didn't even fit.

It's more my long legs, I've always struggled with the steering wheel rubbing on my knee. I'm expecting them to be a right pain to get fitted, lots of trial and error to get the alignment right.

 

[Jack Daw]

Sorry finger slip, !!

 

[Delk]

It's more my long legs, I've always struggled with the steering wheel rubbing on my knee. I'm expecting them to be a right pain to get fitted, lots of trial and error to get the alignment right.

My misses is 5'1" and neither of us suffer from that issue. She has trouble reaching the peddles and I cant get in the car after she has been driving. Thats the big reason I kept the electric seats.

 

[Dino D]

It's more my long legs, I've always struggled with the steering wheel rubbing on my knee. I'm expecting them to be a right pain to get fitted, lots of trial and error to get the alignment right.

These are the ones my Sparco is are mounted on.
Very beefy and heavy:
https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/shop/racing-seat-harness-roll-cages-brands/planted-technologicalgy-seat-frames/planted-bmw-z3-seat-bracket/

If you want to get a template we can get one off when I’m next up - they are great but can be improved upon (ie the plate overhangs the rear mounting bolt making it harder to access and it could do with more holes for options to line up the seat).
These are lower than stock but could potentially go a bit lower than this too..but then I’d need a cushion

 

[Dino D]

I have one S2000 seat in and it fits pretty good. Needs to come out so I can paint the frame and mount the seat motor switch.

Removed the motors and base from the original seats and the rails and mounts from the new to me seats. Welded up an adaptor frame and everything bolted into the stock location. The seat belt mounts are all part of the motor base so this stayed the same. The S2000 seat also has a shoulder loop for thr belt that is far better then the BMW one.

The shoulder is a bit wider and touches the side of the body when the seat is all the way back but in general the clearance is good. Doesnt touch the door like I hear most of the aftermarket seats do.

It is far more comfortable and supportive then the original.

View attachment 118567

These look perfectly at home in a Z - how do they compare price wise with Z3 sports seats?

 

[Delk]

I looked for awhile and couldn't get sports seats unless I spent a fortune. If they were reasonable they were gone before i could dial the number.

These are leather that is in really good shape and the red matches the car quite close. All said and done for 300. I figured if they didnt work I would sell them on but they are definitely staying now.

 

[Lee]

These are the ones my Sparco is are mounted on.
Very beefy and heavy:
https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/shop/racing-seat-harness-roll-cages-brands/planted-technologicalgy-seat-frames/planted-bmw-z3-seat-bracket/

If you want to get a template we can get one off when I’m next up - they are great but can be improved upon (ie the plate overhangs the rear mounting bolt making it harder to access and it could do with more holes for options to line the seat).
These are lower than stock but could potentially go a bit lower than this too..but then I’d need a cushion

That would be really handy, I can then get my fab shop to make me a pair.

 

[Stevo7682]

Seats look really good .
Down your your way next July need to get in touch to get a look at them and your other mods since I last saw you .
Stephen.

 

[Delk]

Seats look really good .
Down your your way next July need to get in touch to get a look at them and your other mods since I last saw you .
Stephen.

You know where I live and am more then welcome. I have more wine for your wife.

 

[Stevo7682]

Need to bring her round to meet you next time

 

[Delk]

Always welcome. The bbq is at the ready.