Rebody Seats

[Casamolino39]

I have had a number of Z3s in the past and have just bought another , know i do not personally like the style of the Z3 seat and have always replaced them either buying ready to fit seats or more recently fitting a pair of MGB seats , so my question is and it may have already been answered (so sorry) has anybody fitted the seats out of either an E36 or an E46 , i have made seat frames in the past so that would not be an issue (although would prefer not to) , thanks Geoff .

 

[Duncodin]

Sorry. I can't answer your question but I am interested in swapping out seats.

You posted in the 'ReBody' area of the forum - have you done a rebody? Pictures would be great

But also pictures of any of your past Z3's with different seats you've done in the past would be great too.

 

[Pond]

MGB seats are perfect for the Z3, if wanting a more period look.
A) they are cheap to buy and plentiful
B) they fit really well, width-wise
C) the frames are simple to fix to the Z3 bases
D) new foams, diaphragms, brightware.....in fact everything is easy to source and relatively inexpensive as there is a massive aftermarket for MGB parts.

 

[IainP]

I have had a number of Z3s in the past and have just bought another , know i do not personally like the style of the Z3 seat and have always replaced them either buying ready to fit seats or more recently fitting a pair of MGB seats , so my question is and it may have already been answered (so sorry) has anybody fitted the seats out of either an E36 or an E46 , i have made seat frames in the past so that would not be an issue (although would prefer not to) , thanks Geoff .

E46 seats don’t fit, the bases are too wide, welding would be required to fit the Z3 base, even then, they’re too wide at the shoulder and hit the body.

 

[Casamolino39]

E46 seats don’t fit, the bases are too wide, welding would be required to fit the Z3 base, even then, they’re too wide at the shoulder and hit the body.

Thank you , Geoff .

 

[Casamolino39]

My current car is this Z3GT .

 

[John_B]

You clearly know what you're doing, so apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but it's worth remembering that the seats form part of the roll-over protection in the Z3, they're obviously stronger than seats designed for a car with a roof. Depending what your other plans are for the car, just be careful you're not unwittingly making yourself a deathtrap if the worst happened and you were involved in a roll-over.

 

[Duncodin]

My current car is this Z3GT .

Nice seats. What are they?

 

[Casamolino39]

MGB , refurbished frames , new padding and part leather covers .

 

[Delk]

You clearly know what you're doing, so apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but it's worth remembering that the seats form part of the roll-over protection in the Z3, they're obviously stronger than seats designed for a car with a roof. Depending what your other plans are for the car, just be careful you're not unwittingly making yourself a deathtrap if the worst happened and you were involved in a roll-over.

I hear this bantered about now and again. If you have ever picked up a seat without the base I think there is more weight and strength in the floor mats. I wouldnt put any hope in them helping in a roll over.

 

[t-tony]

The roll-over protection comes, in the main, from the windscreen frame. Having said that, the seat backs give more support than your neck!

Tony.

 

[Pond]

You clearly know what you're doing, so apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but it's worth remembering that the seats form part of the roll-over protection in the Z3, they're obviously stronger than seats designed for a car with a roof. Depending what your other plans are for the car, just be careful you're not unwittingly making yourself a deathtrap if the worst happened and you were involved in a roll-over.

The car in the picture, like most 'rebodies', has a wooden steering wheel with no airbags so stronger seats is the least of anyone's worries IMO.
I cut the headrests off my MGB seats, have ditched the airbags, cut off the roll-over hoops and have a fixed wooden steering wheel.
Modern safety is not my priority. Replicating a 1960s car, as near as is possible, is.

 

[John_B]

The car in the picture, like most 'rebodies', has a wooden steering wheel with no airbags so stronger seats is the least of anyone's worries IMO.

it looks to have a roof too . But the OP is talking about another Z3 they have just bought, hence my comment about"...depending on what your plans are...". If Geoff is keeping it as a regular Z3 but just changing the seats, then knowing they are part of the roll-over protection may be relevant information.

 

[Pingu]

The rebodies with roofs have a roll cage, although it would probably just fold like a banana and pin you into the burning wreckage .

 

[Pond]

The rebodies with roofs have a roll cage, although it would probably just fold like a banana and pin you into the burning wreckage .

Are they roll cages, or just a frame to stop the plastic roof flopping about?

 

[Pingu]

Are they roll cages, or just a frame to stop the plastic roof flopping about?

Frames. They are basically bent scaffolding tubes.

You could probably place the car gently on its roof and it wouldn't fold, but if you dropped it from 6" it would crush.

 

[GZed]

My current car is this Z3GT .

Off topic but @Duncodin have you seen these pepperpottish wheels?

 

[Duncodin]

Off topic but @Duncodin have you seen these pepperpottish wheels?

Did you intend to post a picture or link?

Now I see it.

 

[Pingu]

Did you intend to post a picture or link?

Now I see it.

@Pond
If you are interested. I have a set of 15" BMW wheels like those, but they are at Classic Coachworks. I paid £750 for five, but they didn't fit over the M calipers. There are centre spinners for four of the wheels. I assume that CC haven't sold them, as I've not been told. Two of the wheels have 60 profile 245 tyres on them, but they are scrap, as far as I'm concerned. I think they came off an E-Type that raced around Goodwood. The tyres are OK, but the profile will be too tall for our cars.

Contact CC if you are interested.