Aftermarket/ non oem seat ideas

[Madcatgrafix]

After being offered 2 sets of m sport seats, with worn / ripped bolsters, but still big money, I've been thinking of just buying new aftermarket seats....

So was just wondering has anyone got pictures of any aftermarket seats in their z4, to give me some pointers? Tia.

 

[Special Kay]

There's a few members that have installed Tillet carbon seats. They look really nice once installed.

 

[Ed Doe]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=138713

Recent thread where various members posted pictures of their Tillett installations

I do love Recaro pole Positions, but understand the 'shoulder wing' can foul on the door card a little... Otherwise another more 'gt' type seat would be a Cobra Nogaro, which again I think can look rather smart.

Do be aware though most seats will cost a fair chunk once you've factored in all the gear to get them correctly fitted. Also having had a terrible but cheap set of buckets in a previous car, it's not worth cheap. Best advice I've been given is to see if you can try a few out before you buy. Not the easiest thing do to, but you don't want to spend thousands on a pair of seats only to find they send your arse to sleep after half an hour :lol:

 

[mmm-five]

If you want nice road seats the the Recaro Sportster CS they put in the 1M were very nice...these even came with airbags and seat heating...but getting them 2nd hand will still cost you a good chunk (e.g. £5k for the pair)...


The closest new ones you'll find are the original Recaro versions of these...the Sportster CS...for about £1300 each

 

[Ed Doe]

If you want nice road seats the the Recaro Sportster CS

Seconded, those are lovely seats for a road car!

 

[Madcatgrafix]

Thanks for the info so far! Weirdly, I bought recaro cs's last year for my 370z, and already have pole positions in my mx5, hence, why I fancied something different, for the z4. :?

 

[Madcatgrafix]

Those tillets are class, by the way! Has anyone got any pictures of any other aftermarket seats actually in their z4?

 

[LemonConnoisseur]

Have you considered the Cobra Nogaro seats? If it's for a daily driver, I'd have a look at them, as the bolsters are lower to accommodate a standard seatbelt & buckle

 

[Madcatgrafix]

Have you considered the Cobra Nogaro seats? If it's for a daily driver, I'd have a look at them, as the bolsters are lower to accommodate a standard seatbelt & buckle

Those are a nice option, but seeing seats in a car, the way forward here. Only saying, as i bought the pole positions for a mk1 tt i previously had, and once in the car, i didnt think they suited, but look a million times better, in my mx5 track car. I suppose its like alloys. Can look lovely on 1 car, and crap, on another.

 

[IAmOrion]

Not to everyones taste, but I went with Mazda RX8 seats in mine...

 

[Madcatgrafix]

@iamorion. Very nice, and those are not dear to buy over here tbf. Bet there was some amount of flaffing, getting them In though? :?

 

[IAmOrion]

@iamorion. Very nice, and those are not dear to buy over here tbf. Bet there was some amount of flaffing, getting them In though? :?

Fitting took some work yeah - paid £50 for the set

 

[Madcatgrafix]

@iamorion. Very nice, and those are not dear to buy over here tbf. Bet there was some amount of flaffing, getting them In though? :?

Fitting took some work yeah - paid £50 for the set

Just found a mint set locally for £90, but thinking I need a spare set of z4 runners, to weld some cross bars across, and work from there. Did you go that route, or your seats fitted on bucket seat fixed subframes?

 

[IAmOrion]

Just found a mint set locally for £90, but thinking I need a spare set of z4 runners, to weld some cross bars across, and work from there. Did you go that route, or your seats fitted on bucket seat fixed subframes?

I don’t have any pictures to hand, but I used angle grinder to chop feet/mounts off rx8 seats so was left with just the runners. I then bolted some U Channel stuff to the original z4 fixings, then the rx8 seats bolted to the U channel stuff. Sold I channel stuff with heft bolts. Took some figuring out but I’m happy with the result.

I’ve never welded so as much as I would’ve preferred that route I didn’t dare try, wouldn’t even know where to begin ha

 

[Madcatgrafix]

Ha ha. I know how you feel, trying to mod stuff, for some of the weird stuff, I've trackdayed over the years!

 

[ljcollingham]

I appreciate not the exact request for post response (I'm a forum newbie, overly eager to post and share lol) in that I bought these budget FK Universal Buckets (not suitable for track use etc as no TUV) for install but then due to concerns over the universal slide runners requiring custom fab outside of my skillset, I instead invested in these expensive bespoke seat covers. I now need to remove the factory seats in order to install these seat covers with a snug fit (they have various tabs on the back for attaching together to tighten with metal clips.
I still love the idea of fitting buckets and racing harnesses though as had Sparco R100 buckets and harnesses in an R53 Mini a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Anyhow, just thought I'd post as these covers are an alternative to replacement seats potentially, in sprucing up worn originals...

 

[Madcatgrafix]

A good way to spruce up tired oem seats indeed. Thankfully mine are still in decent nick, just wanting something alot more purposeful in mine.