Anyone got aftermarket seats in the zed?

[hopz121]

Hi all,

Im getting fed up of the standard non sports seats in my car and have been looking for sports seats for a while and still have not found any suitable ones.

Anyone got some nice after market ones fitted?

Do you have issues with seat sensors for airbags etc?

Do you run standard belts?

Thanks

Ash

 

[NeilP]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=643&start=75

might be worth looking through this thread

 

[hopz121]

Yea saw them and they look stunning,

i was wondering if anyone else had fitted any but not posted any info/pics thats all

i read some one also fitted some Tillett B5's as well which i would be interested to hear some more about

 

[tertius]

Yea saw them and they look stunning,

i was wondering if anyone else had fitted any but not posted any info/pics thats all

i read some one also fitted some Tillett B5's as well which i would be interested to hear some more about

That would be me. Some pics of my seats and other seat installs in this thread here:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=67265&p=992311#p992311

In my case I have retained the original seatbelts and also have 6 point harnesses, the passenger seat has an occupancy mat and all the airbag/belt lights go on and off correctly.

 

[hopz121]

Excellent, What bases did you use mate?

Do the seats function correctly? and have enough room around them?

How did you get around the airbag lights and selt belt sensors etc?

They look great even with the seat belts i think.

 

[tertius]

Excellent, What bases did you use mate?

Do the seats function correctly? and have enough room around them?

How did you get around the airbag lights and selt belt sensors etc?

They look great even with the seat belts i think.

By bases do you mean the brackets that actually bolt to the floor of the car? If so they are Sparco but needed a little modification to take the Tillett runners. I did some work with Machine Monkey to make a custom set but we haven't finished yet.

The runners are Tillett and give fore and aft movement.

Side mounts are also Tillett.

The seat belt tensioner simply unbolts from the OEM seat and is bolted to the inner side mount so it moves with the seat. The airbag/tensioner connector is just re-connected under the seat.

The occupancy mat is needed on the passenger side only, this is refitted under the seat cushions and connected as normal. Once this and the tensioner cables are connected all the airbag lights will operate correctly as will the airbags and tensioner themselves of course as it is all live.

The seats are fixed buckets so the only adjustment is front and back; height, recline, etc. are all fixed - you can alter this when installing so you can play with what suits you, but you can't adjust it in situ. Yes there is plenty of room around the seats, they were designed for the Lotus Elise so are really slim.

If you want harnesses then you need to work out where all the straps will be fixed - I have shoulder straps in FIA eyebolts in the bulkhead behind the seats, lap straps go to FIA eyebolts in the sidemounts and crotch straps to a bar under the seat (part of the Sparco bracket).

 

[hopz121]

Excellent, What bases did you use mate?

Do the seats function correctly? and have enough room around them?

How did you get around the airbag lights and selt belt sensors etc?

They look great even with the seat belts i think.

By bases do you mean the brackets that actually bolt to the floor of the car? If so they are Sparco but needed a little modification to take the Tillett runners. I did some work with Machine Monkey to make a custom set but we haven't finished yet.

The runners are Tillett and give fore and aft movement.

Side mounts are also Tillett.

The seat belt tensioner simply unbolts from the OEM seat and is bolted to the inner side mount so it moves with the seat. The airbag/tensioner connector is just re-connected under the seat.

The occupancy mat is needed on the passenger side only, this is refitted under the seat cushions and connected as normal. Once this and the tensioner cables are connected all the airbag lights will operate correctly as will the airbags and tensioner themselves of course as it is all live.

The seats are fixed buckets so the only adjustment is front and back; height, recline, etc. are all fixed - you can alter this when installing so you can play with what suits you, but you can't adjust it in situ. Yes there is plenty of room around the seats, they were designed for the Lotus Elise so are really slim.

If you want harnesses then you need to work out where all the straps will be fixed - I have shoulder straps in FIA eyebolts in the bulkhead behind the seats, lap straps go to FIA eyebolts in the sidemounts and crotch straps to a bar under the seat (part of the Sparco bracket).

Yep i meant the brackets/runners that bolt to the floor of the car.

Ok seems like a fair bit of work which in turn is going to get expensive I’m guessing, not just a simple bolt in and out application that i was looking for.

Thanks for the advice though, anyone got any bolt in and out solutions? Or have a set of Pre-facelift Sport seats they want to sell

Thanks

Ash

 

[Machine monkey]

Hi Ash I have been having the same dilemma.... I was going to go for the s2000 seats modded to fit the z4 base. I still might???

But i also fancy something very supportive and snug!! As my car is only a weekend toy and a bit of track fun. I think i have my mind mad up i am happy with manually operated seats. So a simple runner and as low as i can get it i am 6"+. But i do want them heated. So what ever i get i will need to add the heater element out of my old seats.

What i am basically saying is if i do it and you buy similar seats. I should have a template for the brackets needed. I am not sure on seats i have seen some online i like. I just need to see them in person.

Tertius what happened about the brackets i mad for you???? I should hopefully. If i ever get the logistics sorted. Have a milling machine so i can help out again if needed.
And have you got any pictures of your harness and how it attaches??

 

[aquazi]

Yorkie Z has red S2K seats in his 3.0.

Which fit really well.. and coming from an S2K befoe my Z are better than sport seats.

 

[Machine monkey]

Yorkie Z has red S2K seats in his 3.0.

Which fit really well.. and coming from an S2K befoe my Z are better than sport seats.

Really you found them better than the m sport BMW seats?

 

[Mister T]

Seen quite a few with Recaro seats fitted (Sportster CS and Sportline) so should be easy to get rails. They should also come with adapters to disable the airbag gubbins (Recaro rails I bought for a Fabia did).

I'd be keeping an eye on ebay for Corsa VXR seats or something from a Mitsubishi Evo.

 

[adam1985]

Corsa vxr seats do look nice but the question is.....do they fit?!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-...186?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae50907ca

 

[Mister T]

Corsa vxr seats do look nice but the question is.....do they fit?!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-...186?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae50907ca

Looks like they do

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=46847&start=15

 

[aquazi]

Yorkie Z has red S2K seats in his 3.0.

Which fit really well.. and coming from an S2K befoe my Z are better than sport seats.

Really you found them better than the m sport BMW seats?

Yeah by far... the Msports look better and the nappa leather is much hier quality - the S2K are plastic in comparison... but the lateral grip in the S2K is far superior.

The first thing i noticed coming from my S2K to my Z4 was the seats in the Z4 let you slide more.. but the fat chunky steering wheel is awesome!

 

[hopz121]

Those BMW Performance seats are lovely, they are crazy money though!

It would be good to find a compnay that makes good sliding brackets making it a bolt out and in application.

 

[adam1985]

I believe that the BMW performance ones are the Recaro Sportster CS seats. Which are also fitted to Clio 197/200 as an optional extra.
but at 1K each are a bit pricey!
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seats-reclining/recaro-sportster-cs-seat

 

[Machine monkey]

Yorkie Z has red S2K seats in his 3.0.

Which fit really well.. and coming from an S2K befoe my Z are better than sport seats.

Really you found them better than the m sport BMW seats?

Yeah by far... the Msports look better and the nappa leather is much hier quality - the S2K are plastic in comparison... but the lateral grip in the S2K is far superior.

The first thing i noticed coming from my S2K to my Z4 was the seats in the Z4 let you slide more.. but the fat chunky steering wheel is awesome!

Ok good to know I am after saying still more than looking good

 

[tertius]

Tertius what happened about the brackets i mad for you???? I should hopefully. If i ever get the logistics sorted. Have a milling machine so i can help out again if needed.
And have you got any pictures of your harness and how it attaches??

They didn't work because my design was wrong, I need to revise the design and we'll need to make another set.

Unfortunately I will need to disassemble one seat setup completely in order to do this properly and I've been too lazy to bother.

Still that's the nature of developing something new. Though I suggest next time we do one seat at a time.

Re. The harnesses - sure I can take some what exactly do you need pictures of? Mind you it'll have to wait til I get the car back - its away having some work done at the moment.

 

[Machine monkey]

They didn't work because my design was wrong, I need to revise the design and we'll need to make another set.

Unfortunately I will need to disassemble one seat setup completely in order to do this properly and I've been too lazy to bother.

Still that's the nature of developing something new. Though I suggest next time we do one seat at a time.

Re. The harnesses - sure I can take some what exactly do you need pictures of? Mind you it'll have to wait til I get the car back - its away having some work done at the moment.[/quote]

Ok cool well i am sure we can work something out. I get the layz thing!! No rush like i say i need to get my milling machine in the workshop and running yet!!

And i gues its getting close to track season for you? Just give me a bit of notice and you can come to the workshop and take one out and discus it a bit. (if you want me to do it) But it might be cheaper and lighter if we make them out of 5mm cast plate and weld it together instead of on big solid billet.

I would like to know where the over the shoulder strap attaches?? Is it on the meat mount on the floor.

I would

 

[tertius]

I would like to know where the over the shoulder strap attaches?? Is it on the seat mount on the floor.

I would

No that would not be safe and would never pass scrutineering (if it needed to) - strap angles should not exceed 45 degrees.

In my car they attach to FIA eyebolts set into the bulkhead right behind the seats, the eyebolts themselves screw into FIA backing plates behind the bulkhead. Holes had to be cut in the trim panel to allow this.

Unless you have a harness bar/roll cage (which would be VERY hard to squeeze in) this is the only solution I can think of.

I will take some pictures when I get the car back.