Recaro Pole Position ABE fitting

mmm-five

mmm-five

Lifer
 Liverpool
Site Supporter
Morning guys.

After a failed visit to get my seats fitted this weekend, it seems a couple of things are holding the fitting back. The fitter pointed out the following:
  • Seat on Recaro sliders & Recaro side mounts will sit too close to the roof
  • There's nowhere on the Recaro side-mounts or sliders to mount the seat belt clip
  • There's nowhere on the Recaro side-mounts or sliders to anchor the seat belt
  • The seat-specific Recaro side mounts that were delivered don't actually fit the seats

So, anyone have a complete parts/kit list of what is required to fit Pole Position ABE seats into a Z4, so that I can use the standard 3-point belt that the ABE is designed for, or can recommend somewhere that can supply & fit the whole kit & caboodle properly?
 
I haven't tried these, but the dimensions match (430mm width and ~295mm between the mounting points) and they're listed for E46 330Ci:

Bride Super seat rail XL Type G075XL(Right)
Bride Super seat rail XL Type G076XL(Left)

I use Bride seat rails in my track car with Sparco seats. They're top quality.
 
Mister T said:
I haven't tried these, but the dimensions match (430mm width and ~295mm between the mounting points) and they're listed for E46 330Ci:

Bride Super seat rail XL Type G075XL(Right)
Bride Super seat rail XL Type G076XL(Left)

I use Bride seat rails in my track car with Sparco seats. They're top quality.
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Do you use the standard inertia belts with these, and if so, where does the seat-belt attach to?
 
do a search for mach schnell or tuner , or CA, you need the floor mounts, seat belt reciprocal mount for each respective side... then you'll need a module for the passenger seat occupancy or the actual mat if possible to not get the light and dong .
 
So, looks like in addition to the seats (swapping out the Recaro sliders & side-mounts), then I need:
  • 2 x floor mounts (Macht Schnell/PSD/VAC)
  • 2 x seat adapters / side mounts (Recaro/Macht Schnell/PSD/VAC)
  • 2 x sliders (Recaro/VAC)
  • 2 x seat belt receptacles (Macht Schnell/PSD)
  • 1 x occupancy sensor bypass - or can I just keep the passenger seatbelt inserted

Looks like the only place I can get them all from in one go is VAC Motorsport for about $900 (plus tax, shipping, duty, etc.).

VAC-FMA-E89-L.jpg
VAC-USMB-L.jpg
IMG_2004-L.jpg
VAC-LBMBK-L.jpg
 
Beedub said:
yes the whole lot is mega money. :(
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The money's not the issue (unless it becomes mega-money)...but I've got the issue of finding somewhere who'll fit owner supplied parts. I'd much rather have somewhere who's capable of buying & installing all the bits, so that if anything goes wrong I'm not on the hook for it.
 
Don't bother with the sliders, bolt straight to the floor mounts, will save a couple of inches in height :thumbsup:

Probably save a few quid too!

On previous cars I've gone straight to the floor, consider that and save on the mounts too? Once it's setup, why would you move it :driving:

Edit to add, do the seat belt mounts not unbolt from the original seats? (I've not actually looked)
 
I wanted sliders as I do move the seat depending on the type of driving I’m doing - i.e. about 3” closer for track work than commuting - but also for a couple of other people I let drive my car. I have the normal seat on its lowest position and I don’t want to be any lower than that.

Passengers won’t really need anything other than a booster cushion, so could save a bit there.

I believe the seat belts bolt to a welded piece on the original runner/base, but would have to take a seat out to check. Although it looks like some people have bolted it directly to the sidemounts.

It’s this sort of thing that I don’t want to be second-guessing, an thus finding somewhere that will supply & fit everything, right-first-time.
 
Jeesus!

How hard can it be to fit these things...I've got one quote to supply & fit (at almost £4k), and the fitting alone is being quoted at almost £1k!

Are base-mounted seats (Recaro Sportster CS) any simpler to install? Should I be looking at those instead?
 
As bee said you need the stuff that he said.. you can't just bolt to the floor, unless you fab a piece that will off set the chairs. Easier to just buy the floor mounts.

1k for fitting and install isn't too bad, esp if you have to weld any sub or cross frames. You can easily do it yourself, but depending on what your time is worth, it will come out more expensive than the quoted 1k.

Not sure what the guy said about being too close to the roof?? Loosing the oem chairs and going aftermarket, even with sliders should easily gain you 2 inches.. (read more room)

I also only opted to have a slider on the drivers side, but only to save weight where it's not needed.

Enjoy, the install/build is very rewarding.
 
I think I've decided to do it myself...and do the passenger seat first, so that I'm not stuck with an unusable car if I need to go out and get tools/bits/glue/fire extinguisher.

How hard can it be - after all it only took me 5 minutes to remove the seat last time I cleaned under there!

Will order the pieces I need (the Macht Schnell floor mounts and seat belt bracket) - although I've already ordered the Recaro seats/side mounts/sliders as I thought getting them all from the same place would be easiest. But I think the supplier has ordered side mounts for Pole Positions instead of Pole Position ABE (which are wider and use the XL sidemount).

I should be able to reuse the existing seat belt receptacle and pre-tensioner, as long as I connect it up correctly of course.
 
Vanne said:
1k for fitting and install isn't too bad, esp if you have to weld any sub or cross frames. You can easily do it yourself, but depending on what your time is worth, it will come out more expensive than the quoted 1k.
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The £1k was a shock as the other installers have quoted 3-4 hours max at £50-£75/hour. The £1k place was quoting 8 hours minimum!
 
mmm-five said:
I think I've decided to do it myself...and do the passenger seat first, so that I'm not stuck with an unusable car if I need to go out and get tools/bits/glue/fire extinguisher.

How hard can it be - after all it only took me 5 minutes to remove the seat last time I cleaned under there!

Will order the pieces I need (the Macht Schnell floor mounts and seat belt bracket) - although I've already ordered the Recaro seats/side mounts/sliders as I thought getting them all from the same place would be easiest. But I think the supplier has ordered side mounts for Pole Positions instead of Pole Position ABE (which are wider and use the XL sidemount).

I should be able to reuse the existing seat belt receptacle and pre-tensioner, as long as I connect it up correctly of course.
Click to expand...

Well done, no way is this worth a grand to fit, it will be a really enjoyable install, take your time, enjoy and of course please document as much as possible :-) GL
 
check "pleie motorsport"

There you can get everything you need for under 500€

PS: I have an OEM passenger occupancy mat, you can have it for 60€ (bmw price 130€)
 
mmm-five said:
I think I've decided to do it myself...and do the passenger seat first, so that I'm not stuck with an unusable car if I need to go out and get tools/bits/glue/fire extinguisher.

How hard can it be - after all it only took me 5 minutes to remove the seat last time I cleaned under there!

Will order the pieces I need (the Macht Schnell floor mounts and seat belt bracket) - although I've already ordered the Recaro seats/side mounts/sliders as I thought getting them all from the same place would be easiest. But I think the supplier has ordered side mounts for Pole Positions instead of Pole Position ABE (which are wider and use the XL sidemount).

I should be able to reuse the existing seat belt receptacle and pre-tensioner, as long as I connect it up correctly of course.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a plan :thumbsup:

Ask the original suppliers for the correct parts to go with your seat seen as you have paid for it...
 
Vanne said:
pleie motorsport
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I was thinking that if I use the original seat belt receptacle, and leave the passenger seat-belt buckled, that I wouldn't need a sensor. I just run the risk of setting off the passenger airbag in an accident.
 
Thanks all, plenty to think about.

It's going to be a bit awkward, as I've got very little space to store anything at the moment, and am away from home Mon-Fri - hence the original requirement to get it fitted all at the same time, by the same place.

Will have to see what I can arrange, and go from there. Maybe get it all shipped down to Cornwall for my mate to store at his garage, and then get my brakes done at the same time? But that could be months away.
 
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