Removing / fitting new seats... how easy?!

[SuperCoupe]

I’ve found some M Sport seats online at a fair price, and so will probably order them to my house and look to fit them....

Potentially a silly question, but how easy is it to swap the seats over?! Is it a 1 man job? Is there any tools required or do they just slide off the end of the runners or something?

The seats I’m removing are standard electronic E86 Sport seats, and I’ll be swapping for electronic M Sport seats.

Apologies for such a basic question, the only seats I’ve ever taken out of a car was on my 1970 beetle and that was quite a different ballpark!

 

[mmm-five]

10 minutes a side - unless you're putting in buckets with custom floor mounts and side mounts :headbang:

Although, why swap perfectly good sports seats with M seats? Is there really any difference?

1. With ignition on, slide the seat all the way forward
2. Undo rear bolts
3. Slide seat backwards
4. Undo front bolts
5. Turn ignition off
6. Manually tilt/lift seat forward to see electrical connects
7. Pull electrical connection off seat
8. Lift seat (carefully) from car (might need a bit of a twist)

Installation is reverse of removal.

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

But before point 7...
Disconnect battery and wait 20 minutes unless you want an airbag fault light.

 

[Anonymous]

Although, why swap perfectly good sports seats with M seats? Is there really any difference?

The standard sport seats are woeful and nowhere near as comfortable or supportive as Msport seats.

"Standard" seats in these cars are called "Sport" seats

 

[mmm-five]

But before point 7...
Disconnect battery and wait 20 minutes unless you want an airbag fault light.

Didn’t bother with mine, and it’s been fine. Also put a proper BMW sensor mat under the bucket cushion.

Been in & out a couple of times since to adjust the angle, and not triggered a warning.

 

[maxman]

As has been said disconnect the battery before you undo electric connections.Photo of under seat connector,slide the black part out to release the connector

 

[Jamie25]

Mmm-five said......
Been in & out a couple of times since to adjust the angle, and not triggered a warning.

I've standard seats in mine. Can I adjust the mounting points on these or are you taking about aftermarket bucket seats? I'm 6'5" so any extra adjustment would be a bonus!

 

[mmm-five]

Mmm-five said......
Been in & out a couple of times since to adjust the angle, and not triggered a warning.

I've standard seats in mine. Can I adjust the mounting points on these or are you taking about aftermarket bucket seats? I'm 6'5" so any extra adjustment would be a bonus!

Recaro Pole Positions, so the adjustment is via unbolting and repositioning on the side mounts.

You can make them lower if you forego the sliders, and some have bolted the side mounts to the floor directly, but it makes removal & refitting much harder.

 

[SuperCoupe]

10 minutes a side - unless you're putting in buckets with custom floor mounts and side mounts :headbang:

Although, why swap perfectly good sports seats with M seats? Is there really any difference?

1. With ignition on, slide the seat all the way forward
2. Undo rear bolts
3. Slide seat backwards
4. Undo front bolts
5. Turn ignition off
6. Manually tilt/lift seat forward to see electrical connects
7. Pull electrical connection off seat
8. Lift seat (carefully) from car (might need a bit of a twist)

Installation is reverse of removal.

Thanks so much! There seems to be quite a difference between Sport and M Sport seats, plus as I briefly mentioned on my ‘newbie’ thread I have red door cards and seats (and I really dislike red car interiors), so want to swap for black and while doing so may as well go for M Sport seats as they seem quite different. My diesel golf has far sportier seats that my E86 at the mo!

I’ll give your numbered guide a go when they arrive... might do the passenger side first so I can still get to work if I balls it up

 

[Jamie25]

Mmm-five said......
Been in & out a couple of times since to adjust the angle, and not triggered a warning.

I've standard seats in mine. Can I adjust the mounting points on these or are you taking about aftermarket bucket seats? I'm 6'5" so any extra adjustment would be a bonus!

Recaro Pole Positions, so the adjustment is via unbolting and repositioning on the side mounts.

You can make them lower if you forego the sliders, and some have bolted the side mounts to the floor directly, but it makes removal & refitting much harder.

Thanks. Think I'll stick with things as they are. Whilst I could do with some more height I often find a little adjustment option handy to move the seat mid journey to offer some relief.
Plus I have the roof down 95% of the time anyway.