Vanne's new racing seats.

[tertius]

Though perhaps a little bit hysterical.

 

[Vanne]

Actually, all really good point and actually pretty much all spot on.

Jonny, thx for your well thought out post, very much appreciated.

I have a roll cage, but unlike most e86 cages, mine is a little different, mine runs along the same line as the e85 roll hoops, so head strike is impossible, unless its also possible to hit your head on the e85 hoops.

Secondly, ill have both still installed, factory belts and harness for trackdays. My harness belts are going to be installed behind the bulkhead, coming through the bulkhead on a bar +- 25 degrees max from straight to the shoulders, as per rules.

The guy designing and fabricating my bar is very conversed in the safety of racing and wont do anything unless its safe.

 

[cj10jeeper]

There's references to it on the internet about requirement of being inertia and one handed, but I cannot see a reference in the MOT handbook. The online version is however 4 years out of date, so not certain.

As it 'passed' I didn't challenge him, but will ask when I next see him of the rule or legislation referenced.

Vanne - just to update on this I spoke to the tester today and in fairness he immediately agreed he did not have the reference to the rule to hand. He remembered it from having an MOT test inspector flagging it and hydraulic handbrakes to him on a tester assessment, but would check it out and let me know next time I see him.

 

[Vanne]

No worries bud, thx for taking the time to check for me mate, much appreciated.

 

[Vanne]

I have Tillett seats (B5 though) in my car, with 6 point harnesses and the inertia belts retained, getting it all sorted is a right PITA I can tell you.

Pics please and some inside info on what you did to get it all working together before my seats arrive would be awesome!!

Just a quick update on those who contributed to the roll bar thread.. car has been in a bit of limbo atm, still waiting for the seats to be finished, hopefully within the next week or so, need to seats to be installed to be able to finish the roll bar as the seatbelt bar must be within 25 degrees of the shoulder. My roll bar builder didn't want to guestimate the height , so we have to wait. Install seats, measure up where i sit in it, and then design and implement the harness bar.

Luckily its stinking hot in Dubai atm, so wouldn't be driving that much anyways, but have been missing seeing my car terribly.. :|

can't wait for this part of the project to be finished.

here's is something i haven't thought about.. with the harness in place, should we keep the airbags in place? Just putting it out there..

 

[Vanne]

exactly same route ill be taking, with a twist...... mine fell through as you know vane but imo this is the perfect way to get some real weight out the car, they really add to the feel of the vehicle too, with my being a strict weekend toy, i have no issue with them at all... Well done, your car is turning into something rather special!!

Thanks Byron, mate i gotta say, you've been an inspiration.

 

[Beedub]

thanks man, means alot actually

keep the pics coming!

 

[tertius]

I have Tillett seats (B5 though) in my car, with 6 point harnesses and the inertia belts retained, getting it all sorted is a right PITA I can tell you.

Pics please and some inside info on what you did to get it all working together before my seats arrive would be awesome!!

...
here's is something i haven't thought about.. with the harness in place, should we keep the airbags in place? Just putting it out there..

Here's a couple of pics:





Here are the bits and bobs I needed:

1. two seats!
2. two sets of harnesses
3. two pairs of side mounts
4. two pairs of runners (fore/aft adjustment)
5. two Sparco seat brackets/frames - these bolt to the floor of the car and the runners bolt to these
6. lots of 10.9 bolts, nuts and washers in various sizes
7. lots of Tillett seat spacers - these came with the seats
8. eight FIA eye bolts
9. four FIA eye bolt backing plates
10. four non-FIA eye-bolt backing plates (for the lap belts)
11. a drill and a large drill bit - the right size for an FIA eye bolt
12. passenger seat occupancy mat/sensor
13. code reader able to reset the airbag light
14. a lot of patience

I have the lap belts going to eye bolts fixed to the side mounts - in order that they will move with the seat.

The crotch straps attach to a cross bar that is part of the Sparco seat bracket/frames

The inertia belt is retained and has all the same fixing points as standard except that the belt receptacle (tunnel side of the seat) is now retained by an FIA eye bolt, which in turn has the tunnel side lap belt attached.

Regarding the airbags if you are retaining the inertia belts then I would definitely keep the airbags as well.

 

[Angelus666]

Nice, very nice! Do you sit lower in the car than the standard seats? I'd love to find a seat that would allow me to be 1 or 2 inches lower than the lowest setting on the standard set up

 

[Vanne]

1. two seats!
2. two sets of harnesses
3. two pairs of side mounts
4. two pairs of runners (fore/aft adjustment)
5. two Sparco seat brackets/frames - these bolt to the floor of the car and the runners bolt to these
6. lots of 10.9 bolts, nuts and washers in various sizes
7. lots of Tillett seat spacers - these came with the seats
8. eight FIA eye bolts
9. four FIA eye bolt backing plates
10. four non-FIA eye-bolt backing plates (for the lap belts)
11. a drill and a large drill bit - the right size for an FIA eye bolt
12. passenger seat occupancy mat/sensor
13. code reader able to reset the airbag light
14. a lot of patience

I have the lap belts going to eye bolts fixed to the side mounts - in order that they will move with the seat.

The crotch straps attach to a cross bar that is part of the Sparco seat bracket/frames

The inertia belt is retained and has all the same fixing points as standard except that the belt receptacle (tunnel side of the seat) is now retained by an FIA eye bolt, which in turn has the tunnel side lap belt attached.

This is great, love what you've done and no doubt ill be doing something very, very similar…

I have a bunch of questions if I may.. hopefully you've got some more pics of the seat install and progress?

as you've kept your original seat belts, did you also keep your original pre tensioners and buckles? if so, where /how did you mount them?

Would you mind sharing how you've attached the harnesses at the back of the seat? and a few pics of said mountings please

Does the seatbelt light come on if your drivers buckle isn't pushed in?

Id love some more pics of how you've attached the sliders to the floor and the seats to the sliders..

hope thats not being to much trouble..

 

[Mikey_Boy]

Loving the seats Vanne - Tillett seats are amongst the very best - I'd love a pair, but my other half can't get comfy in them... 8)

Great to see that you are thinking through the roll bar and harnesses fully - it drives me crazy seeing bad harness / cage installations at racetracks and not just trackday cars either - some race cars are appalling!

Keep the pics coming - looks a great project!!

 

[tertius]

This is great, love what you've done and no doubt ill be doing something very, very similar…

I have a bunch of questions if I may.. hopefully you've got some more pics of the seat install and progress?

as you've kept your original seat belts, did you also keep your original pre tensioners and buckles? if so, where /how did you mount them?

Would you mind sharing how you've attached the harnesses at the back of the seat? and a few pics of said mountings please

Does the seatbelt light come on if your drivers buckle isn't pushed in?

Id love some more pics of how you've attached the sliders to the floor and the seats to the sliders..

hope thats not being to much trouble..

To answer your questions:

"as you've kept your original seat belts, did you also keep your original pre tensioners and buckles? if so, where /how did you mount them?"

They are mounted onto the side mounts that hold the seats - an FIA eye bolt goes through the tensioner bolt hole (expanded by about 0.2mm so it fits) through the side mount and into a non-FIA backing plate (a full FIA one wouldn't fit)

This sort of thing: http://www.trs-motorsport.com/accessories-harness-accessories/trs-accessories/eyebolt-standard-back-plate_ct496bd191pd1612.htm

"Would you mind sharing how you've attached the harnesses at the back of the seat? and a few pics of said mountings please "

I do not have a cage so these are mounted onto the bulkhead behind the seats using FIA eye bolts that are threaded into full FIA backing plates.

"Does the seatbelt light come on if your drivers buckle isn't pushed in? "

Yes. So I have a couple of loose seat belt tongues that I slot into place if I am not using the seat belts (ie when using harnesses).

"Id love some more pics of how you've attached the sliders to the floor and the seats to the sliders.."

OK, will see what I can do.

Basically you need something like this:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/seat-mounting-frames-vehicle-specific/car/bmw/3-series-98-05-e46/sparco-tailored-seat-subframe

that will bolt to the floor of the car using the existing threaded fixings.

Then the runners bolt onto that. Then the side mounts bolt onto the runners and the seats into the side mounts.

A big issue I had is that the Tillett seats are very narrow and so the runners need to be placed quite close together but the seat frame wouldn't easily allow that, so a fair bit of modifying with a file was required to open out the mounting holes, which I backed with large washers.

 

[tertius]

Nice, very nice! Do you sit lower in the car than the standard seats? I'd love to find a seat that would allow me to be 1 or 2 inches lower than the lowest setting on the standard set up

Yes, much lower. But remember there is no easy height adjustment once fitted, so you need to get it right.

 

[tertius]

OK, some more pics - fortunately I had this morning off to look at the car anyway ...

1. showing the seat frames/runners/side mounts:


2. showing the outer seat belt anchor point (bolts to side mount):


3. trying to show the inner belt anchor point (looking down between the seat and the tunnel):


4. shoulder belts:

 

[Vanne]

Thanks for the pics Ter, bloody great.

hopefully armed with a bit more of your info i should get this rolling easily when my seats arrive. (hopefully completed this week)

Love the shots of your seats mate, they look lush

 

[Vanne]

Whoo Hooo!!! Seats Are Finished!!!

Now to courier them to my house and then drop them off to the roll bar shop.. WHOO HOO!!

 

[NavZ]

Vanne, your build is epic
What does a Z4M go for in Dubai?
Considering a move there and would love to buy another if I end up selling mine back home.

 

[Vanne]

Thanks! appreciate it

Atm there is only 1 coupe for sale in Dubai, http://tnydu.biz/DOtLwf rather steep, but then the car is immaculate. (know the guy quite well, in our UAE Z4 Mcoupes and Roadies club) Dubai is a great place, drop in you'll love it, beers always cold in my fridge.

 

[Vanne]

AND.... I am ecstatically overjoyed to report that my FAT ASS fits in the Tillett seats!!!

JUST UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

MAN!! you won't believe the load off my mind...

These seats are a work of art!! really, beautiful stuff.. Steve Tillett, where ever you are, I love you!!!

Dropping the seats off at my cage builder in the morning... wow, just wow and wow!!!

I am gonna say it a few more times!!!!

WOW!!! WOW!!! just WOW MAN!!! holy crap, i can't believe i fit in them FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!!!

A W E S O M E ! ! ! ! !

 

[Vanne]

Teaser pic only

Ill take some pics tomorrow, pretty trashed, long flight from Jakarta.

Spanking 777ER, 35 hours on the clock when I took it from Jakarta to Dubai, still had that new car smell.