E30 Zone

I've got a 325i touring and my GF doesn't like the seats. She's got a bad back anyway and I really don't want to make it worse (bad back = no sex!). Truth be told, I don't find the standard cloth "comfort" seats very comfortable either. We're both tall (6ft for her, 6ft4 for me) and she finds a lack of support on her lower back painful, while my arse is just too big so my left leg starts to go numb after an hour or so. So, I need to lose weight.. this isn't news but the lumbar support thing isn't going to go away.

What have other people fitted to their E30s? I'd be looking for scrap yard/ebay specials which fit and are comfortable. Preferably something that will look OK with the rest of the grey interior would be good too...

Does anyone have any ideas?

'comfort' seats are not comfortable. 'sport' seats are very comfortable! Easy, cheap swap that'll match your trim too...

As simple as that, eh? Do sport seats have a lumbar adjuster by any chance?

maybe a pair of e36 front seats fella

theyre a little wider i think and should be more comfy than the so called comfort seats

think they may have adjustable back supports too iirc

Morat wrote:As simple as that, eh? Do sport seats have a lumbar adjuster by any chance?

Nope, sadly not... much better lumbar support as standard though & plenty of other adjustment - I get back issues in most cars, but not mine. Worth trying someone elses with them fitted?

Although from what Daz just said, E36 seats could be a worthwhile upgrade... see what you can find on eBay? Just gonna be a little more work than E30 seats I'd guess.

I am 6'3" and find the "reccaros" extremely comfortable ...not an ache after a 3hr journey...I am also not on the small side and if my arse fits yours should as well

someone on here recently had some in a touring
and i think maybe cliffy had some too not quite sure

dnt think theyre too hard to fit either im sure a thin steel plate with the bolt holes redrilled would get em in with little time/effort
worth checkin as they may even be available in the same material?

i do get a few aches on long journeys with my sport seats, prob down to old age and my ever increasing gut tho aches are very individual what suits one person may be terrible for the next

i find the m3 seats (sports? ) dissapointing. they seem to adjust every which way so i can get a really comfy driving position, yet theres nothing at all you can do about lumbar support so i get an aching lower back. im 6ft and scrawny as fcuk

I upgraded from comfort seats (numb arse and backache after a couple of hours) to Sports leather and find them the best seats ever. I drove from Manchester to the Nurburgring in one day with them and got no backache or numbness.

I'm 6'2" BTW.

My wife has an E36 318iS with sports leather and they give me numb legs after a few hours, hate them. The wife loves them though but she's 5'8".

Cheers,

Iain T

My mate had a 320i Touring E30 and the seats in it were horrible compared to my 318iS E30. I believe the E30 318iS seats are Recaros? Whatever they are - they were some of the best, most comfortable car seats I've sat in! If you can find an E30 318iS breaking, get the seats - I suspect they'd both straight in.

Ive got proper Recaro's in my e30, they are awesome

My e36 has the sports seats n are very comfy, im 6"4 n drove from Brighton to Walsall and back again in a day with no discomfort

ive got rover recaros in mine....fantastic seats and they have lumbar support.

the comfort seats bases are too short for tall folk i think......more than half my legs dangle over the end....very uncomfortable.

So.. are the seats in a 318is any different from your normal sports seats (apart from the chequered cloth).

318iS seats are BMW sports seats not Recaro's.

Recaro's will have the logo on the seat back.

Cheers,

Iain T

Morat wrote:So.. are the seats in a 318is any different from your normal sports seats (apart from the chequered cloth).

Not sure - the ones in mine were "length" adjustable if that makes any difference?

I'd have another set without any hesitation - definately.

i hated my leather recaros so i sold them and put comforts in and they're great, i dont like the side squabs pinching my sides and legs, i'm 6,2 but like to be close to the wheel

jibowski wrote:i hated my leather recaros so i sold them and put comforts in and they're great, i dont like the side squabs pinching my sides and legs, i'm 6,2 but like to be close to the wheel

I've had E36 leather in my cab and now have E30 sport leather seats (recaro style) and they are so much nicer

So.. I guess there's a reason sport leather for a touring (Sports Touring leather? ) is pricey then.
I'm going to need black as well, for a white car. Ouch.

I'll keep an eye out for a cloth set...

drove 3.5 hours into Wales on Thursday. I have the sports seats in my cabby. Very comfortable no aches or pains!!

Although I'm only 5'10!!!!

Sounds like E30 seats are ideal for us shortarses! I can drive non stop using a full tank of petrol plus a full tank of LPG without the slightest trace of discomfort!
A recent hour and a half ride in a newish Astra with GM "Recaros" had me crying out for the services of an osteopath.

Ive got Recaro's in mine, they do 'swallow you up' better than the sports seats.
Never had any aches caused from long journeys, only existing ones made worse



The leg adjustment is useless though, my legs are too long.

The only good thing I found with 'comfort' seats is when slid right back you are sitting further back in the car, which is good for long legs

Ziggy wrote:Although from what Daz just said, E36 seats could be a worthwhile upgrade... see what you can find on eBay? Just gonna be a little more work than E30 seats I'd guess.

Will e36 seats fit into a e30...and if so how much work is involved...
my mates 325i convertible e30 had really comfortable seats, and wouldn't mind a set of them in my e30!!!

aceraf wrote:

Ziggy wrote:Although from what Daz just said, E36 seats could be a worthwhile upgrade... see what you can find on eBay? Just gonna be a little more work than E30 seats I'd guess.

Will e36 seats fit into a e30...and if so how much work is involved...
my mates 325i convertible e36 had really comfortable seats, and wouldn't mind a set of them in my e30!!!

e36

E36 seats have a completely different fixing at the front, and are a bit wider than E30 seats, but can be fitted.
Someone told me that E46 seats are easier, and the One series looks promising as well.

I have a feeling Z3 seats might work, but I've not had the opportunity to try some yet.

I have to agree, the standard so called "comfort" seats are not comfortable at all... after one 3hr journey and back i swapped my drivers seat for my old 318iS Sports seat... so much better, still get some slight numbing but NOTHING compared to what i got with the comforts. Ive still to change over the passengers side seat though I find the length adjustment thingy useless, its always right in, this may be cos im too short for it (5'10" ish) but may be because i also tend to suck windscreen

you're all wimps, i'm such a man i swapped my leather recaros for comforts, enjoy the pain!

will e46 cab seats fit an e30 cab? any one done it? any problems?


Pics if possible pleaseeeee

Might be worth sourcing a set of 90 Spec Ford Escort RS Turbo front seats and having the BMW subframes mounted to them perhaps. These are awesome seats..........again, by Recaro.

Sport Evo seats better known as recaro SRDs.

Rare as fook to buy though.........

chinchilla wrote:will e46 cab seats fit an e30 cab? any one done it? any problems?

Don't know about cab seats in particular, but I was told once on here that E46 seats fit in an E30 easier than E36 seats

kadettc wrote:Rare as fook to buy though.........

Plent from other model cars on ebay to buy tho