Converting 4 door sports seats for a 2 door set up.

[craigsaxon]

The wiki states that the front seats from the 4 door can be converted to tilt to install in the 2 door car. I have the standard comfort seats in my 2 door and have found a set of sports seats from a 4 door and want to know what is involved in the conversion. Are the seat hinges the same so that I only would have to hook up the tilt cable from my comfort seats? Or, do I have to fit the hinges from my comfort seats to the sports seats?

[Brianmoooore]

Hinges and seat bases are the same for both two and four door seats. The missing bits are in the seat back - cables and the levers that the cables attach to.
Although the basic seat back frames are the same, the two door frames have brackets for the levers welded onto them, and the seat back rear covers have provision for the handles.
The easiest way to do this conversion is to obtain a couple of scrap two door sport seat backs, and transfer the fabric from your four door seats onto them.
Alternatively, if you don't mind a bodge, you can tie a piece of string to the release catch, and leave a loop to pull hanging out of the top of the seat back.
Always a good idea to swap the passenger and driver's seats over when fitting replacement seats. It will increase the life of the bolsters considerably.

[Brianmoooore]

you just have to add the lever/cables.

Correct, but the only places you are going to get the levers, their mounting brackets and a seat back cover, is from scrap seats, so you may as well swap the frame.

[craigsaxon]

Would it be possible to weld the brackets from the comfort seats to the frames of the sports seats, cut the slots in the seat backs and use the levers and cables from the comfort seats? There were never many sports seats fitted to e30s in Australia so finding a set of seat backs in a wreckers is almost impossible. Even the 318is had the comfort seats here as BMW cut the price and standard equipment back to get it in under the luxury tax threshhold.

[Brianmoooore]

Very possibly.

[HairyScreech]

Easiest thing to do would be to swap seats with someone or buy 2 door seats surely?

[craigsaxon]

Sports seats are hard to find here, either 2 or 4 door.