Whats the fuss about BMW sports seats?

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:32 am

I bought a set of sports seats that came out of a 325i Sport to upgrade my standard interior. However, I am somewhat disappointed with the comfort and adjustment of the front seats. I'm starting to think it was a waste of money, but the old seats were sold on Saturday, so theres no going back.

Anyone else feel the same or should I have spent the extra cash on a pipe and slippers and let someone more appreciative buy them instead?

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:38 am

I bought a set of leather sports seats a while ago and find them the best seats I have ever sat in.

The adjustments are prefect for me, I'm 6'2 and 16 stone

I guess it just comes down to whether they suit your frame or not.

Cheers,

Iain T

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:44 am

Another here for the sport seats, great adjustability compared to the comfort seats, and everyone who has a lift in the car comments on them too, so Kevin, I guess the pipe and slippers idea is best!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:50 am

1 quick question - Are they BMW sport seats of PROPER Recaros.

Ive had BMW cloth sport seats and leathers, and while i prefer the leathers, the cloth ones are more comfortable.
However,Ant Woodjetts has a set of PROPER Recaros that Ive sat in, in his slamdad turbo project which make BMW Sport seats look and feel absolutely craaaaap!!!! PROPER Recaros are SOOOO much more supportive! Absolutely love them!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:52 am

Lack of adjustment...? You must have the wrong seats! These are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in.

They adjust for height, rake and lower thigh support... what more do you need...?

3-400 mile trips are done with ease, and I get out feeling no worse than when I got in...

I've had 7 E30's now, and all of them have been blessed with the Sports seats. I would NEVER have one without them.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:56 am

i waaaaaant

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:12 am

The're not Recaros, they are the cloth BMW sport seats. I'm only 5' 6" and 11st, but still not impressed with them. I'll play with the adjusments some more and see if it improves.

Sometimes I think we are swayed into buying upgrades like LSDs and sports seats as they are seen as desireable additions to a standard car, but we don't necessarily see the benefits of them. However, my LSD came in handy this morning when I had to pull into the muck on a side road to let a SUV past. He could have reversed, but of course these SUV drivers are too ignorant to show consideration to other road users.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:41 am

Its just a question of getting used to them trust me, when i first sat in sport seats i was a bit unconfortable, but you will be surprised that people don't know how to set up their seats?

The distance from the steering wheel should be, where a straightarm, the wheel touches just behind the palm/ wrist, the rest you have to experiment, its better that no one else drives the car, like in my situation, as once the setup is moved its a bitch to get it spot on again!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:00 am

Thanks,

I'll spend a of time setting up when they are fully cleaned and the little bits n pieces fixed on them.

Nobody gets to drive my car except the mechanic when there is work required on it, not even my wife!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:14 am

I normally have the seat at it's lowest position, the rake right back (so the front is right up), the thigh support right out, and the back rest... well, that's personal choice...

Hope you get to like them a bit more... if not, you won't have trouble selling them again!

Giles.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:34 am

I have Recaros in my 323i (so these are different to sit in then the BMW sports seats?) and they feel very good to me. They are one of the most supportive adjustable road car type seats I have sat in. They don't feel like they would be too good for a bigger person though, they are fairly tight across the waist and legs. The only problem I have in them is that I can't sit low enough to be comfortable. I think that is more a problem with how they are mounted rather than the seat though.

I have a Sparco Pro 2000 race seat on the drivers side and it is very supportive but I was actually thinking it would be nice to put the Recaro back in because it is much more comfortable on the road.

Aston

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:19 pm

kevin

amit is right - the sport seats take a couple of journeys to get used to. when i first sat in a sports interior in a mates car i was not impressed at all and swore i'd never have the same. now i wouldn't give them up.

also bear in mind that the condition of the seats plays a big part - if they are saggy and worn out they can be pretty uncomfortable.

my missus hated my sport seats when they first went in and insisted on bringing a cushion on every journey - but now she says they're alright!

paul

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:23 pm

Hmm im 5 ft 8 and 10 st and i find the seats comfortable now, spend a few mins adjusting em and get a decent driving position then sit back and the rest falls into place.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:24 pm

i am about 6ft and am 13stone. i find the sport seats are the most comfortable i have sat in for a long time.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:34 pm

I'm picking some up soon...Heated ones at that (be good for the summer eh!) hope they are comfy!

Anyone want a set of standard seats 4 door?

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:47 pm

I love the sports seats myself and I am six feet tall and 15 stone - get in drive for ages and get out feeling fresh - no place I'd rather be, the comfort ones lack support I find, especially under your legs on long journeys and if you want to chuck it about the sports ones hold you in place really well, although the cloth is better than the leather for that

The recaros are better still though, much better support - I used to love the RS Turbo / Cossie ones mmmm

The ones in Ant's are very similar and very very nice too

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:58 pm

Well I'm 7ft tall and 20 stone! :lol:

Anyone else wanna join in?

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:05 pm

Geeman wrote:Well I'm 7ft tall and 20 stone!

Anyone else wanna join in?

We have seen your piccy Giles remember :lol:

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:07 pm

Ive met him! And i dont recall him towering miles above my head!

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:43 pm

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:52 pm

Astondg, if u ever want to sell them, offer them my way. I missed out on a set of Recaros for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£80 about 6 months ago, when i didnt know how good they were and now i really regret it.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:56 pm

Scott... he's in Oz dude...

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:33 am

BMW Sports seats............ a Godsend,i suffer back issues when driving,the only seats that have completely eliviated this are those buggers bolted in my Tourer.............all hail the Sports Seats

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:35 am

I'm thinking about getting a fixed back bucket seat for mine.Might look a bit odd but i don't want to spend silly money for sports seat's.

Any one else got bucket seat's in there cars ?

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:49 am

I don't know if this is exactly what you mean by fixed back bucket seat but I have a Sparco Pro 2000 race seat in my 323i. Here are some pictures.

http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior.jpg
http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior1.jpg
http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior2.jpg

Aston

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:18 am

That's what I want in my track car... plus you got PROPER Recaro seats... *jealous*

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:03 am

Geeman wrote:That's what I want in my track car... plus you got PROPER Recaro seats... *jealous*

When I bought my car it had thick wool seat covers. No offence to people who like wool seat covers but they take all the support out of the seat and it's just not right for the Recaros. So anyway I didn't really know it had those seats, the guy selling just said it had sports seats. I was very lucky.

The guy I bought it off seemed a bit dodgy (and he took out the expensive Alpine sound system that he said was being sold with car, after we had agreed to buy it) but everything else he said has been right. It has an LSD, the good seats, sports suspension, was sold as a JPS model (maybe not from the factory but at least from BMW Australia), and a few other things.

Aston

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:22 pm

I have Alpina recaro's in my B9, and they are superb, knock the sport seats into a cocked hat, although they are a little tight by the shoulders. However that's not to diss the sport seat, I find them superb full stop.
Makes me wonder what the seat condition is like if you can't get comfortable, and prefer the std seat, how's the springing underneath, perhaps they need a make over? Has the thigh supports got stuck? play around with them, they are excellent in support and comfort.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:16 pm

e30 sport seats are really comfortable.

compared to my sis's e36 leather sport seats (318is) they are more 'huggable', the e36 ones just feel flat.

my seats set so its slight off the floor (knee area) and back is slight slant and my leg length is slight angle

, not boy reacery hehe.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:31 pm

well im 6' 4" and 13.5 stone and find my m3 seats sooo much more comfy!! Not least cause they sit slightly lower!

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:06 pm

i've had all sport seats bar the recaro's, and best by far to me was the M3 half leathers i had in my rip snorting 318i.

The cloth centre allowed u to get in nice and snug and the leather bolsters were stiff and held you in place better than the leathers or cloth seats i've had. 2p oh and i'm 6'9 and 18 stone, yes i do drive with the sunroof open.

Half leathers seem to be really rare? they are in F988 PAC a black 318i if anyone wants to track it down! i paid Ãƒ”šÃ‚£150 off a golf nutter for them.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:27 pm

astondg wrote:I don't know if this is exactly what you mean by fixed back bucket seat but I have a Sparco Pro 2000 race seat in my 323i. Here are some pictures.

http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior.jpg
http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior1.jpg
http://members.westnet.com.au/astondg/interior2.jpg

Aston

Yes,i want some thing similar to that.

I don't have to worry about a tilting seat like the 2dr chaps might have to.

Post Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:37 pm

Simon's mention of his 318 reminded me of mine,a Ãƒ”šÃ‚£250 banger,the seats were utterly shagged,so bad in fact,the missus has a spring poking through her side,gave her a shock I must say,especially when she noticed the holes that had appeared in a number of her clothes!
The driverside had a solid piece of metal that used to poke into the low part of your back just a bit up from yer jacksee!
They were just standard seats,but why do some seats get more knackered than other?
I guess the comfort has a lot to do with the structure of the seat itself not just the shape they are made.
They were truly the worst seats in the world!