FINALLY. . . Seat Brackets!

S2peed · 06-12-2008, 04:03 PM

Hi Guys,

Here’s the story. . .

When I was interested in the Z4MC I went to the dealer to test drive, I personally really like the way the car looks, the power, the handing, just about everything besides one thing, I didn’t feel 100% comfortable. I am 6’3 210lbs and no matter how far back and low I position the seat I was not comfortable at all. My back hurt and my right knee was 1 inch away from dash.

I didn’t buy the car do to the amount of room. . . I couldn’t sleep that night because I really like the car. Then it hit me, how about if I buy Recaro Seats and get lower brackets. So I bought the car, then order my seats, then was having a real hard time obtaining brackets. The VAC brackets are no good since it bolts to the side and not to the bottom like most seats.

I went to a reputable shop here in NYC called RPM and they fabricated the brackets, the brackets are done and I tested it out yesterday. . . OMG!!!!!!!! I am so incredibly happy. . . I gain so much more room than I expected, I’ll say about 3- 4 inches down & about 6 inches back. This is by far the best mod I have done, I can do a road trip now, my back is very comfortable. I do not look doofy in my M no more, I look right inside and comfortable.

The seats & brackets are been put in tomorrow, they are painting the brackets today. I will measure my self tomorrow with M Seats & Recaro seat all the way down and back and post how many inches I have gain from this mod. I will also post pictures of the steel brackets & my new custom fully suede Recaros.

I know a lot of people specially the Tall Z4 drivers have been looking for a solution, I spoke to RPM and they will produce these brackets if the interest is out there. I believe Tommy told me he’ll sell them for about $95 per bracket which is much cheaper than the outrages VAC price.

Pics tomorrow. . .

MMMazing07 · 06-12-2008, 05:04 PM

nice to see some customization. good work.

waiting for pics............

mPlasticDesign · 06-12-2008, 05:28 PM

Cool, can't wait to see pics now! Which seats did you buy?

RCNet · 06-12-2008, 05:53 PM

S2peed,

I'd really be interested in seeing the brackets and how the seat fits your Z4. I'm also 6'3", and need to gain 3-4 inches in order to get me to fit with a helmet for HPDE days. I'd also be interested in how you handled the seat belt mounting, and the sensors for the SRS system.

thx,
RCNet

Brucewonder · 06-12-2008, 06:38 PM

I'll be interested in a set...can you take pics of the mount points? The only problem is that im 5'9 and i like the height of my oem seats. Im sure i can fix that tho.

S2peed · 06-12-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///Metak

Cool, can't wait to see pics now! Which seats did you buy?

I got the Recaro Speed S seat, the seat comes in avus cloth, or vinyl w/ suede in middle. I custom order the whole seat to be wrap in leather sude, it fits the M nicely.

S2peed · 06-12-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCNet

S2peed,

I'd really be interested in seeing the brackets and how the seat fits your Z4. I'm also 6'3", and need to gain 3-4 inches in order to get me to fit with a helmet for HPDE days. I'd also be interested in how you handled the seat belt mounting, and the sensors for the SRS system.

thx,
RCNet

RPM has the seat belt mount in bracket, i'll have SRS turned off by dealer.

BlackSapphireZ · 06-13-2008, 12:12 AM

sell ur M seatss

S2peed · 06-13-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackSapphireZ

sell ur M seatss

Na. . . I'll hang on to them incase I sell the M in 2 years for a GTR.

MTHEORY · 06-14-2008, 11:17 AM

From another MC owner who is 6'4" 220 (OK....223), this is a very interesting topic. I want to see the setup.

ATX750i · 06-18-2008, 12:52 AM

Same here, 6'5". Very interested to see how this setup was done, the knee pad in my Z is like a calf pad for my lower leg. lol

ATX750i · 06-19-2008, 07:18 AM

Any update on pics???

RPM NYC Hogan · 07-09-2008, 11:23 PM

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3096170/3

sorry had to hash together the pics and a brief description.

pbdm4k · 07-10-2008, 10:13 AM

That looks like a pretty good job.
What did you guys do about the airbag sensors and what not in the factory seats?

RPM NYC Hogan · 07-11-2008, 05:14 PM

I disected the plug, and was awaiting diag sheet of some sorts showing what the pins should read in resistance. I was told that there may be a device to mimic air bag resistance even in a self test, I'm just waiting on more information.

I was able to plug back in for the seatbelt light/chime so that works like factory.

The pretensioners I am awaiting more info as well.

The seat motor power I've isolated and was insulated.

Almost there, but got the seats in for the client and he was thrilled about it.

06-12-2008, 04:03 PM	#1
S2peed Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 240 Posts Drives: 07 Black Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NYC (shaolin) iTrader: (1)	FINALLY. . . Seat Brackets! Hi Guys, Here’s the story. . . When I was interested in the Z4MC I went to the dealer to test drive, I personally really like the way the car looks, the power, the handing, just about everything besides one thing, I didn’t feel 100% comfortable. I am 6’3 210lbs and no matter how far back and low I position the seat I was not comfortable at all. My back hurt and my right knee was 1 inch away from dash. I didn’t buy the car do to the amount of room. . . I couldn’t sleep that night because I really like the car. Then it hit me, how about if I buy Recaro Seats and get lower brackets. So I bought the car, then order my seats, then was having a real hard time obtaining brackets. The VAC brackets are no good since it bolts to the side and not to the bottom like most seats. I went to a reputable shop here in NYC called RPM and they fabricated the brackets, the brackets are done and I tested it out yesterday. . . OMG!!!!!!!! I am so incredibly happy. . . I gain so much more room than I expected, I’ll say about 3- 4 inches down & about 6 inches back. This is by far the best mod I have done, I can do a road trip now, my back is very comfortable. I do not look doofy in my M no more, I look right inside and comfortable. The seats & brackets are been put in tomorrow, they are painting the brackets today. I will measure my self tomorrow with M Seats & Recaro seat all the way down and back and post how many inches I have gain from this mod. I will also post pictures of the steel brackets & my new custom fully suede Recaros. I know a lot of people specially the Tall Z4 drivers have been looking for a solution, I spoke to RPM and they will produce these brackets if the interest is out there. I believe Tommy told me he’ll sell them for about $95 per bracket which is much cheaper than the outrages VAC price. Pics tomorrow. . .
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06-12-2008, 05:04 PM	#2
MMMazing07 More than you can afford pal....ferrari 181 Rep 1,471 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	nice to see some customization. good work. waiting for pics............
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06-12-2008, 05:28 PM	#3
mPlasticDesign Major General 684 Rep 5,069 Posts Drives: BMW 230i Msport w/LSD Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Astral Projecting: ∞ 23.516 -122 02.625 0242.101 ĕv'rē-hwâr' iTrader: (16) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 997.2 [10.00] 2019 Hyundai N (Sold) [10.00] 2013 BMW M3 (Sold) [10.00] 2011 1M Coupe (Sold) [8.78] 2008 E90 M3 (Sold) [8.60] 2007 Z4 Mcpe (Sold) [9.50] 2005 BMW M3 (Sold) [10.00]	Cool, can't wait to see pics now! Which seats did you buy? __________________
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06-12-2008, 05:53 PM	#4
RCNet Woof!! 5 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 2006 Ti Silver Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SW Washington iTrader: (0)	S2peed, I'd really be interested in seeing the brackets and how the seat fits your Z4. I'm also 6'3", and need to gain 3-4 inches in order to get me to fit with a helmet for HPDE days. I'd also be interested in how you handled the seat belt mounting, and the sensors for the SRS system. thx, RCNet __________________ 2006 Ti Silver Z4 M Coupe 2009 Deep Sea Blue 535i xDrive Sports Wagon
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06-12-2008, 06:38 PM	#5
Brucewonder Lieutenant Colonel 33 Rep 1,541 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 yea boi Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Socal iTrader: (4)	I'll be interested in a set...can you take pics of the mount points? The only problem is that im 5'9 and i like the height of my oem seats. Im sure i can fix that tho. __________________ 2011.5 E92 ///M3 SSII/FR
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06-13-2008, 12:12 AM	#8
BlackSapphireZ Major 97 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 22 GLE 53 Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ladson, SC iTrader: (0)	sell ur M seatss __________________ 2022 GLE 53 Coupe
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06-14-2008, 11:17 AM	#10
MTHEORY Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2003 996 Porsche GT2 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada iTrader: (0)	From another MC owner who is 6'4" 220 (OK....223), this is a very interesting topic. I want to see the setup.
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06-18-2008, 12:52 AM	#11
ATX750i Captain 32 Rep 746 Posts Drives: 2009 Honda Civic Si Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bay Minette, AL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 2.5i [0.00]	Same here, 6'5". Very interested to see how this setup was done, the knee pad in my Z is like a calf pad for my lower leg. lol __________________ Johnathan 03' 2.5i Maldives Blue Roadster - SOLD 09' 2.0 Polished Metal Metallic Honda Civic Si - Current Last edited by ATX750i; 06-19-2008 at 07:18 AM..
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06-19-2008, 07:18 AM	#12
ATX750i Captain 32 Rep 746 Posts Drives: 2009 Honda Civic Si Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bay Minette, AL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 2.5i [0.00]	Any update on pics??? __________________ Johnathan 03' 2.5i Maldives Blue Roadster - SOLD 09' 2.0 Polished Metal Metallic Honda Civic Si - Current
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07-09-2008, 11:23 PM	#13
RPM NYC Hogan Ego Bruiser On Board 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: Harness Bar + SFI 16.1 Belts Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	PICS ~!!!!! http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3096170/3 sorry had to hash together the pics and a brief description.
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07-10-2008, 10:13 AM	#14
pbdm4k Lieutenant Colonel 74 Rep 1,689 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: May 2007 Location: North of the Border iTrader: (3)	That looks like a pretty good job. What did you guys do about the airbag sensors and what not in the factory seats? __________________ 2010 BMW 335d "Ha! She wants the D." 2006 VW Jetta 2.5 Once upon a time... '03 VW GTI, '99 Audi A4 1.8TQ, '00 VW Jetta 1.85T, '09 BMW 335i xDrive, '04 BMW Z4 3.0i, '01 Audi TT 1.8T, '04 Volvo S80 2.5T
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07-11-2008, 05:14 PM	#15
RPM NYC Hogan Ego Bruiser On Board 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: Harness Bar + SFI 16.1 Belts Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I disected the plug, and was awaiting diag sheet of some sorts showing what the pins should read in resistance. I was told that there may be a device to mimic air bag resistance even in a self test, I'm just waiting on more information. I was able to plug back in for the seatbelt light/chime so that works like factory. The pretensioners I am awaiting more info as well. The seat motor power I've isolated and was insulated. Almost there, but got the seats in for the client and he was thrilled about it. __________________ RPM NYC (Welding, Wiring, Diagnostics, Fabrication, Tuning.) Queens Village, NY 11428 www.rpmnyc.com -The Art of Speed.
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