» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM Yesterday 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 318,275 Views | | | | | | 01-23-2012, 11:55 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NJ USA Posts: 159 | New seats! Hey, guys Just trying to put the finishing touches on my new 328ti. I’ve got the original grey cloth interior and it’s not very sexy not to mention my butt sliding around too much when cornering. My type of driving is spirited daily & auto-x. I’d like to upgrade my seats and color of interior (dash & panels) to black. I really like the look and feel of the e46 M3 sports seats in either blk lthr or blk clth & lthr. If I find a pair of these, I’d just eventually find a ti rear seat in black leather. I really don’t think I need proper racing seats because I won’t see track time for a while not to mention the comfort factor. In searching around I found a lot of JDM seats on Ebay in many different colors and styles as well as the Recaro, Bride and Sparco “Replicas”. My questions are: 1. Has anyone had any success fitting e46 sport seats in our ti’s? Do our ti’s have the same seat dimensions as other e36’s? I did search here and found a few short threads but no install info. I did see cooljess76’s post about removing BOTH sensors before removing seats and how the holes need to be drilled out slightly bigger. 2. Has anyone purchased any of the JDM or “Replica” Ebay seats? 3. Has anyone had success respraying the dash and plastic panels? Seems pretty straight forward and easy. I did find this how to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD1Qq...eature=related Thanks in advance __________________ Happiness is not around the corner, it is the corner | | | 01-24-2012, 12:18 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Scranton/Wilkes-barre area PA Posts: 454 | make sure your front seats come from a coupe or some convertibles. you need to be able to fold the seats forward. __________________ ***Derek*** ^^Lola^^ Pioneer radio/ Pioneer 6-Disk CD Changer/ JBL 601.1 Grand Touring Amplifier/ Bilstein Sport shocks/ Bilstein e36sedan springs/ Green LED Courtesy Lights Accident Counter: 3... | | | 01-24-2012, 12:22 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | get some sparco or recaro buckets! __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | 01-24-2012, 01:02 AM | #4 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Quote: Originally Posted by RCV7 I did see cooljess76’s post about removing BOTH sensors before removing seats and how the holes need to be drilled out slightly bigger. | huh? I don't remember saying any of that. You need to get seats from a coupe or convertible. Sedan seats don't tilt forward to allow access to the rear. You need to disconnect the battery PRIOR to unplugging the SRS connectors under the seats and only reconnect the battery AFTER everything is properly reconnected or you'll end up with an airbag light that will require a special tool or a trip to the dealer to reset. As far as I know, any e36 seats will bolt right up, no need to enlarge holes or anything like that. But like I said, make sure you get seats out of a coupe or vert if you want to maintain the tilt feature. The only thing that you may need to swap is the lower belt tensioners: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...20&hg=72&fg=05 If your car was built before 03/97, you need the older "mechanical" style tensioners. If your car was built on or after 03/97, you need the newer "pyrotechnic" tensioners. So if you get seats from a car that has different style tensioners than what your car was originally equipped with, you'll need to swap them out as they're attached to the seats. | | | 01-24-2012, 01:24 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 | Quote: Originally Posted by RCV7 2. Has anyone purchased any of the JDM or “Replica” Ebay seats? | I'd stay away from those, seats are an important safety part on a car and it's not something you want to cheap out on I'd recommend getting this if he still has it http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34973 you can always pick up the matching passenger seat later on | | | 01-24-2012, 01:25 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 | __________________ Sean 1995 Active | | | 01-24-2012, 01:56 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NJ USA Posts: 159 | Recaro or Sparco If I end up getting a Recaro or Sparco type seat that doesn't recline, can it move forward enough to let a passenger in the back? __________________ Happiness is not around the corner, it is the corner | | | 01-24-2012, 02:04 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | Uh yea. I have two sparco buckets that don't recline and it's near to impossible to get passengers in the back. But then again. I never give more than one person a ride cause my rear tires will rub and I hate have back seat passengers haha __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | 01-24-2012, 02:46 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Scranton/Wilkes-barre area PA Posts: 454 | Quote: Originally Posted by slow_ti I hate have back seat passengers haha | wow selfish much lol __________________ ***Derek*** ^^Lola^^ Pioneer radio/ Pioneer 6-Disk CD Changer/ JBL 601.1 Grand Touring Amplifier/ Bilstein Sport shocks/ Bilstein e36sedan springs/ Green LED Courtesy Lights Accident Counter: 3... | | | 01-24-2012, 03:05 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | Really depends who it is haha. __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | 01-24-2012, 03:22 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Scranton/Wilkes-barre area PA Posts: 454 | you need this sticker __________________ ***Derek*** ^^Lola^^ Pioneer radio/ Pioneer 6-Disk CD Changer/ JBL 601.1 Grand Touring Amplifier/ Bilstein Sport shocks/ Bilstein e36sedan springs/ Green LED Courtesy Lights Accident Counter: 3... | | | 01-24-2012, 03:24 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Potomac Falls VA DMV Posts: 1,794 | Lol foreal __________________ Im guessing im the youngest member on here with a S52 power'ed Ti at 16 years old! | | | 01-24-2012, 08:34 PM | #13 | Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lake in Wisconsin Posts: 67 | Stay away from the ebay ones they are so flimsy they are scarey. The do save a but load of wt., I had some and they felt OK but I'm glad i was never in an accident. I had to get custom brackets too, so figure in that cost as well. Get these instead: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=35137 | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |