I have regular cloth/red rooster sports seat... it is getting uncomfortable more and more.. i need more cushion ( or im aging)

I know someone here did some memory foam inserts with a seat cover.. looks like it is a lot of work... trying to look for different options...

 

Hi Doc sorry to hear about your seat problem. I thought the seat already had memory foam? Are you thinking of adding to it with some cover?

 

For an easy way to add a minimal amount of padding Wet Okole covers are easy to install and add about 1/2" of padding.

Others have gone a substantially more aggressive route of having their seats reupholstered...

I don't have the Wet Okole's myself but perhaps there is enough room to put even a tad more padding between the cover and the seat to increase comfort.

Where are the seats the least comfortable? Lumbar region? Seat bottom? There's always the tried-and-tested pillow cushion!

 

The custom job on the seats is my `05. Here are the two threads on the topic:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-stuffing.html
- and -
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...s-results.html

It's probably the single best thing I've done to the car. I can never sell this car now, as getting in feels like putting on a pair of custom-made cowboy boots -like a glove for my back.

 

I made a post a while back about how much I hate my seats and want some R56 seats. One of my gripes is the seat dont lay back. My girlfriend cant nap on trips in my car so it stays at home . I look everyday on Ebay and the marketplace here on NAM for some good seats. There is a guy here in town that claims hes getting the Recaro's that came in the GP's in the UK...$6K seats. He said he would sell me his 08 JCW seats ......we'll see

 

Doc...I just looked at your gallery, you have nice seats. If you decide to get rid of them let me know.

 

DocCooper? What kind of seats did you spec for your MINI?

I have the pacific blue pleather and black cloth sport seats. I love them, they're awesome, comfortable and they look sexy as hell!


SCRATCH THAT!
You have the same seats as I except in red. Wow, and you don't like them?! I guess not. They look great with your car too. I'm sure you can find lots of options for seat covers if they hurt you that much. Then theres always the hippie back masaging wood beads but that would look tacky.

 

I have one of these and it is uber comfortable. I do 80 miles a day in this seat and it completely blows away the stocker in my 04. They make several widths to fit different sized folks. About $800 with all the hardware. recaro makes a similar seat called the Pole Position, but it didn't fit me very well.

Anyway, you might want to try one of these on if you have a local dealer.

 

Tazio, did you compare that to a Recaro sport seat?

 

I thought of doing it.. but trying too spend as little as possible doing this mod. If it costs me substantially, i wuld just get some recaros.. but i would lose my heated seats.. which i love when it gets cold. I can careless about the side airbags.. lol

Botton, under the leg, and the whole back.. these seats just dont give me the plush cushion... nor they hold me on a hard turn.. i got spoiled by 750 IL seats.. lol

If i decide to sway out my seats.. i will totally let you know...

 

I think MINI sells Recaros on the euro versions, I wonder if they come with heated seats?

 

I think the R53 seats are A LOT MORE comfortable than R56 sports seats... I love what you did to your seats... i dont know any upholstery shops who arent willing to rip me off nor i know their workmanship...

 

I am getting the seats in my 07 MCc reupolstered and am waiting to get the car back. I have the standard seats in the black leatherett stuff, I found the seats very good on long rides and have the support that I want. I am going woth full leather seats in a color of my choice. The color that I picked for the car is close to the new hot chocolate color offered on the 09 Mini Cabrio. The cost of this is about the cost of the leather from the factory but there is much more color choices. Will post some pics when the car is done for all to see.

 

I compared them to a couple of different Recaros, but not sure what you mean by "sport seat". The closest is the Pole Position, but I liked the fit of the Sparco better. It really depends on your body size/shape/proportions.


Here is the Pole Position.

 

I like these.

Recaro Trend and Style.

what you guys think of this website? price?
http://www.motorsportseats.com/recaro/index.html


Im wondering how these will interact with airbag sensors... I dont care for the side airbag but need to trick the system that it is ok. Also the seat belt sensor on the pass side and looking at the website, they have heated seat option available for $300 or so... at the end... it becomes very expensive... but they look comfortable and snug...

I dont like the traditional bucket seats cuz it is so hard to get in and out...





or

 

I would like some Recaros or the like in full black leather without any darn logos on them. That would just beg burglars to smash my car open!

 

I was also thinking about http://www.wetokole.com

gives me 1/2 inch foam and covers it up.. costs around $250 for both seats and my heated seats will still fuction. Yes the Recaro option is the best but very expensive. What you guys think?>

 

I'd probably start out with the 1/2" foam covers first. If it work for you, problem solved. If it doesn't you maybe able to sell them to someone else and go for the Recaros with the heated seat option.

 

Agreed... looks like Half piping option on Wet Okele may do that trick.. 265 + shipping... under $150 each cover... not bad... problem is they give you no REFUND or nothing if i dont like it.

I wish i can try them on....

 

You might want to try to 50-cent approach first - put around a 3/8" spacer under the front seat track mounts (with longer bolts, of course).

It makes a surprising amount of difference, because the seat-bottom in all MINIs is too flat for vigorous driving. You spend a lot of energy pushing yourself back into the seat when braking, and fighting lateral acceleration, as a result.

This minor change makes you feel much more down in the seat, rather than perched on top of it.

 

I'll vouch for OldRick's advice about the spacers to prop up the front of the seat slightly. I did this a couple of months ago and have enjoyed a far more "bucketed" feeling now in spirited driving... it's a more comfortable seat on longer drives as well.

 

If you must get a reclining seat, then the Recaro Sportster CS is the next best thing to a real shell. This is the non-US market JCW seat, with airbag modules hung on the sides.

 

SO raise the front bracket of the seat?? hmmm interesting.. Do you have any picture?

 

How will the car react to not having the air bags or seat weight sensors tho if you go with like the spacro evo2?

 

Remove the front bolts. Loosen the rear ones, put hardware store nylon spacers or washers under the front bolts, and replace with 10mm longer bolts, grade 8 or better. Any Ace hardware store has a selection of spacers and metric bolts. The 1st-gen seats take a Torx T-40.

Here's a link. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...179-post1.html