I've been reading through all the threads pertaining to installing racing seats into the R53's but it seems 2006 info is a little scarce, unless I'm missing it in my search. My car has the panther black leather seats with heaters.

I only want to replace the driver's seat, not the passenger seat. I keep reading about problems with the weight sensors in the 2006 passenger seats, but can't find anything pertaining to the driver's seat. So here's my questions....

1) Does the driver's seat even have the weight mat or is it just a passenger side thing?

if so.....

2) If I replace the driver's seat, and I don't transplant the weight mat into the new seat, will my steering wheel airbag not work? If not is there some workaround to this?

3) Is there a way to avoid the airbag/SRS light coming on? I've read that resistors won't work?


Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

 

+1!! i need to know this info as well.

 

Does anyone know if I were to get a seat (or set of seats) from something like a Mitsubishi Evo X if I would be able to make use of the airbags and weight sensor? Or do MINI and Mitsubishi speak incompatible languages?

 

Sensor/matt is passenger side only....(2005 production+)...the sensor was required when dualstage aibags were added so if a CHILD was in the seat...they would not get killed by the airbag...so no driver side weight sensor....
But the seats do have airbags in the sides... So a resistor of the proper size will "trick" the computer into thinking the car still has the right seats....so no light.

 

evo X seats are way too heavy...go for evo 9 seats.

 

It's not about weight, it's about three things:

1) Support
2) Style
3) Comfort

The stock R53 seat is decently comfortable I guess, but it's got no lateral support and is quite ugly. The reason I was looking at the Evo X seats was hoping that I would be able to use the airbags and seat sensors still and not have to worry about reducing safety.

 

Hmm, it wouldnt be too safe using the airbags in the evo seats if they even have them because they were designed for an evo not a mini...so doing that could actually cause more harm than good.

I do agree, the stock seats are ugly.

 

Hummm, didn't think about that. Interesting idea that if the airbag deployed incorrectly that it could cause more harm than good.

Thanks for the insight.

 

Yep

Personally im going to look for a set of evo 9 recaro seats because those are my fav. IF i can get my hands on a set of SSL leather evo 9 seats that would be amazing because i have that black panther leather (or whatever its called)

 

I had the leather Evo IX seats in my R32 GT-R and honestly I wasn't a fan. They looked great, but the side bolsters were tiny, I slid around worse in those than the stock seats.

 

Interesting, i had evo 8 seats in my talon and those things held me in pretty fine.

Worst case if i cant get what i want ill probably go for a set of Brides like these



My major beef with the stock seats is that they sit WAY TOO HIGH AND they dont do a good job at holding me in my seat lol

 

I had genuine Bride Zeta III's in my 08 Civic Type R and they were great seats, but I want something reclining now since I have to get my kids in and out of the back seat. Bride reclining seats are just too much money unless you get the Canada/Taiwan-made ones, which I'm not too sure about the safety aspects. I've been looking at tons of different seat manufacturers and all the decent looking reclining seats are super expensive, or leather/vinyl which I absolutely don't want.

Been looking in the <$500 price range for a single seat (before mounting bracket).

NRG Reclining $399 (NRG quality is a maybe):


Corbeau RRX $499 (Corbeau is great quality, but this model is only available in vinyl)


"Bride" reclining bucket replica $400-500 (again questionable quality, but great styling and support)



Haven't seen any from Sparco that I like. I love their fixed back seats, but I need something that reclines for back seat access.

You know of any others?

 

Actually the Corbeau RXR's seem perfect, but they don't seem to be available in the US. :(

 

I was looking at the RxR as well. You pretty much summed up all the good seats. I would stay away from NRG, I had a friend who put them in his evo and one day he goes to sit down on the seat and actually snapped the locking arm that keeps the back part up. So basically one side was locked in position and the other was not. He wasn't a big guy either.

 

Maybe if we get a few people together who want the RxR we could get Corbeau USA to import a few?

 

I'm definitely down for that!!

 

Ok I sent them an e-mail, might call them tomorrow during business hours too.

 

Awesome, keep me updated I would love to put these in the mini.

 

Those Corbeaus look nice... I could be interested in a group buy too, depending on the price.

Have either of you looked at transferring the heating element to an aftermarket seat (or do they come with them)?

 

I wouldn't do it simply because i would hate to ruin the seat. PLUS i dont really need the heated seats because i have my infiniti which is my daily driver

 

Most Corbeau seats have the option to have a heating element installed from the factory. I'm not sure how it would interface with the stock MINI wiring, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to adapt.

I got an email back from Corbeau saying that they import the RXR for $599 +$250 shipping from the UK. Too rich for my blood. They did say the center section of the RRX is indeed cloth, so that makes me happy enough to go ahead and get that one anyways.

 

When you look at this giant picture of the RRX you can see that the center is cloth, maybe even the silver part. Might have to get the thigh cushion reupholstered though, not sure how much it will bother me.

http://image.gmhightechperformance.c...ne-rrx.JPG.jpg

 

Thats a shame :(