Boy... I dunno about that price. Different/better seats is always a good thing. I won't ever buy a seat (especially for $4k!) without sitting in them first! For a while even.

 

Recaro seats....



I understand about the seats not having airbags in them. For me it's a must (not so much for safety but more to keep everything functioning...) but I must clarify.... after looking at the inside, I think it's better to make a rollbar and cover the rear seats/hatch rather than an actual cage going over the front by the dash.

 

Well hell for what they are selling for MSRP off that website you might as well can the JCW ones at least they will be more vehicle specific.
http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=3732&region=3&L=2
Though here they are from the Recaro website.
http://www.motorsportseats.com/recaro/sportster.html
Dinamica is suede so the JCW has Alacantra the regular non brand specific has this. Also looking at the prices of them on several different websites the price for the non JCW ones is about the same as the JCW. Also in the Recaro website you can look up dealers close to you and ou could go test them for feel before you get the JCWs. I have been editing this post for the last 10 minutes because every time I think I am done I find out more about these seats.
More info http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...26tbs%3Disch:1

Also looking at it you can get side airbags in them but I think that you need to ask and I have only seen it on Euro websites.
http://capitalseating.co.uk/productd...&appid=59&rid=

 

I know, I know... I keep checking up on your links and everytime I look, there's a new one...

Thanks, I still need to check into the airbag situation for some of these seats.

If they're close, I may as well get the JCW seats, at least I know it's fully compatible.

I was thinking of getting them recovered when I get them anyways (since I'd like some sort of yellow pipng)

Thanks for the links.


Mark

 

Why not get the regular ones then and have JCW and the yellow stitched on? It might save you some bucks but might not either. Look into it go!

 

I am but the airbags are a must. (like I said, for OEM purposes, not for safety)

I'll keep digging.

Thanks for all your help.

Mark

 

Damn Mark if you had just decided this a few days earlier! I just sold my Alcantara seats still in the box to a buyer in Norway and just sent them out yesterday.

My 16 year old sister(and eventually the three younger one's) will be driving the R56 so I've pretty much returned it to stock form.

I did get to drive two R56's with both the leather and alcantara on my trip to Holland last month. After a few hundred miles and some spirited back road driving IMO the leather seats are much better for a DD.

Overall both versions are awesome. The Alcantara keeps you planted much better in hard corners which is PERFECT for the track but even with the stock suspension it's just too bumpy for street driving and having driven 75k on my H&R's spun all the way down which were shot to $h!t when I tossed them I'm very familiar with a harsh ride.

On another note whichever seats you do buy I would avoid any shipping with UPS. I just had a set of leatherette seats I sold to a guy in Colorado returned to me after UPS called to tell me they were damaged in transit. Looked like they dropped them off a roof and rolled them down a hill





If you order your Recaro's from the UK site they use DHL which is a great carrier but check them good once they arrive! UPS has my damage claim in the pipeline but who knows if or when I'll get a settlement.

Keep us posted!

-Chad

 

Do you have pics of the JCW seats you just sold?

 

Damn it Chad, I was going to get in touch with you last week to get some advice.

CRAP.. dollar short and day late... story of my life.

So you think the leather JCW recaro's are better for all over than the alcantaras?

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Mark

 

I'm 5'9 175 and the leather seats were nice and snug. For all around get the leather!

 

I just realized a fatal flaw with my idea....

The whole reason I'm cutting up the roll bar from M3This is because I want to save the backseat, right?

So let's say I save the backseat and make a removable crossbar... with me so far?

How in the hell do you get in the backseat? A set of JCW seats don't recline, do they?


Arrrghh.


Mark

 

Yep they recline thats what makes them so appealing. Performance seats with some creature comforts.

 

Mark why dont you buy a little 4 door beater so you can have a backseat when you need it and make the MINI a track car (permanent crossbar and rear seat delete)?

 

Well, I have my H2 if I want a 4 door. (it's in CA getting a Duramax diesel conversion done... point is, it'll get 20+ mpg on the highway) so I could drive that.

The reason I'm trying to be so careful not to overdo the mini is because I don't want to use a $30K+ car for a track car.

I figure this is the best of both worlds. (somewhat)


Mark

 

Ahhhh gotcha...

 

Okay, I'm finished. I paid for my seats and hopefully they'll be here soon. I did order the alcantara instead of the leather, hopefuly I don't regret that.


Thanks everyone for your input.


Mark

 

Sweet! Post pics when you get them installed!

 

Youll love the alcantara.... I havent seen an update since but I daily the alcantara JCW recaros and theyre more comfortable than the stock seats. Then again, now if I sit in anyone's car I keep getting confused as to why I am moving around so much.

For reference, I am ~5'9", 162lbs with a 32" waist and I fit perfect in the seats.

The drivers side is literally plug and play. Since we are not in Europe, you need to put a weight sensor from the stock seat on the passenger side into the Recaro so you do not trigger an airbag light. M3This (Kris) bought one from MINI using a part number, only to find out they are not compatible so it seems you have to remove teh old one from the stock seat. Otherwise, once you put the weight sensor inside the Recaro its all plug and play.

 

Thanks Gilboyto, I was a little unsure of the alcantara vs. the leather. And though I hated ordering without test fitting, I guess I'm stuck with my choice so I'm glad to hear you like them.

So the pass. side seat doesn't come with the weight sensor?? That sucks, I mean it's not a huge deal but I specifically asked if it was plug and play. Of course, in England, for their application, they probably are.

I'll check with Kris and ask what he used and if he should have used something else. I bought his rollbar from him, it should be here this week. Of course, I've got some serious cutting to do on his rollbar for what I want but nonetheless, it'll be a start.

Thanks again, I'll check into it.

Mark

 

Just thought I'd give an update.... I talked to Kris and he said that the only reason he had to mess with the weight sensor is because he didn't actually buy the JCW Recaro seats, he bought a set of Recaro Pole Position seats and had to make them work.

Hopefully when my seats show up, they'll plug and play.

We'll see....


Mark

 

Make sure you get weights on theses seats both stock and JCW