Tmini
01-21-2007, 08:23 PM
I'll start with a big thanks to all of the posters here, I've been researching the boards for some time now and found a lot of answers to my first round of questions...however I have not found the answer to the following;
The stock seat in my 98 M3 Sedan seems too narrow, specifically it digs into the outside of my thighs where it feels like there is some hard metal piece in the frame. If you look at the pics here you'll see that it looks like the last owner had the same issue as the seat leather is worn in the exact spot where it digs into my left leg. I know one option is a new seat, either OEM or aftermarket (more on this below) but I am wondering if anyone else of uhh....a "stout" build has run into this issue and if the seat could be modified (e.g. bend the metal or something) to accomidate my distinctly non-euro posterior. Other than this the seat is comfortable and it would not need to be bent very much, I'm just wondering how difficult it might be and if there are any issues I should consider?
Pics here: //web.mac.com/tommoran1/iWeb/M3/M3_pics.html
(Insert your own HTTP: in front of this, I had to delete it due to the new poster restriction, sorry...
I'd also like to know what you folks think about the other options...
I've seen the "vaders" and like the look of these although I wonder if I would have the same issue I have with the current seat. Based on what I have read here I think this M3, like all M3's has "sport" seats and some of the posts suggest that the non sport seat is wider, so maybe I could pull a seat from a non M sedan with black leather at a scrap yard...
The only ///M style stitching I have on these is on the headrest so I could just swap that out and still get my "M" look. If I find a standard black leather seat from another E36 3 series with electric and heat is this just a straight up swap? Should I try and confirm that the electrics/heater in the new seat work or could I swap my existing ones in if they were bad? Finally what about this air bag sensor thing I've read about? Do I need to worry about that? Could I buy a wider, new OEM seat, if so where and how much?
My two other options seem to be have a professional modify the existing seat or get an aftermarket seat. If I do go aftermarket I want to maintain a look that is close to stock so I'm not interested in pure track oriented seats. Although I will track the car it is also my daily driver and I want comfort and a stock, or subtle custom look...
If I went to a pro I could probably have them modify the seat and reupholster or repair the area that is worn...maybe even a little //M style piping or something to spice things up...I'd be curuous to see pics of customized seats...
Thanks again to all...
The stock seat in my 98 M3 Sedan seems too narrow, specifically it digs into the outside of my thighs where it feels like there is some hard metal piece in the frame. If you look at the pics here you'll see that it looks like the last owner had the same issue as the seat leather is worn in the exact spot where it digs into my left leg. I know one option is a new seat, either OEM or aftermarket (more on this below) but I am wondering if anyone else of uhh....a "stout" build has run into this issue and if the seat could be modified (e.g. bend the metal or something) to accomidate my distinctly non-euro posterior. Other than this the seat is comfortable and it would not need to be bent very much, I'm just wondering how difficult it might be and if there are any issues I should consider?
Pics here: //web.mac.com/tommoran1/iWeb/M3/M3_pics.html
(Insert your own HTTP: in front of this, I had to delete it due to the new poster restriction, sorry...
I'd also like to know what you folks think about the other options...
I've seen the "vaders" and like the look of these although I wonder if I would have the same issue I have with the current seat. Based on what I have read here I think this M3, like all M3's has "sport" seats and some of the posts suggest that the non sport seat is wider, so maybe I could pull a seat from a non M sedan with black leather at a scrap yard...
The only ///M style stitching I have on these is on the headrest so I could just swap that out and still get my "M" look. If I find a standard black leather seat from another E36 3 series with electric and heat is this just a straight up swap? Should I try and confirm that the electrics/heater in the new seat work or could I swap my existing ones in if they were bad? Finally what about this air bag sensor thing I've read about? Do I need to worry about that? Could I buy a wider, new OEM seat, if so where and how much?
My two other options seem to be have a professional modify the existing seat or get an aftermarket seat. If I do go aftermarket I want to maintain a look that is close to stock so I'm not interested in pure track oriented seats. Although I will track the car it is also my daily driver and I want comfort and a stock, or subtle custom look...
If I went to a pro I could probably have them modify the seat and reupholster or repair the area that is worn...maybe even a little //M style piping or something to spice things up...I'd be curuous to see pics of customized seats...
Thanks again to all...