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Thread: Rebuild Seats 1981 320i E21

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    bellingham, wa
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    11
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 320i

    Rebuild Seats 1981 320i E21

    Hi -- The original upholstery is ok on my front seat but the springs or the frame or whatever holds you up is shot, I kind of sink to the floor when I get in. Anyone know of a way to replace/repair/rebuild the seats, or where I could find just the frame? Thanks in advance!

    Scott

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Vienna, Virginia
    Posts
    127
    My Cars
    Bmw 323i e21
    From what you are describing, this is all you need and it's an easy fix.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Recaro-LS-S...hZ-NVK&vxp=mtr

    Good luck

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    bellingham, wa
    Posts
    11
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 320i
    I just saw this. Thanks!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Chicago, IL,United States
    Posts
    252
    My Cars
    1977 BMW 320i
    I made seat foam for the 'comfort' style seats using upholstery foam, cutting it with an electric carving knife (the kind with two reciprocating serrated blades) and gluing pieces together with spray contact adhesive. I also put a piece of canvas between the springs and the foam, so that the springs did not cut into the foam. It was fairly easy to do and the seats looked like new when I was done. The only drawback was that the foam I used was a little too dense, it didn't compress much when I sat in the seats.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sacramento, California
    Posts
    4,704
    My Cars
    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18

    Cool

    Thats the line I was thinking on except using memory foam encased in heat seam sealed or stapled visqueen with several small holes in it, definite upgrade from horsehair. Visqueen goes from 4 mils to 20 plus mils, simply select the visqueen strong and quiet thickness for the application,, My GF was an upholsterer, seat cushioning goes from uncomfortable to plush, wide awake to sleepy time,vinyl to silk- ect--more to seat cushioning that meets the untrained eye. lol


    Randy
    Last edited by 320iAman; 05-24-2019 at 12:09 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Hialeah
    Posts
    59
    My Cars
    E30, E21
    This topic is of interest to me as I am presently redoing the rear seat on my 1982 e21. The cloth upholstery as well as the husk fiber pad was completely disintegrated. Although I’ve recently been bitten by the BMW bug, I’ve been collecting air cooled VWs for a long time and they use the same husk fiber for the seats. Fortunately, there are sources for new seat pads for vintage VW, but I have been unable to find a source for the BMW seat pads. With the VWs, I’ve had success rebuilding pads that weren’t too far gone by submerging them in slightly thinned out Elmer’s glue and adding pieces of husk fiber from other seats. For the BMW, the seat pad was too far gone so I’m using foam and a jute pad, but the seat is basically flat so it’s easy. The front seats are another story all together.

    I agree that the original seat pads are not very comfortable, but I tend to prefer stock materials.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    141
    My Cars
    ‘81 E21 320i
    I got mine done. It's like the guy grafted a hospital bed into the metal frame to make it stable. 28 hours round trip to Seattle left me unimpressed.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Sacramento, California
    Posts
    4,704
    My Cars
    1980 BMW 320i E21 M10B18

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by TicoVW68 View Post
    This topic is of interest to me as I am presently redoing the rear seat on my 1982 e21. The cloth upholstery as well as the husk fiber pad was completely disintegrated. Although I’ve recently been bitten by the BMW bug, I’ve been collecting air cooled VWs for a long time and they use the same husk fiber for the seats. Fortunately, there are sources for new seat pads for vintage VW, but I have been unable to find a source for the BMW seat pads. With the VWs, I’ve had success rebuilding pads that weren’t too far gone by submerging them in slightly thinned out Elmer’s glue and adding pieces of husk fiber from other seats. For the BMW, the seat pad was too far gone so I’m using foam and a jute pad, but the seat is basically flat so it’s easy. The front seats are another story all together.

    I agree that the original seat pads are not very comfortable, but I tend to prefer stock materials.
    I Like stock as well yet only the seat pad is available and its over $400,, horsehair-rubberized hemp-gummiharr, time to update for less.

    Randy

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    30
    My Cars
    1983 BMW 320i

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    bellingham, wa
    Posts
    11
    My Cars
    1981 BMW 320i
    Sorry, are you saying those would fit the 320i front seats? Thanks!
    Scott

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    1,585
    My Cars
    1978 323i
    Those fit the 320i recaro sport seats.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    Plessisville, Qc, Canada
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1982 Bmw 320i
    I am just starting to restore my 1982 320i and am doing research on some of the work that needs doing and saw this post for the front seats. I am having to repair the front and back seats. I have the sport seats in the front and like what I see but haven't found how I can restore the back seat. Any suggestions are appreciated.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Location
    Magnolia, TX, USA
    Posts
    97
    My Cars
    1982 BMW 320i
    You could try BMWpartsdeal.com, looks like they might have the rear seat cushion available.
    Not sure about springs or back cushion though.

    Maximillian is another good source, World Upholstery is also very good, and Aardvark is another good source.
    Lots of great people to talk to, but with all the old parts it’s best to call or email them first.

    I bought an ‘82 320i in 2020 and was shocked at the price to restore the front seats.
    I decided to restore a set of Recaro front seats and save the original sport seats for another day.
    The cost is expensive either way, but the Recaro seats are much more fun to drive with.

    170FE0B9-2788-4C83-85A7-B357538303F5.jpeg

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