» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 427,611 Views | | | | | | | 07-11-2012, 09:48 PM | #76 | Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Toronto/Munich Posts: 83 | I can't wait to see an update on this car in general. Always been a fan. The seats look great, do you mind if I ask how much a set of them cost? have there been any other changes/updates to your car recently? Cheers | | | 07-13-2012, 09:22 PM | #77 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brasil Posts: 133 | These seats are a must! Any good deal on them? | | | 07-14-2012, 09:52 PM | #78 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Seats picked up Seats arrived. Was lucky to find a set of used Recaro Sportster CS in black leather trim. The seats are 1.5 years old, and are in mint condition. Looks like brand new. Even the smell of leather is still there. Next up is to order Macht Schnell "Competition Liteweight Floor Mounts for Racing Seats - E36 3-Series, E46 3-Series & E85/6 Z4" from EAS, since the seats has been used i a non-BMW before. Last edited by e36 323ti; 07-16-2012 at 09:42 AM. | | | 07-14-2012, 11:29 PM | #79 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Broomfield,Colorado Posts: 664 | Oh I like them Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2 | | | 07-23-2012, 05:41 PM | #80 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Broken dreams Received the Macht Schnell hardware, but to my shocking surprise I realize that the Recaro Sportster CS does not align with the steering wheel in the e36. The center of the seat is several cm to the left of the center of the steering wheel. To me it seems like the Reacro Sportster CS can't be used in any e36, if aligning the steering wheel and seat is of any importance So much for that dream... | | | 07-29-2012, 07:49 PM | #81 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Refreshed dream... Did some research today... Realized that the steering column/ steering wheel and the seat is not aligned in our e36 ti (and probably not in any e36). It's now clear to me why I have always felt like I was sitting more towards the right side of the seat than in the center... The measurements indicate that the steering wheel is between 25 and 30mm to the right of the center of the seat. Some photos of my findings below. Photo 1: The red lines indicates the center lines. Photo 2:The measurements... My findings was a real re-fueling of my dreams. Got new faith in the Macht Schnell items and did a test fit: I think the offset is like the original, but have to measure when finalized the installation. The installation is time consuming, since there is not a perfect match between the BMW mounting points, Recaro Sportster CS and the Macht Schnell hardware... I also guess that the sitting position is between 25 and 50mm lower than the sport seats in lower position. I am sitting really low, and not to forget, really tight. The side support is really very good compared to the original BMW e36 sport seats Last edited by e36 323ti; 07-30-2012 at 10:53 AM. | | | 07-29-2012, 07:51 PM | #82 | Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,220 | Jeeze those seats are SEXY | | | 07-29-2012, 07:59 PM | #83 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | one more picture.. ... and a picture with the test fit of my track harness | | | 08-08-2012, 07:17 AM | #84 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Still some seat alignment issues... I believed the offset between the center of the seat and steering wheel was like the original, but the feeling was not where it should be. Measurements and later calculations shows that, in an e36, the Macht Schnell floor mounts combined with the Recaro Sportster CS offsets the seat approx. 30mm (calculated to 32mm) to the left compared to the original seats. I am not comfortable with the offset, and have ordered original Recaro base frame to be used with the seats. The Recaro base frame is a bit heavier (approx. 2kg) than the Macht Schnell combination and the seating position will be a bit higher (but still lower than the BMW sport seats). The good things are that it puts the seat in the original position sidewise and that the OEM seat belt receptacles can be used. My learning is that the e36 originally is built with an offset between the steering wheel and seat, and fitting aftermarket seats is a challenge when it comes to aligning seat and steering wheel. Even to get it to original alignment seems to be a challenge... On the net there are several posts (however hard to find if new into the topic) on this issue using similar mounts as the Macht Schnell floor mounts, e.g. VAC floor mounts. I have seen some post where the inner VAC floormount is turned 180 degrees and modified to be able to put a seat even further to the right approx 15-20mm). However, this only puts the seat close to the stock alignment, and not aligned to the steering wheel... VAC mounts in e36: 1: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1405109 2: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...8&postcount=13 Last edited by e36 323ti; 08-08-2012 at 07:26 AM. | | | 11-11-2012, 04:37 PM | #85 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Update Nov 2012 I ordererd Recaro baseframes in mid August. Received the driver side baseframe this week. The passenger side is still on backorder. Seems like hard stuff to get... Installed the Recaro baseframe, which was an easy operation. The Recaro baseframe positions the seat close to stock alignment regarding the centre of the steering wheel (but still a bit more offset than stock). The sitting height is, to my dissapointment, not lower than the stock sport seat in lower position, and approx. 30-40mm higher than with the Macht Schnell hardware. However, I do really love the Recaro Sportster CS. They give the feeling like I am "dressing my car on" like it should have been a tight jacket. They are the best seats I've ever had. Last edited by e36 323ti; 11-14-2012 at 10:19 PM. Reason: Meassured sitting position | | | 01-02-2013, 10:26 AM | #86 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | Update Jan 013 Realised that the BRG Compact is too good to be used during the winter. Decided to store it inside during the cold, wet and "salty" times. My new project is... ... where probably the inspirational source of design is clear I.e. my new project is an e46 Compact. The plan is that it shall be an e46 332ti (s54b32 etc)... Outside, the plan is that it is going end close to this: Some weeks ago it looked like this: To be honest, the extra offset relative to the centre of the steering wheel offered by the Recaro Sportser CS in the BRG Compact annoyed me. Swapped the Recaro Sportster CS into the e46. No offset issues here... | | | 01-02-2013, 06:36 PM | #87 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Central, MN Posts: 1,065 | I like the color. Looking forward to seeing how things come together with it. Though the headlights take some getting used to I'd would like one of these. __________________ Last edited by Mr.Squeelerz; 01-03-2013 at 03:31 AM. | | | 02-24-2013, 03:22 PM | #88 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 224 | A small update: "M"-mirrors painted and mounted. BBS CH 19" summer wheels tested... Test if fits: BBS CH 19x9.5" et40 with 265/30 tyres Interior (custom steering wheel and Recaro Sportster CS leather seats): | | | 02-24-2013, 04:33 PM | #89 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 | The seats look great in your e46 too. Great wheel choice! __________________ Sean 1995 Active | | | 02-26-2013, 01:41 AM | #90 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 351 | Very Nice! __________________ Alpine Weiß 1995 318ti M50tu mostly stock, chip'd 413, AFE Intake. e36 M3 front brakes, e30 M3 rear calipers. e28 3.25 LSD + e30 axles. Custom stainless Magnaflow 2 in 1 out muffler. R.I.P schwartz 1990 325is | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |