1M coupe/seat installation advice needed/

[david hockney]

I have a 1M coupe with heated seats and manual adjustment.
I am looking to remove the drivers seat and replace it with a Recaro Expert M or similar.
The factory seats are fine but I'm over 6ft and a bit fat for them.

Today I contacted 2 different BMW dealerships- one informed me that if I fit a Recaro seat the
airbag warning light will remain on which is an MOT failure- the other dealer said it will simply mean the drivers heated seat won't work.
Does anyone know- is it a complete pain to fit a Recaro into a 1M ?
will the Recaro fitting kit screw on the existing BMW rail no problem (obviously I want to be able to return the car to factory spec)and will I need to get someone to sort out the codes to remove warning lights on dash?

any advice appreciated........

[saveloy]

You'll need a seat occupancy sensor for the airbag light. Recaro will advise which rails you'll need to get the seat in properly. Pretty certain the heating element cannot be removed from the standard seat. So you'll need to purchase this from Recaro or use a stitch in kit.

BMW do have a Recaro seat for the 1M, but it is pricey.

Kyri

[Kananga]

It is possible, I had recaro sportster CS seats fitted to mine from new. They were the BMW performance seats, so not cheap, but came with a harness IIRC.

Have recently fitted pole positions to my E46, so would imagine all possible, just need to get the correct mounts, rails, occupancy sensors, etc.

Hope that helps.

[david hockney]

I'm going to forget about changing the seat and stick with the factory fitted ones.
I've spoken to a couple of folk in the business and although it can be done I've been given the firm impression
it can open up a can of worms regarding the airbag warning lights blah blah- one BMW specialist I spoke to said
they can do the job no problem-but won't for fear of being sued if there is a crash and bad injuries due to no airbag on the drivers seat etc etc- it all sounds completely pathetic to me and sums up what a tedious blame game culture we live in. It's utterly pathetic.....I wonder if Steve McQueen gave a st about airbags as he tore through the Hollywood Hills in his XKSS........or James Dean in his Porsche....oh ,wait a minute...

[Zyp]

PM Slippydiff off here - he did his I believe (and he's a great font of knowledge too)

[Kananga]

Mine were installed by the supplying dealer and they didn't make any complaints or disclaimers.

[david hockney]

I think the BMW motorsport seats are a different kettle of fish to install compared
to some random aftermarket seats- but the BMW motorsport seats are no good for me -I'm
really after some different Recaro's......

[Kananga]

Agreed, it was an approved part for the car.

I think that the airbag occupancy sensor bypass simply means that the passenger airbag is always on, as many buckets don't have the provision for installation of a sensor.

[GP335i]

I fitted some Recaro Pole positions to my mini GP. Put resistors into the airbag plugs and left the seat heating unplugged. No ill came of it.

[damiangt3]

I've got the Performance Seats in mine. They come with heating and airbags which are both available on the original CS seats (depending on how deep your pockets are) it's a simple coding exercise that any BMW independent can do (I did it myself).

[James Fleming]

David,
I have the BMW motorsport seats in my 1M and I am 6ft 2 and a 36 inch waist, these are so comfy and I got to keep the heated option. As you have Manuel seats you should have no problems fitting them and they will work perfectly, they are based on the Recaro CS but re-trimmed in bmw alcantara, these also have airbags so no need to worry about lights.
Birds Bmw had a set of seats available quite a few months ago so you could try them.
Hope you get sorted.
James

[Yil]

I would like a set of BMW performance seats. PM me if anyone is thinking of parting with some.