R53 seats

[darren9]

We have an R53 MCS - a great car but if I spend anytime in it my back starts to hurt.

Has anyone changed seats to something else? I know that some JCWs came with fancy Sparco seats and the GP has recaros - the new ones have optional recaros too but all these are loads of cash and I don't want to spend that much.

Whats my options? Are there any?

I've browsed ebay and can get Focus ST seats or even EVO Recaro recliners cheaper than OEM upgrades. Would these be easy to fit?

[DanGT]

It is possible to fit seats from a different make but they normally need a lot of work to make up adapters as the mounts rails would be different. It is normally easier to go for an aftermarket seat cobra etc. As you can bye mounting kits and the seats have more mounting options. A lot of the manufactures will talk to you direct about your options.

[DavidLScott]

I guess you will have to work around the under seat airbag connectors as well.
Might affect your insurance.

[darren9]

Thanks. I hadn't thought about airbags and insurance implications to be honest. It appears it may be an expensive change.

[RKDE]

mini did sparco seats as an option, recaro upgrade too then there was the GP recaro too. The sparco seats did not have air bags and mini sell an adaptor for under the seats to switch off the air bag and they can be coded out too.

You can fit R56 seats which some find better but you need to modify the rails to take the seats but they do go in and the hardest part to re-fit is the pre tensioner

I have fitted many different seats to the standard mini rails and although I have in some cases needed to do welding all has been very easy.

TIP; a 4 ohm resistor in the air bag plug keeps the warning light out. As for insurance, I have not come across any with an issue especially as mini sell a part to take out the air bag

[mneame]

I found this when I first got my MCS. It took a while to get it comfy.

[patrick2306]

Look on the forums for recaros, I have them in my r53 JCW and they are great seats, very supportive and make the interior that but more special, the full race spec sparcos are good as well.

[patrick2306]

Look on the forums for recaros, I have them in my r53 JCW and they are great seats, very supportive and make the interior that but more special, the full race spec sparcos are good as well.

[darren9]

Those are nice. Similar to focus ST170 leathers. But the bases are obviously mini.

[Justin Cyder]

What have you got? I changed mine from cloth to standard leather from a scrapped car. The difference is like night & day.

[jackh707]

I have standard full leather in my R53, my r50 before it was half cloth/leather.

The leather are way more comfortable for some reason, it puzzles me because underneath they are the same I think? Back seats are 1000x
Standard R53 leathers can be had on Minitorque/eBay quite easily and cheaply.