Help Fitting Recaro Sportster CS Seats into F54 MIN JCW
Discussion
Hi all,
Does anybody here have experience or knowledge that can help me out with a seat swap I’m working on?
I’ve bought a pair of Recaro Sportster CS seats that came out of a 2011 R56 MINI Hatch JCW, and I’m trying to fit them into my 2021 F54 MINI Clubman JCW. However, there are a few compatibility issues I’m running into:
1. SRS / Safety System Compatibility
- Will the seatbelt pretensioner on the Recaro seats work if transferred into the F54 Clubman?
2. Airbags & Occupancy Sensor
- I’m not sure if the side airbags in the Recaro seats will be recognised properly by the F54’s system. I’m hoping it might be plug and play since both are BMW-based platforms—but that may be wishful thinking. Realistically, I suspect the wiring and airbag modules differ between generations.
- The F54 also has a passenger occupancy sensor mat for the airbag system. From what I’ve found, the Recaros don’t include one. Has anyone successfully retrofitted an OEM MINI occupancy sensor mat into aftermarket Recaro seats?
3. Seat Belt Mounting Issue
- The lower seatbelt mounting point in my F54 is attached directly to the seat frame, not the chassis. The Recaro seat doesn’t have a mounting provision for this. I’ve attached a photo to show what I mean (see red circle).
- How have others gotten around this on F-series MINIs? Is there a custom bracket or base frame available that correctly relocates the mounting point?
Has anyone done this successfully?
Any info on:
- Which base frames/adapters are needed,
- How to handle airbags and sensors, or
- Any issues with coding or errors when fitting these seats
…would be hugely appreciated.
I’ve reached out to a few places, including Recaro Indonesia (who I saw fitted these into an F54 on Instagram), and Recaro HQ but I haven’t had any luck getting a response so far. Hoping someone here has done a similar swap or can point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance!
Does anybody here have experience or knowledge that can help me out with a seat swap I’m working on?
I’ve bought a pair of Recaro Sportster CS seats that came out of a 2011 R56 MINI Hatch JCW, and I’m trying to fit them into my 2021 F54 MINI Clubman JCW. However, there are a few compatibility issues I’m running into:
1. SRS / Safety System Compatibility
- Will the seatbelt pretensioner on the Recaro seats work if transferred into the F54 Clubman?
2. Airbags & Occupancy Sensor
- I’m not sure if the side airbags in the Recaro seats will be recognised properly by the F54’s system. I’m hoping it might be plug and play since both are BMW-based platforms—but that may be wishful thinking. Realistically, I suspect the wiring and airbag modules differ between generations.
- The F54 also has a passenger occupancy sensor mat for the airbag system. From what I’ve found, the Recaros don’t include one. Has anyone successfully retrofitted an OEM MINI occupancy sensor mat into aftermarket Recaro seats?
3. Seat Belt Mounting Issue
- The lower seatbelt mounting point in my F54 is attached directly to the seat frame, not the chassis. The Recaro seat doesn’t have a mounting provision for this. I’ve attached a photo to show what I mean (see red circle).
- How have others gotten around this on F-series MINIs? Is there a custom bracket or base frame available that correctly relocates the mounting point?
Has anyone done this successfully?
Any info on:
- Which base frames/adapters are needed,
- How to handle airbags and sensors, or
- Any issues with coding or errors when fitting these seats
…would be hugely appreciated.
I’ve reached out to a few places, including Recaro Indonesia (who I saw fitted these into an F54 on Instagram), and Recaro HQ but I haven’t had any luck getting a response so far. Hoping someone here has done a similar swap or can point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance!
I don t know how but interested in the outcome
There are a few people who supply these for the f56 platform so try them….
1st stop https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/product/planted-tec...
Or these guys
https://www.capitalseating.co.uk/automotive-and-ca... Lohen etc
There are a few people who supply these for the f56 platform so try them….
1st stop https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/product/planted-tec...
Or these guys
https://www.capitalseating.co.uk/automotive-and-ca... Lohen etc
Edited by blue al on Wednesday 25th June 19:55
So F54 runs completely different electrical architecture and supplementary restraint system to the R series vehicles.
You're going to need to do some out of the box modifications to keep the car happy, might be a case of transplanting some components over to the new (old) seats to convince the system "alles ist klar"
If your anywhere near Silverstone I'll offer my services to help you figure it out.
You're going to need to do some out of the box modifications to keep the car happy, might be a case of transplanting some components over to the new (old) seats to convince the system "alles ist klar"
If your anywhere near Silverstone I'll offer my services to help you figure it out.
Hi both,
Blue al - Thanks for the seat frame recommendations. Truth be told, I had tried both of these companies; Capital Seating said they know of a company in Sweden that sells frames for the F54 at £425 per frame. When I asked about the details of the product/company, they said they have no details or information on it (helpful). When I rang Sport Seats 4 U / GSM Performance I had a weird AI voice answer the phone, which then hung up on me and proceeded to send about 3 or 4 texts saying how good the service was and they can fulfil my request to buy some seats. I then coincidentally received several spam/scam phone calls, so I haven't bothered to try again with them.
The Test Driver - Thanks for the information. I may take you up on that offer as I'm North Worcestershire, so not far at all from Silverstone.
Just a small update - I have found a company in America, Planted Technology, which seem to do the frames for F55's, which seem to have the same set up as an F54 in regard to the seat belt and by my rough calculations even with import tax etc, it works out cheaper than either of the other guys. I also unbolted the passenger seat frame to take a look underneath. Lots of wires and cables compared to when I fitted a set of Recaro's to my R56. I'm now wondering, if for the sake of £100 or so, whether to buy a second set of cheap F54/F56 seats off eBay and transfer all the under seats components (and hopefully the passenger airbag sensor mat) over to the Recaro's, as it wont matter if I damage the ebay seats. I will also then have intact F54 seats to go back into the Clubman should I sell the car in the future. My uncle did suggest trying to have personalised wiring looms made. When investigating the underpinnings of the seat I was hoping the mounting point for the seat belt would be bolted, but it isn't... it's riveted, I understand why, but it just throws up another barrier to overcome.
Part of me now thinks I should have tried to get some Mini Yours Lounge Leather seats instead
, as I find the standard alcantara/suede JCW sport seats so uncomfortable. Pics attached for what it's worth - first pic is Recaro's, second pic is the standard clubman seats.
Blue al - Thanks for the seat frame recommendations. Truth be told, I had tried both of these companies; Capital Seating said they know of a company in Sweden that sells frames for the F54 at £425 per frame. When I asked about the details of the product/company, they said they have no details or information on it (helpful). When I rang Sport Seats 4 U / GSM Performance I had a weird AI voice answer the phone, which then hung up on me and proceeded to send about 3 or 4 texts saying how good the service was and they can fulfil my request to buy some seats. I then coincidentally received several spam/scam phone calls, so I haven't bothered to try again with them.
The Test Driver - Thanks for the information. I may take you up on that offer as I'm North Worcestershire, so not far at all from Silverstone.
Just a small update - I have found a company in America, Planted Technology, which seem to do the frames for F55's, which seem to have the same set up as an F54 in regard to the seat belt and by my rough calculations even with import tax etc, it works out cheaper than either of the other guys. I also unbolted the passenger seat frame to take a look underneath. Lots of wires and cables compared to when I fitted a set of Recaro's to my R56. I'm now wondering, if for the sake of £100 or so, whether to buy a second set of cheap F54/F56 seats off eBay and transfer all the under seats components (and hopefully the passenger airbag sensor mat) over to the Recaro's, as it wont matter if I damage the ebay seats. I will also then have intact F54 seats to go back into the Clubman should I sell the car in the future. My uncle did suggest trying to have personalised wiring looms made. When investigating the underpinnings of the seat I was hoping the mounting point for the seat belt would be bolted, but it isn't... it's riveted, I understand why, but it just throws up another barrier to overcome.
Part of me now thinks I should have tried to get some Mini Yours Lounge Leather seats instead
, as I find the standard alcantara/suede JCW sport seats so uncomfortable. Pics attached for what it's worth - first pic is Recaro's, second pic is the standard clubman seats. I had the lounge leather seats in my previous f56 SD and in no way considered them a downgrade to the Jcw seats in my current 22 plate Jcw.
Also have lotus leather recaro/ sportsters in my r59 track car so get why you need these in your life,
10 miles from Silverstone so am very interested in how this develops…
Also have lotus leather recaro/ sportsters in my r59 track car so get why you need these in your life,
10 miles from Silverstone so am very interested in how this develops…
blue al said:
I had the lounge leather seats in my previous f56 SD and in no way considered them a downgrade to the Jcw seats in my current 22 plate Jcw.
Done many a mile in vehicles equipped with lounge leather and can confirm great seats!blue al said:
10 miles from Silverstone so am very interested in how this develops
Silverstone MINI crew in the house hahaRocketR0b said:
Hi both,
Blue al - Thanks for the seat frame recommendations. Truth be told, I had tried both of these companies; Capital Seating said they know of a company in Sweden that sells frames for the F54 at £425 per frame. When I asked about the details of the product/company, they said they have no details or information on it (helpful). When I rang Sport Seats 4 U / GSM Performance I had a weird AI voice answer the phone, which then hung up on me and proceeded to send about 3 or 4 texts saying how good the service was and they can fulfil my request to buy some seats. I then coincidentally received several spam/scam phone calls, so I haven't bothered to try again with them.
The Test Driver - Thanks for the information. I may take you up on that offer as I'm North Worcestershire, so not far at all from Silverstone.
Just a small update - I have found a company in America, Planted Technology, which seem to do the frames for F55's, which seem to have the same set up as an F54 in regard to the seat belt and by my rough calculations even with import tax etc, it works out cheaper than either of the other guys. I also unbolted the passenger seat frame to take a look underneath. Lots of wires and cables compared to when I fitted a set of Recaro's to my R56. I'm now wondering, if for the sake of £100 or so, whether to buy a second set of cheap F54/F56 seats off eBay and transfer all the under seats components (and hopefully the passenger airbag sensor mat) over to the Recaro's, as it wont matter if I damage the ebay seats. I will also then have intact F54 seats to go back into the Clubman should I sell the car in the future. My uncle did suggest trying to have personalised wiring looms made. When investigating the underpinnings of the seat I was hoping the mounting point for the seat belt would be bolted, but it isn't... it's riveted, I understand why, but it just throws up another barrier to overcome.
Part of me now thinks I should have tried to get some Mini Yours Lounge Leather seats instead , as I find the standard alcantara/suede JCW sport seats so uncomfortable. Pics attached for what it's worth - first pic is Recaro's, second pic is the standard clubman seats.
Looks like both have heated seats and the obvious pretensioners for the seat belt buckle, may be able to repin the connector to fit the F54 style so the electronics beome plug and play....its a very big "maybe" though.Blue al - Thanks for the seat frame recommendations. Truth be told, I had tried both of these companies; Capital Seating said they know of a company in Sweden that sells frames for the F54 at £425 per frame. When I asked about the details of the product/company, they said they have no details or information on it (helpful). When I rang Sport Seats 4 U / GSM Performance I had a weird AI voice answer the phone, which then hung up on me and proceeded to send about 3 or 4 texts saying how good the service was and they can fulfil my request to buy some seats. I then coincidentally received several spam/scam phone calls, so I haven't bothered to try again with them.
The Test Driver - Thanks for the information. I may take you up on that offer as I'm North Worcestershire, so not far at all from Silverstone.
Just a small update - I have found a company in America, Planted Technology, which seem to do the frames for F55's, which seem to have the same set up as an F54 in regard to the seat belt and by my rough calculations even with import tax etc, it works out cheaper than either of the other guys. I also unbolted the passenger seat frame to take a look underneath. Lots of wires and cables compared to when I fitted a set of Recaro's to my R56. I'm now wondering, if for the sake of £100 or so, whether to buy a second set of cheap F54/F56 seats off eBay and transfer all the under seats components (and hopefully the passenger airbag sensor mat) over to the Recaro's, as it wont matter if I damage the ebay seats. I will also then have intact F54 seats to go back into the Clubman should I sell the car in the future. My uncle did suggest trying to have personalised wiring looms made. When investigating the underpinnings of the seat I was hoping the mounting point for the seat belt would be bolted, but it isn't... it's riveted, I understand why, but it just throws up another barrier to overcome.
Part of me now thinks I should have tried to get some Mini Yours Lounge Leather seats instead
, as I find the standard alcantara/suede JCW sport seats so uncomfortable. Pics attached for what it's worth - first pic is Recaro's, second pic is the standard clubman seats. All depends on what bus the heated seat modules sit on from memory their Lin but doesn't mean the messaging is the same, also pretension resistances- depends what value the airbag modules expecting to see. you could physically wire them in but doesn't mean your stil not going to end up with a light on the dash. Have you got any pics of the seat belt buckle mountings?
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