350i drivers seat frame has snapped - can I fix?

[sprevett]

the seat frame has snapped down by the rake adjuster - wasn't me honest. is this a common thing? doesn't look repairable (it's one of the main tubes runnning front to back under the seat cushion) but can I get another frame and swap my upholstery easily enough?

[BrianTVR350]

Steven,

fairly common issue on wedges, both my seat frames have cracked in different places.

Drivers side was easy enough, got a friendly man with mig to weld up, passengers side more difficult as upholstery had to come off because crack was on side of frame. It depends where your's is broken. I took the passenger seat base to a trimmer who took it to pieces, welded it up and the put the upholstery back, neat and not that expensive, think he charged £40.

I added a piece of plywood between the seat frame (12mm thick IIRC) and the floor to prevent this happening again, I remember Steve Heath mentioning adding a plate to strengthen the floor in his racer where the seat bolts down, at the back (where they usually break) the tub is only 1/8th inch thick so there's a reasonable degree of flexing.

Since putting the plywood in, view out is slightly better, seat feels part of car and as a result car much more comfortable to drive. If you do this you will probably have to replace the bolts which hold the seat down with slightly longer ones.

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

[sprevett]

thanks for info Brian...will try your suggestions, steve

[leorest]

Robert the construction worker says...

[sprevett]

But I thought I heard that Robert had been on a skills transference programme following a downsizing of the materials and technology work-space and is now an IT consultant who says, in response to the same question, "affirmative that it can be done, but only after the appropriate budget revisions and systems analysis" ?