aftermarket seats for motorsports

B8 S4
#137

Regarding how the seat is mounted, there’s a few parts involved. The first is a floor adapter, which is a standard part available for the B8. Essentially an OEM seat is wider than the Recaro seat, so there is a flat metal brace with a very low profile that bolts into the original 4 positions. Then it allows the new Recaro rails to attach about 1.5" narrower on either side. It’s key that this doesn’t raise the seat height much, perhaps 1/4 inch.

Then there’s a Recaro slider that mounts to the floor adapter. This allows the seat to slide forward and backwards. At the front most position, it’s perfect for my legs to operate the clutch and brakes.

Lastly there’s the Recaro steel bottom rails. There are 4 bolt positions front and rear for configuring the seat height and seat tilt. Whatever they picked, we got it right the first time. I should note this seat is not as tall as the OEM seat. My seating position is great and I can see perfectly. It’s not too different than the lowest OEM setting, perhaps 1/4 inch lower.

#138

I think I can fit the rear bench back into the car, but I’ll have to clip some of the wire frame inside of it. The cross bar comes down and meets the bottom right. The seat won’t quite fit with that underwire. If I hack saw out that one support, the leather should wrap around the pole with no problem.

Then I just need to find an upholsterer to figure out a back plate where the rear seatbacks used to be. I’m assuming that could be lexan plastic with carpet glued over it, but I have no idea what would be appropriate. I just want to be able to put a few things in the trunk without them being seen in the cabin or flying forward.

#139

You just made the first S4 black series GT3 :slight_smile:

Karma for that, and the work so far and sharing it. You’re +ve once again

#140

wow thats a great amount of work. It looks great and its cool that your going to keep the car as OE looking as you can with adding in the seats where you can

#141

I really appreciate the info regarding what parts are needed, thank you. Sounds like this is going to be a great setup!

Good info regarding the seat height as well, slightly lower might help me out as my helmet hits the left side of the ceiling near the door if I am too far forward (just barely).

#142

Done is better than perfect.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/17/da11cc247755f7f89609372e714a999f.jpg

#143

Lol, often true. You just want the rear seat in to set stuff on?

#144

what’s the purpose of the roll cage? Just get an RS4…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcnXsfUiCDY

#145

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/17/151d9840e764577583ca7fd0fc01e6c5.jpg

#146

If I’m going to upholster it in something, it might as well be nappa leather. I had to use a pair of heavy duty wire cutters to remove some of the underwire in the seat where the bar pinches it. I refitted it a few times to remove the crease in the leather and get it to fit flat. It should help cut down on interior noise and rattles. It also helps it look like a street car again.

Next part of the interior job is to get the trunk carpeted and find out if there is a clean way to form a trunk-cabin separator. I feel like if there was one flat piece under the bar, one flat piece over the bar, and black carpet over it covering the gap that would be enough.

I’ll do a passenger seat if and when I end up selling the OEM front seats. I probably won’t sell the back seats since I like having that bench back there.

#147

Pretty sure that ship has sailed lol

#148

This is what some b8 s4 guy did a quite a while ago:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/jacksonbeall2889/IMG_0358_zpsa4072cb7.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/jacksonbeall2889/IMG_0363_zps5fa849fd.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/jacksonbeall2889/IMG_0365_zpsd4b9d23e.jpg

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/459612-My-low-s4-build/page4?p=9690372#post9690372

#149

Looks pretty comfy
;D

#150

Passenger seat ordered or is that farther out?

#151

99% sure I’m going to go with another Spa (carbon) seat. I want to do 1 track day in it (August 24 at Laguna) to make sure it’s truly perfect. Then I’ll get a matching seat in September.

Some guy on Craigslist with an E90 M3 in my neighborhood is selling one with a manufacture date from 2010 and he wants $2200 for it. They’re $2400 new. He’s being a real ass about it even when I offer him a generous $1700 in cash.

#152

LOL DONT BUY IT. 2200 hahaha what a dreamer. 5 year old. It’s not even FIA compliant anymore.
Rules you out of some time attack classes if you are racing.

#153

Agree 100%. A Spa on the used market isn’t as risky a proposition as an Spg. The carbon weave would be impossible to fake. Almost every black plastic Recaro on CL or eBay is a replica. I don’t see how you could sell one of those in good conscience. It’d be like selling a fake helmet or a broken airbag.

#154

Makes sense to me (re test run first). And $1700 sounds plenty fair for that seat, I wouldn’t budge.

Which harnesses did you go with?

#155

I’ll get them fitted in August. I’m going get a Schroth 6 point, in red or black.

#156

Considering everything you know about the seats and how they need to be certified that guy has lots his mind. Its one of those things where he thinks its worth a ton because he dosent know any better. You were more then fair