Recaro Sportster GT questions

[x.shell]

Looking to go for a set of these seats but my knowledge of mounting them are super limited. My main concern is that I'd like to retain OEM seat position as much as possible. Possible or wishful thinking?

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by x.shell

Looking to go for a set of these seats but my knowledge of mounting them are super limited. My main concern is that I'd like to retain OEM seat position as much as possible. Possible or wishful thinking?

Possible use good brackets

[swagon]

EAS has them on their website. Recaro has their own brackets too, and these don't look too different from Sportster CS which BMW reupholstered and sold as OEM Performance seats in the E9x era. Those fit in F8x, too.

https://europeanautosource.com/macht...s-e82-e9x.html

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by swagon

EAS has them on their website. Recaro has their own brackets too, and these don't look too different from Sportster CS which BMW reupholstered and sold as OEM Performance seats in the E9x era. Those fit in F8x, too.

https://europeanautosource.com/macht...s-e82-e9x.html

Thanks for the suggestion. After researching a bit, I came upon the Brey Krause mounts. They will supposedly let me transfer over the OEM motorized sliders to the Sportster GT. All in, it probably won't have too much weight savings but it should retain about the same stack height of the OEM position — maybe slightly lower — all while keeping the motorized slider which is a big plus for me. I'm gonna confirm all this in the following week and post up here.

Maybe I'll get some weight savings from eating Instant Ramen this month.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by x.shell

Thanks for the suggestion. After researching a bit, I came upon the Brey Krause mounts. They will supposedly let me transfer over the OEM motorized sliders to the Sportster GT. All in, it probably won't have too much weight savings but it should retain about the same stack height of the OEM position — maybe slightly lower — all while keeping the motorized slider which is a big plus for me. I'm gonna confirm all this in the following week and post up here.

Maybe I'll get some weight savings from eating Instant Ramen this month.

Should still be decent weight savings. OE power sliders are ~8 lbs. mounts are ~2 lbs. Seats are ~35 lbs, assuming they're the same as the Sportster CSs. So, 45 lbs total, vs ~75 for the stock seat = ~60 lbs of weight savings for 2 seats.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Should still be decent weight savings. OE power sliders are ~8 lbs. mounts are ~2 lbs. Seats are ~35 lbs, assuming they're the same as the Sportster CSs. So, 45 lbs total, vs ~75 for the stock seat = ~60 lbs of weight savings for 2 seats.

I forgot how much electronic and mechanical hardware the OEM seat contains... 75 lbs! Wow.

I put the order in for all the parts to get this done. Sadly, I probably won't have time until after the New Year but I'm super excited to get these bad boys in!

[swagon]

Originally Posted by x.shell

I forgot how much electronic and mechanical hardware the OEM seat contains... 75 lbs! Wow.

I put the order in for all the parts to get this done. Sadly, I probably won't have time until after the New Year but I'm super excited to get these bad boys in!

Sick!

Why did you decide to change seats in the first place though?

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by swagon

Sick!

Why did you decide to change seats in the first place though?

Generally speaking reasons include:
Better comfort
Better support
lighter
more back seat space
possible to lower your seat height
better connection to what the car is doing

And, not this particular seat, but often to add the ability to run a sub strap.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Generally speaking reasons include:
Better comfort
Better support
lighter
more back seat space
possible to lower your seat height
better connection to what the car is doing

And, not this particular seat, but often to add the ability to run a sub strap.

I've sat in the OEM BMW Performance seats in a 1 M and compared to stock E82 sport seats with the bolster 80 % inflated, they were wider, which surprised me. Better shoulder and thigh support with the Recaros, though.

I am very satisfied with my stock F80 cloth seats for my daily use.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by swagon

I've sat in the OEM BMW Performance seats in a 1 M and compared to stock E82 sport seats with the bolster 80 % inflated, they were wider, which surprised me. Better shoulder and thigh support with the Recaros, though.

I am very satisfied with my stock F80 cloth seats for my daily use.

Extra perk if you're starting with F8X M3/4 seats: shoulder harness pass through holes.

[x.shell]

Okay I just picked up the seats yesterday from Auto Talent. A couple notes so far...

• It annoys the hell out of me when leather isn't perfectly and evenly taut. But that is indicative of all leather seats.
• The seats are very comfortable. The curve of the back is very nice. The whole thing is thinner than OEM seats but the cushioning is softer.
• In terms of support, my initial impression is that they don't provide any more support than the OEM seats. The Sportster GTs have about the same amount of bolstering on the sides and legs. I actually forget how well bolstered the OEM seats are.
• The depth of the seat is shorter than the OEM seat. This might be a bummer for people with long legs, but for people with shorter legs, it'll feel nicer than OEM.

I still don't have all the parts for mounting it, but I'm excited to get it done.

Sportster GT seat depth:


OEM seat depth:

[Palomequet]

Good move, really in my bucket list

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Extra perk if you're starting with F8X M3/4 seats: shoulder harness pass through holes.

This is definitely something that will take advantage of in the future.

[drgmt]

Leather isn't man made. It comes from an animal. It can never be pulled perfectly.

[x.shell]

So I've settled on using the Brey Krause mounts. These require a bit of DIY and cannibalizing the OEM seats (it is reversible), but the end result is what I'm looking for.

For those that are interested, here is a great video showing step by step on how to install the seats using the Brey Krause system. They install a Cobra Nogaro seat, but the steps are the same with the Recaros.

And here's another video of the GTs going into an E46 M3

[jpy1980]

Originally Posted by x.shell

So I've settled on using the Brey Krause mounts. These require a bit of DIY and cannibalizing the OEM seats (it is reversible), but the end result is what I'm looking for.

For those that are interested, here is a great video showing step by step on how to install the seats using the Brey Krause system. They install a Cobra Nogaro seat, but the steps are the same with the Recaros.

And here's another video of the GTs going into an E46 M3

How’d your seats turn out?! I’m kind of bummed when you said that it feels as bolstered as the oem seats as I want a seat that hugs me well. Unless you are a skinny dude! Now that i have the CAE shifter, I feel like I need a better seat!

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

How'd your seats turn out?! I'm kind of bummed when you said that it feels as bolstered as the oem seats as I want a seat that hugs me well. Unless you are a skinny dude! Now that i have the CAE shifter, I feel like I need a better seat!

I still haven't installed them yet. I know I'm a bummer. I'll get to it this year some time though.

In terms of the bolster height comment I made, it was literally a first impression and I sort-of/kind-of stand by it?...My opinion might change though; I haven't sat in it since I picked them up.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying that they aren't bolstered much — what I'm really saying is how well bolstered the OEM seats are. And honestly speaking, if the Recaro Sportster GT's were any more aggressive on the bolstering, it'd probably annoy me.

Also, there are F80 owners out there that actually have Sportsters already installed. They would be able to give a more accurate opinion on the bolsters compared to me. Dubsesd just got his custom Sportster CS's installed and he believes the bolstering is more aggressive than OEM; so I'd take his word over mine.