BMW M3 seats???

[Bmf5150]

Keeps us updated how it works out

[chuckd71]

The driver's side is in and in terms of being able to get the seat centered and level it's great. Once I get home in a few weeks and can finish getting power back to the seat I can get a feel for the height (I raised the seats all the way up for clearance before I pulled all the car's wiring, they are stuck at max height right now).

[69 Custom S Vert]

Chuck, thanks for working on a solution. Can't wait. I'm in the final stage of my LS1 transplant using new Holly conversion system. Once done I may take on this mod. I don't mind being slightly off center, but would like to correct.

[chuckd71]

In two weeks I'll be home for a month and will get it worked out one way or another. If you don't mind a little off center then the seats are fine, but I also needed the room for the camaro console.

[chuckd71]

Well the seats are in and I think it's going to work. I mounted the driver's bracket then attached the seat to it using the rearmost holes in both. For the front of the seat (which stick out further forward than the bracket does) I drilled holes in the floor and put plate steel under it to add surface area.

For the passenger side I bought a Planted bracket for a Honda Civic from Amazon warehouse deals and did some cutting and welding to make it fit. Pretty easy stuff; cut a tab, weld a tab, yadda yadda yadda. Then mounted it and the seat much like I did the driver's side with a total of 8 bolts.

It's dark now, but when I get the car back out and put the carpet in I'll take better pics. The end result however seems great. The height is good, the seats are centered and there is enough room to clear the fat Camaro console. With plenty of bolts and bracing, even with the belts being built into the seat I don't think there is any chance of them coming loose in an accident.

[Shawn01754]

Well the seats are in and I think it's going to work. I mounted the driver's bracket then attached the seat to it using the rearmost holes in both. For the front of the seat (which stick out further forward than the bracket does) I drilled holes in the floor and put plate steel under it to add surface area.

For the passenger side I bought a Planted bracket for a Honda Civic from Amazon warehouse deals and did some cutting and welding to make it fit. Pretty easy stuff; cut a tab, weld a tab, yadda yadda yadda. Then mounted it and the seat much like I did the driver's side with a total of 8 bolts.

It's dark now, but when I get the car back out and put the carpet in I'll take better pics. The end result however seems great. The height is good, the seats are centered and there is enough room to clear the fat Camaro console. With plenty of bolts and bracing, even with the belts being built into the seat I don't think there is any chance of them coming loose in an accident.

I like what you did with the console.
Looks like you could loose a socket set or 2 in that car somewhere. Lol

[sp68cvert]

No to jump the thread, but I was wondering if anybody had trouble centering the BMW seats in a Camaro? I was test fitting them and after cutting the rear tab in the seat support and welding in flat bar for additional support to keep the strength , I am still off center by approx.. 1-2 inches. Has anybody had any trouble like this?

[Shawn01754]

No to jump the thread, but I was wondering if anybody had trouble centering the BMW seats in a Camaro? I was test fitting them and after cutting the rear tab in the seat support and welding in flat bar for additional support to keep the strength , I am still off center by approx.. 1-2 inches. Has anybody had any trouble like this?

Never delt with the BMW seats but generally speaking step one is the draw a centerline down the steering wheel. Then, center the driver seat to the steering wheel. Then the passenger seat should match the distance from the outside. (Match the drivers seat spec). If the driver seat isn't centered over the steering wheel, it will never feel right.

[chuckd71]

Sounds like the same situation I was in. You'll (most likely) have to use a bracket to lift them up and out. Without knowing the year of the camaro I can't comment on your rocker situation.
What did you weld? That little tab that stuck out wasn't really useful for anything.

[sp68cvert]

Thanks for the feedback and bracket solution. I am putting the seats into a 68. Due to the heavy weight of the seats and the discussions of the force of collisions, I wanted to maintain the rigidity of the seat support as much as possible, so we welded a piece of 1/8" flat into the floor and the rocker where we cut the tab. Might be overkill, but rather be safe than sorry. I saw your post (#422) regarding the bracket, is that what you ended up doing?

[chuckd71]

Yeah, I mounted the bracket to the floor and seat to both bracket and floor in places. Between the bracket and seat each side has I think 6 bolts going through the floor, some of which also went through the original floor brace. No really good pics but this is the gist of it http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...l#post19336186

Originally I thought it might be too high but once I powered up and lowered the seats back down they are fine.

[chuckd71]

I like what you did with the console.
Looks like you could loose a socket set or 2 in that car somewhere. Lol

Thanks. And yeah, a couple times rather than look for or organize stuff I've just gone to Lowe's and bought a whole new set of tools. Fortunately they always seem to be on sale. I have a half dozen of each SAE socket now but still somehow can't keep track of a 12 or 15 mm.

[Shawn01754]

Thanks. And yeah, a couple times rather than look for or organize stuff I've just gone to Lowe's and bought a whole new set of tools. Fortunately they always seem to be on sale. I have a half dozen of each SAE socket now but still somehow can't keep track of a 12 or 15 mm.

Like I should talk. I throw everything everywhere , can't fine it... And then buy another to replace it While I'm trying to find something else...there's the item I just bought ..now I have a spare. Lol. It's sort of like a nursery rhyme. Sorry for drifting of topic. I'll be quiet now

[chuckd71]

It's always good to have a backup for the backup.
This is where I got my bracket, I think one popped up for $40 or so.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...lanted+bracket
The main plate is the same for all of them, so if you buy one to mod just try to get the one with the most tabs you can cut and reweld. Of course you could just pay $120 a pop for Chevelle / Camaro ones and bolt them in I guess. The fake Planted brackets on ebay are cheap and for good reason, the metal is not solid and it bends fairly easily; not qualities you want in a seat bracket, especially if the belt is built into the seat.

[sp68cvert]

Thanks Chuck, the planted bracket doesn't look too complicated, so I am going to look into creating our own, I agree, don't want to go the way of the cheap ebay one, not something you want to skimp on.

[inda_bebe]

got some 2001 330ci seats, can this part be removed with out setting any bags or explosives off?

[Motown 454]

A lot of guys look for those because of the safety belt integrated into the seat. I wish I had an answer to help you.

[cdrod]

got some 2001 330ci seats, can this part be removed with out setting any bags or explosives off?

The part you have circled in your pic is unique to the BMW E46, convertible seats, which have the built-in shoulder belt. This part also supports and adjusts the headrest. If for some reason you don't want this part (and the shoulder belt), I would not try to modify the seat, but rather look for some coupe seats (which do not have the integrated shoulder belt). The coupe (non convertible) seats are typically less expensive without the integrated shoulder belt and much easier to find as BMW built fewer convertibles. Hope you find this info helpful.
Rodney

[AU Doc]

You can probably find someone willing to trade for coupe seats because the convertible seats are usually pretty highly sought after.

[inda_bebe]

I like the intergrated seat belt, but interested in just removing the headrest part so that its as low as the low back bucket seats. the shoulder belt will still be there. plus the passanger side is cracked during shipment.