BMW M3 seats???

[JMRealtor69]

Hello all. I'm interested in getting some M3 Convertible seats in my 69 convertible Camaro. Does anyone have pics of the finished product? How they fit height wise and width wise once center console is intalled? Are they worth getting even though it seems there's a lot of fab work that's got to be done to get them to fit right? Thanks in advance!!

[jocko124]

Look at the thread right below this one! (in the Interior Section)

[JMRealtor69]

That gives me a good idea. I just wanted to see the finished product.

[SamHatco]

Here is a comparison shot of a BMW M3 seat and a 69 firebird seat

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/27994299151-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/27994299153-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/27994299154-1.jpg

Both installed

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/27994299155-1.jpg

Finished product covered in leather to look like GTO seats

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/08/27994312228-1.jpg?1269743302

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/08/27994317019-1.jpg?1272862195

Hope this helps,

Sam

[jocko124]

Sam,

what are the rear seats? GTO seats?

[Nemesis RR]

Sam,

what are the rear seats? GTO seats?

And how hard was it to get the dash and door panels in?

[jocko124]

Nemesis,

check out his build thread in the project updates section.

[JMRealtor69]

Thanks Sam! Very nice ride. Congrats! When you installed the seats did you remove the small section that the original seats rested on? My Camaro has a small hump that seats are on. Do the seats pretty much eat up all the leg room for the rear seats? Thanks again!

Take care,
Jacob

[SamHatco]

Thanks Sam! Very nice ride. Congrats! When you installed the seats did you remove the small section that the original seats rested on? My Camaro has a small hump that seats are on. Do the seats pretty much eat up all the leg room for the rear seats? Thanks again!

Take care,
Jacob

Thanks, Jacob. Are you talking about the front seat pans? No I didn't. The seat rails are flat so I rested them directly on the seat pans. I bolted the seats all the way through the floor and used structural washers under the car to secure the seats. I also used grade 8 bolts. https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31227. The interior part of the build is about in the middle of the thread, around page 18.

Sam

[Motown 454]

That looks awesome Sam!

[Bmf5150]

What year m3 seats will fit??

[minendrews68]

Is it just me, or what? I click on the link above and it takes me to the "who's online page".

Carl

[minendrews68]

And yes, I'd take that interior in my '68 Camaro any day!!!

[Bmf5150]

I'm just interested in the front seats,curious if any of you guys have done this and how hard are they to install ?i seem to read some people say they fit fine others say you have to cut some metal..I'm interested in the Bmw e46 m3 convertible seats

[chuckd71]

Probably depends on the car. I cut nothing putting them in a chevelle. I have the exact same seats as those shown here and they were not from an M3, just a regular convertible 3 series, so don't get hung up on the M part.

[cdrod]

I really like those BMW seats. Are they the same width as the factory seats or are they more narrow? Another important question, do the BMW seats have a mechanical belt tensioning system like the '60s and '70s muscle cars did? I've been looking at some Chrysler Sebring convertible seats for my Olds 442 convertible project. I really want a 3-point seat belt system and better seats too. The problem I'm having is the Sebring seats have some kind of electronic, active belt tensioning system that uses an accelerometer to lock up the seat belts electro-mechanically. You have to put the key in the ignition to release the seat belt tensioner, before putting on the seat belt and they won't lock up without all the electronics.

[Nativefx]

I really like those BMW seats. Are they the same width as the factory seats or are they more narrow? Another important question, do the BMW seats have a mechanical belt tensioning system like the '60s and '70s muscle cars did? I've been looking at some Chrysler Sebring convertible seats for my Olds 442 convertible project. I really want a 3-point seat belt system and better seats too. The problem I'm having is the Sebring seats have some kind of electronic, active belt tensioning system that uses an accelerometer to lock up the seat belts electro-mechanically. You have to put the key in the ignition to release the seat belt tensioner, before putting on the seat belt and they won't lock up without all the electronics.

cdrod, can you tell me more about the electronics in the sebring seats and what is required? I'm going to look at some convertible sebring seats tomorrow for my 69 firebird as I though this would be a great way to have a 3 point seatbelt, but maybe these won't be a good option?

[69 Custom S Vert]

Hey, Chuckd71. I enjoyed your build thread. Question. I put the BMW vert seats in my 69 Pontiac A body vert and the driver's side is off center about an inch inboard with the steering wheel. The BMW seat bracket is wider than the OEM bucket brackets and the outboard bracket hits the rocker frame rail when trying to center. I can live with my set up but wondered whether you had come up with a solution

[chuckd71]

Here's everything about sebring seats http://www.corvairkid.com/sebring.htm
I used some rubber bushings off some old shocks to raise and level the rear of the seats, but yeah unless you want to cut into your rockers or use some heavy gauge steel to make a bracket that raises and offsets the seat laterally I'm not sure what else we can do. It hasn't really bothered me yet so I don't think I'll mess with it until I get around to replacing the floorpan.
And the bmw seats work as they should without any external modules - pull the belt quickly and it locks, pull it slowly and you can put it on.

[chuckd71]

Hey, Chuckd71. I enjoyed your build thread. Question. I put the BMW vert seats in my 69 Pontiac A body vert and the driver's side is off center about an inch inboard with the steering wheel. The BMW seat bracket is wider than the OEM bucket brackets and the outboard bracket hits the rocker frame rail when trying to center. I can live with my set up but wondered whether you had come up with a solution
Been a while since we discussed this but I'm using some Planted seat brackets to mount to seats in a more outward position. I've only done the basic rough fitting but it looks like it'll be workable. I'll know more in a couple days and will report back.

[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.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/11/25376261129_af01e9de85_z-1.jpg

[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.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2016/11/25376261129_af01e9de85_z-1.jpg

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/conversions-hybrids/1324170-ls1-200-4r-l92-t56-71-chevelle-convertible-29.html#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_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dwarehouse-deals&field-keywords=planted+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]

146710

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]

146710

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.

[chuckd71]

You can't easily get rid of the headrest arm and keep the shoulder belt. From a safety standpoint, removing the headrest is bad enough, but retaining the shoulder strap after doing so sounds like you are trying to guarantee that you or passengers suffer neck injuries and/or whiplash should you run into anything or get rear-ended. Retaining the shoulder belt without a headrest doesn't seem like it's even worth doing.

[showdog75]

Chuck did you hook up the heat on your seats? Also could you possibly show me where the airbags are if they have them and what wires are used? I've got a set of these convertible BMW seats but I'm not sure of the year and model. Seems like 2005-2006 325. Thanks for any help.