My new BMW E46 seats! (1 Viewer)

[JohnCapoccia]

While looking for info for my vortec conversion, I stumbled into a thread on seats, so what the heck, I looked on ebay to see what was around, and I found a nice set of tan E46 seats local! They aren't leather, and have a couple of small cracks that I think can be repaired, but the nice thing is they're manual!

I used Torfab's brackets. Perfect fit, no muss - no fuss, really easy install!

The tan looks great with my brown/tan interior.

To bad I can't drive it for a while...

 

[EasternYeti]

I really want these seats, but I'm struggling with finding manual seats on eBay/ones that don't have stupid airbags. Yours came out fantastic!

If anyone's watching this that's managed to set up the power seats and got them to work properly I'd be very keen to know

 

[MacGYVER1979]

Pick not pulls. I paid 35 each for my power seats, I see lots of manual but prefer power, it's just 2 wires.

 

[EasternYeti]

Pick not pulls. I paid 35 each for my power seats, I see lots of manual but prefer power, it's just 2 wires.

As fate would have it, there's one 5 miles from my house I never knew about! Thanks for that tip, maybe I can find some leather

 

[MacGYVER1979]

Take a lawnmower battery with you and some wires, you will need to power the seats to unbolt them. Red pos brown neg.
Some of them have torx bolts and others are metric.

 

[Elbert]

yeah manual operation and good condition seats would be the best option....but either way big improvement over stock

 

[JohnCapoccia]

Depends on what you want and what you have access to. You would be damned lucky to find a nice set of seats at the local pickapart here in Monrovia. The only cars that land here are high mileage beaters. Mostly E36's are available, I don't remember ever seeing an E46.

From experience, I wouldn't bother with E36 power seats. The drive gear that controls the backrest tilt is prone to failure. My daughter has one and it failed. The part is NLA, but you can get it from yards that specialize in BMW parts.

As far as power seats go, I have them in my M6. You expect them in a car like that, but I've never once ever thought it would be nice to have power seats in any of my other cars. I prefer the simplicity of manual, and it's actually quicker to adjust the seat after my wife or daughters drive my cars. Now, power windows, that's a different story...

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

I have a Question: what year do E46 seats come out of ?

 

[dukmon]

Google will have your answer.

 

[JohnCapoccia]

I have a Question: what year do E46 seats come out of ?

1998 to 2007, but there's some overlap between the earlier E36 and later E90, so check Wikepedia if you want the specifics.

 

[DevonBen60]

Could anyone with the torfab seat brackets advise the distance apart that the mounting holes are that attach to the seat please?
I would like to fit bmw X3 seats that are black, cloth and manual adjustment but have 455mm spacing accross the seat runners. Not sure how that compares to an E46
Many thanks, ben

 

[gregnash]

Could anyone with the torfab seat brackets advise the distance apart that the mounting holes are that attach to the seat please?
I would like to fit bmw X3 seats that are black, cloth and manual adjustment but have 455mm spacing accross the seat runners. Not sure how that compares to an E46
Many thanks, ben

You could just try calling Tor @torfab and see if he will give you the information on bracket distances. Or shoot him a PM on here he is usually pretty active.

 

[Beams37]

While looking for info for my vortec conversion, I stumbled into a thread on seats, so what the heck, I looked on ebay to see what was around, and I found a nice set of tan E46 seats local! They aren't leather, and have a couple of small cracks that I think can be repaired, but the nice thing is they're manual!

I used Torfab's brackets. Perfect fit, no muss - no fuss, really easy install!

The tan looks great with my brown/tan interior.

To bad I can't drive it for a while...

I'm going to revive this. Do you feel like your BMW seats sit lower or higher? Yours look like they sit lower. Mine have new SOR seat pads and sit really high. Would love to be 2-3 inches lower.

 

[DevonBen60]

You could just try calling Tor @torfab and see if he will give you the information on bracket distances. Or shoot him a PM on here he is usually pretty active.

I did PM but unfortunately the reply was inconclusive. I will need to measure accross the centre of the front bolt holes on each seat runner to see if the e46 seats are the same width as the x3 seats

 

[DevonBen60]

I did PM but unfortunately the reply was inconclusive. I will need to measure accross the centre of the front bolt holes on each seat runner to see if the e46 seats are the same width as the x3 seats

Good news, the X3 seats have the same footprint as the E46 seats. So will give @torfab a call and see if I can get a set of brackets shipped to UK

 

[dukmon]

Not sure if I ever posted this........ installed maybe a year ago?

 

[DevonBen60]

Not sure if I ever posted this........ installed maybe a year ago? View attachment 1626794 View attachment 1626795

Thay look Great Dukmon. I have just ordered a set of brackets from Torfab too. Will post up some pics once fitted.

 

[portlandcruiser]

These are manual and vinyl with Torfab brackets. Comfortable and easy to install. There are a couple considerations that deal with getting in them.

First the long rails can be a hazard when the seat is pushed back. My kid hit her ankle on them getting in and I hit mine climbing out. I have also hit my knee on the dimmer switch twice since the install. I’m worried more about the dimmer than my knee. Once in them, the seats are great with a wide range of positions.

Second, I used to store my fire extinguisher under the seat. With this setup it doesn’t fit. Once again the rails get in the way.

 

[Joe T]

There are rail caps/covers out there. Seen some on SOR for the factory seats.

These are manual and vinyl with Torfab brackets. Comfortable and easy to install. There are a couple considerations that deal with getting in them.

First the long rails can be a hazard when the seat is pushed back. My kid hit her ankle on them getting in and I hit mine climbing out. I have also hit my knee on the dimmer switch twice since the install. I’m worried more about the dimmer than my knee. Once in them, the seats are great with a wide range of positions.

Second, I used to store my fire extinguisher under the seat. With this setup it doesn’t fit. Once again the rails get in the way.

View attachment 1638544 View attachment 1638543

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Everyone probably knows this but ; Specter sells replacement bottom cushion for the 60-62 series. They are modern foam and well made. They are very comfortable and easy too install and you can dry clean your fabric at the same time. One set of the Specter cushions has been in my fj60 for 20 plus years and is like new. Mike