These are 2010 Mazda 3 5 door seats. Mounted on planted seat brackets.
COMPILED - 80 Series Seat Swap Thread (3 Viewers)
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Has anyone ever installed any Infinity's GX56 captain chairs ?
Seats are very comfortable, electrical working properly and I can get both front seats for a very reasonable price. Seems like it would be a nice upgrade for a relatively low price used seats (~$200 pair).
Seats are very comfortable, electrical working properly and I can get both front seats for a very reasonable price. Seems like it would be a nice upgrade for a relatively low price used seats (~$200 pair).
BMW E90 sport seats on modified Planted brackets. Had a buddy’s shop tech wire them in for functioning power and heat, I still need to add the heater switches to the dash.
Had to do a little hinky wiring trick to get the power to work. The circuit bus in the seat is looking for a signal that the Cruiser doesn’t send. Without an extra switch, the power seat would power off after 10 seconds.
So he added a toggle for each seat that “powers it on” for adjustment. Not the most ideal situation, but I didn’t want to spend an extra $200-300 for them to build me a proper circuit board (neither did he), and I really don’t move my seats that much so it’s not a big deal. Toggle switch for each seat is in the forward coin slot. Ejector switch, baby!!!
The rear mounting point of the BMW seat did not match up perfectly with the Planted bracket, so they did some material manipulation. These seats feel like they sit about an inch higher than stock. I’m 6’2” and only barely brush the ceiling on occasion.
90-minute ride home from the shop and I’m very happy. Supportive but still comfy, and tons of adjustment.
Had to do a little hinky wiring trick to get the power to work. The circuit bus in the seat is looking for a signal that the Cruiser doesn’t send. Without an extra switch, the power seat would power off after 10 seconds.
So he added a toggle for each seat that “powers it on” for adjustment. Not the most ideal situation, but I didn’t want to spend an extra $200-300 for them to build me a proper circuit board (neither did he), and I really don’t move my seats that much so it’s not a big deal. Toggle switch for each seat is in the forward coin slot. Ejector switch, baby!!!
The rear mounting point of the BMW seat did not match up perfectly with the Planted bracket, so they did some material manipulation. These seats feel like they sit about an inch higher than stock. I’m 6’2” and only barely brush the ceiling on occasion.
90-minute ride home from the shop and I’m very happy. Supportive but still comfy, and tons of adjustment.
Box Rocket
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Could you share some photos of how the additional switch was wired? I have the same issue with my VW seats.
I'll have to get in touch with the tech at Harrison's shop that did it. I had zero involvement in the work (I'm a total newb at wiring...).
From 2010 Outback. I cut the brackets off both sets of seats, modified the front lc brackets to get the seat as low as possible, made an extender for the front-outer and welded them up.
Power seats are just 12v feed. About 10 hours and $150 for seats and consumables. The seats sit about 1” higher. Very comfy and I’m really happy with the outcome!
Power seats are just 12v feed. About 10 hours and $150 for seats and consumables. The seats sit about 1” higher. Very comfy and I’m really happy with the outcome!
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Well, backside opinions vary, and, clearly, much of the world (at least the USA) feels differently than I do, but...
Leather is about the worst possible material available for a car seat cover.
If treated to be reasonably stain resistant (like they all are), it has to be sealed such that it breathes about like vinyl, and it will eventually rot and fall apart due simply to sun exposure - it doesn't matter at all what brand of car or what kind of goop you treat it with once in a while. The only way to save it from this fate is to keep it garaged and out the sun for life.
In fact, to lay it on even thicker, I'll go so far as to claim that a decent grade of humble vinyl is actually a superior material - at least it has the virtues of low cost and long service life. (not that I would choose it, given a choice - just saying)
Auto seat leather, because it is sealed, hardly feels any better than vinyl, especially in hot weather or really cold weather.
If you pay a whole bunch extra for super-luxury upgrade leather that actually feels nice, maybe available in the most expensive luxury cars - well, you had better protect it. It will suck up stains like chamois, because it's sort of similar.
Some (a few) of the many seats shown in this thread have the really nice, durable, and comfortable sort of high grade upholstery "velure" that has been the on the best seats of all my past cars ('83 Mazda 626, '91 Toyota Previa - really top notch). You can hardly find it in so called luxury cars here in the US. Leather-leather everywhere.
No-one makes a decent quality Landcruiser / LX450 replacement seat cover set in anything BUT leather.
So stupid, I can't stand it.
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alia176
SILVER Star
You make some excellent points, Mark. My old Benz has MBTex material which I have no idea what it is but it sure wears well and stays supple. I don't think it's leather 
That's a new one for me - I had no idea, so I searched it up...basically confirms what I wrote above. However - only of specific interest to the Mercedes shopper...except - if you rip off some "leather looking" Mercedes seats for your Landcruiser - They'll probably hold up well......My old Benz has MBTex material which I have no idea what it is but it sure wears well and stays supple. I don't think it's leather
What is MB-Tex Upholstery?
If you have recently purchased or test driven a new Mercedes-Benz, you may have been stumbled into the question, “What is MB-Tex upholstery?”. It is available in almost all Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the CLA-Class to the new GLE-Class coming out next month. If you assumed it was a kind of leather, you were almost right.
MB-Tex upholstery is Mercedes-Benz creation that is a more affordable supplement for leather. The material is actually made up of Vinyl as opposed to the cow hide that is used for leather. To the upholstery-illiterate driver (most of us), the differences are extremely minimal, which is why it is often mistaken for actual leather. Just because it isn’t actual leather, though, doesn’t make it inferior to the Designo leather that comes standard in high-end Mercedes-Benz models. It’s actually a matter of preference and many people prefer the benefits of MB-Tex.
Cleaning MB-Tex
MB-Tex is easier to clean. Leather has to be treated and washed very carefully to avoid stains or accelerated depreciation. With MB-Tex all you need is a vinyl cleaner, available at your local department store.MB-Tex Durability
If not properly treated, leather tends to crack after about a decade. MB-Tex will actually last longer than leather. It will look brand new after 20 years of use.Disadvantages of MB-Tex
MB-Tex is only available in a limited amount of colors. Leather is still more popular with the majority and therefore has a lot more options for colors. Leather also has that classic smell that gives off important vibes. You don’t get that satisfaction with MB-Tex.Both have advantages and disadvantages, but to the practical driver, MB-Tex seams like a better option.
It is cheaper, easier to clean, and will last longer.
MB Tex is a fancy name for leatherette. It works well. I have had it in several cars and I was always happy with it.
Looks great. I may look for these seats and hit you up for bracketry issues if you don't mind. Where did you source the seats?
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alia176
SILVER Star
Just as a FYI, if anyone is going to source a seat from a different vehicle, I'd look at the ones that come with an arm rest on the driver side. It's a game changer!!! Mine came from a 2006 LR3 and those long drives are more pleasant now.
I can attest to this. I went from having the arm rest in my 100 series factory seat to not having it with the Recaros. I wouldn't go back, but the arm rest is about the only feature I miss.
I found a Subaru Outback on CL that a body shop was parting out. It had front end damage but the side air bags had not deployed.
alia176
SILVER Star
I did that from a '06 LR3, not LR4. I'm sure the LR4 is even fancier but the overall size /should/ be the same but I don't really know for sure.
alia176
SILVER Star
Sorry if this has been answered already but which Recaro seats are these please?
Specialist M
Do you think it's possible to do this (perhaps in a more troublesome fashion) without bashing in that hump? What about lifting the whole thing on a Planted, Wedge etc.?
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