What other brand/year/model "Better" front seats will fit on the LC100..??

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Patineto

"Clueless" fourwheel rabbit
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For example I have a friend selling a pair of E36 BMW seats (In Grey just like my truck) only thing I know and that we used to have a 89' M5 at home and the seats were so freaking comfortable, but no clue if the newer ones are as good.

Basically I don't find the land cruiser seats that comfortable (I have some special needs) plus they are "Pleather" and ours are tearing apart, so the trouble of getting them recover is far to much, kind of pointless actually unless I can change/improve all the foam/shape, motorcycle seat I know, car seat I'm kind of clueless.

I don't mind doing the physical/mechanical part of the retrofitting and I don't care if I need to drill new holes on the car or to hack the BMW seats to retrofit the land cruiser guts (drilling on the cars and making wedges for tilting sounds easier) plus I have a rivnut tool just in case is need it) I just wonder if they will fit into Polar Bear (little gaps, spaces whatever I don't care this mod is 100% utilitarian.)

What I don't know much is the electronics/electrics (sorry I haven't done my homework, maybe they just need to be powered and that is it)

Ps: I did read a incredible posting on the "Hard core" segment about a elegantly and badass modified white LC80 (that die like a Samurai protecting his master on a big crash) and the builder chose BMW seats for some reason, so that got me thinking..

thanks for the advice/leads, whatever you have to say..
 
I'll chime in since I spent a little time researching replacements (2 previous cars had OEM Recaros and I miss the lateral support).

First, I believe it's unlikely that you'll find anything close to a bolt in replacement. It's not going to be as simple as drilling some holes and riveting together some shims, you'll need to frabricate/weld mounting hardware that will safely work with the seats you're installing. Probably not a big deal if you can weld or don't mind paying someone to build it for you.

Where things are going to get complicated is the side impact airbags, the power functionality, and the heaters. If the E36 seats have those options, are you going to try to make them work? If yes, you'll be splicing and creating new plugs at a minimum. Also, you'll be staring at a blinking SRS light unless you can defeat it (not sure what year your 100 is, or whether it has side impact airbags).

I spent some time browsing the Recaro seat website, they make awesome replacement seats and sell the hardware you'd need to make them work, but the cost was much higher than I was willing to spend. I know there is someone on this forum that put a Recaro replacement in their 100 and I think he built his own mounting hardware, I'd try to track that thread down.

Best of luck and keep us posted if you move forward, I hope you find something that works (especially if the E36 seats are vaders).
 
aging fleet said:
I'll chime in since I spent a little time researching replacements (2 previous cars had OEM Recaros and I miss the lateral support).

First, I believe it's unlikely that you'll find anything close to a bolt in replacement. It's not going to be as simple as drilling some holes and riveting together some shims, you'll need to frabricate/weld mounting hardware that will safely work with the seats you're installing. Probably not a big deal if you can weld or don't mind paying someone to build it for you.

Where things are going to get complicated is the side impact airbags, the power functionality, and the heaters. If the E36 seats have those options, are you going to try to make them work? If yes, you'll be splicing and creating new plugs at a minimum. Also, you'll be staring at a blinking SRS light unless you can defeat it (not sure what year your 100 is, or whether it has side impact airbags).

I spent some time browsing the Recaro seat website, they make awesome replacement seats and sell the hardware you'd need to make them work, but the cost was much higher than I was willing to spend. I know there is someone on this forum that put a Recaro replacement in their 100 and I think he built his own mounting hardware, I'd try to track that thread down.

Best of luck and keep us posted if you move forward, I hope you find something that works (especially if the E36 seats are vaders).
Click to expand...
Thanks the airbag tip..

The old M5 did not have it and I don't think polar bear does, is a 2000 but I have not seeing any levels, screen printings, but I will look

Cutting/grinding/Welding bring it on no big deal, well the small not super critical stuff (yes I know seats need to be super safe, but come on they are not a ski crane..

Vaders..??
 
aging fleet said:
It was spressomon, details here: Featured 100 - spressomon
Click to expand...
Oh this is great thanks you..

Yes recaros are incredible but the seat will end up costing half as much as the whole truck..

Check the "Evo8" the come from the Mitsubishi and they are OEM but not to bad, the ones from the Isuzu Vehicross are great but since is so few of them they want a ton of money for them
 
Patineto said:
Vaders..??
Click to expand...

E36 M3s came with two types of seats, vaders and the luxury package seats. The vaders are awesome.

vader.webp


View attachment 1308798
 
Years ago I swapped out my bench seat in my Toyota PU with MR2 seats I found at a junk yard. Best upgrade i ever did and still cannot believe they were basically a perfect fit and bolt pattern matched. I just needed a a small 1/2 or 1"coupler to raise the seats to make them level. Cant remember what year the seats or truck was but it was back in the mid 90's.

Based on that you may get lucky if you could find supra seats or Lexus LFA seats.
 
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