E series seats vs m4 vs Recaro cs

[martymil]

So I've been playing with some late model M seats and I wanted to find out the exact difference between all the series and aftermarket
to see what is the lightest and their differences.

E8x & 9x Electric seat is 29.8 kg or 65.7 lbs.
E8x & 9x manual seat are 24.4kg or 54lbs
m2c/m3/m4/ seat is 26.1 kg or 57.6 lbs.
m4 competition seat is 25.8 kg or 56.88 lbs.
Recaro cs by BMW Performance is 24.2kg or 53.3 lbs.
Recaro cs by Recaro with Recaro mounts is 21.8kg or 48lbs
Velo GP90 XXL is 8.4kg/18.5lbs or 13.1kg/28.8lbs with rails and sliders.

For comparison the Recaro pole positions are:

Pole Position are 7 kg or 15.4 lbs
Pole Position carbon are 4.5kg or 9.9 lbs
Alloy brackets and steel rails add 2.2 to 4.5 kg or 5 to 10lbs to the weight depending which ones you get.

Its actually unbelievable how close the m4 seat is compared to the Recaro and it retains all the feature comforts.

Not as light as the race seats but I'm guessing why BMW dropped the Recaro Bmw Performance seat from their line up.

Not a bad trade off.

The F series seats are a straight bolt in but the electronics are a bit of a bitch, I can do them easily for RHD but not having access
to a LHD car will make it impossible to tell the difference in the coding and its rather quite expensive as the seats aren't cheap.

But I hope this will satisfy peoples curiosity

 

[ShocknAwe]

For a daily I don't think you can beat the stock e8x/e9x sport seats.

 

[martymil]

The normal seats are great and they don't wear quickly like the m seats, you really have to regularly clean
and leather condition them or the leather just wont last.

I've seen seats with 25 to 35k km on them with severe wear to the point they went white in the heavy abrasion area.

 

[miksebik]

I went with Recaro Pole Position for my E92 and I am pretty happy. Have not driven longer distances in it yet, but the seat looks to be comfortable while providing so much feedback, that the whole perception of your car changes dramatically.
I wanted the Sporster CS but then I realized that the real change would come with something more ultimate.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRmZH9HrBVM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[martymil]

Some pics comparing the stock seats to the m4 seats

I believe these might be made by recaro for BMW, wouldn't it be funny if a recaro cs upright section would bolt up to the lower
base to make them electric.

 

[ShocknAwe]

That does look suspicious. Would be cool to have an adjustable CS variant.

 

[martymil]

That does look suspicious. Would be cool to have an adjustable CS variant.

Well the weight difference between the comps and cs is only 1.6kg or 3.5 lbs.

Do I go comps or stay with cs's ?

I can also get m4 lci orange stiched seats like this with lumber adjustment and heating for total comfort ?

 

[ShocknAwe]

Heated or bust. Use it year round, just turn up the AC, so nice.

 

[martymil]

I'm going to pull my recaros out tomorrow and weight them, this will determine if I do or not.

I need a bit of luxury back in my car, over my weekend racer ways.

 

[martymil]

First post updated

21.8kg or 48 lbs that's a huge 2.4kg or 5.2 lbs a seat weight saving over BMW Performance seats or
a 4.8kg or 10.4 lbs per pair.

Don't understand why people are hung up over them so much.

Its only covers and different bases for short asses as they sit a fair bit higher,

Recaro CS by recaro are better and I installed the occupancy sensor into mine which means no coding.

 

[martymil]

Updated with manual seat weight

I'll keep updating the original post as I get more Info.

 

[martymil]

He are some new recaro cs's I had a play with today.

Fully striped the seats and replaced the factory material with new custom made covers.

Wired them up so they are plug and play.

Also replaced the center console armrest pad with alcantara to match the seats.

 

[langsbr]

I did F80 M3 seats in my E90 and had to replace the bottom base. I found that the part number for the base is the same for F80/F30 but I discovered that the 'thigh tray' or whatever is aluminum for the F80 so I swapped that onto the F30 base so it kept the light weight. I think the rest of the weight savings with the F8x seats may be from the back - that foam cover weighs next to nothing (and is about as durable as nothing). I like the F80 seats as they sit about a half inch lower than E90 seats which makes it nice if you are tall and wearing a helmet. The seats have probably been my favorite mod to the car.

 

[martymil]

There is not many e90's here and basically I've been only dealing with reclining seats from m2/4's for e82/92.

They are all a straight bolt in apart from wiring/plugs and coding which is expensive because its hard to find second hand modules
to make it all work and new ones are almost as much as the seats.

 

[martymil]

Cant wait to get a set of G series seats to play with love the look of them as they are a cross between recaro cs and M4 comp

 

[martymil]

Just a daily rant

I love when people come to me trying to compare Renault Meganne or any other type of factory fitted Recaro seats to the real thing.

They try any argue with me that their seats was cheaper but by the time you buy new bases and rails to suit a BMW it will cost you almost as
much as a new set but they are still second hand, they most likely have been damaged or they where involved in a serious crash as what other reason they where removed in the first place and to save maybe 500 dollars after the parts needed to convert them.

Just a warning, I had a set delivered to me this week to convert where the rails where bent and somebody straightened it but failed miserably
cracking the plastic base.

Its going to cost them more than a new set and that's to replace the parts at cost to me, point to the story do not buy seats sight unseen
or without someone that knows what they are doing checking them out first.

 

[miksebik]

Just wanted to say I tried M2 CS seats.. and I have to say my Pole Position is much better in all regards (safe getting in and out)

 

[martymil]

I liked the pole positions too when I was younger but a seat is like a pair of pants its not one size/shape suits all, It's up to the individual what he/she likes/needs out of the seat.

I loved my Recaros CS's but as I'm getting older my preferences have shifted to having heating and soon to have lumber support for my
poor back from all the years of hard work.

This thread is to provide information for one to make their own mind up of what they would like.

 

[miksebik]

Yeah sure.. Just wanted to say I was looking at these CS too but then I saw some comments on Porsche forum where few daddies 65y+ said how they love their Pole Position even for longer trips So I thought when they can, I can too, being 26y younger.
Anyway, good luck looking for your seat

 

[martymil]

Maybe post up some install picks and what you done and how you done it with progress pictures as that would be beneficial for readers.