5'3" Wife - need longer rails, or seat options

[aglio]

hehehe longer rails....

anyway here's the problem, bought a 1991 318is last week and lastnight was the first time my wife tried to drive it. she could barely reach the pedals. luckily for her the clutch needs to be adjusted a little [it's grabbing a bit high] so she was able to drive it, but it's not a good long term solution.

now before you start saying...good, it's your car you drive it...she doesn't drink [much] and is often my DD and she drives like a dude...she loves my R32, so i gotta make this work for her.

oh BTW, i'm 6'2" so the solution has to accomodate me as well.

i'm all about aftermarket seats. this is a great time to get them too since they'll be 'for her.' so my questions:

1. E36 seats...do they end up being closer to the dash when pushed all the way forward?
2. can you think of any aftermarket [non-racing] seats that might do the trick?
3. any thing i do when mounting brackets to aftermarket or E36 seats that would help with this dilemma?

just gotta get it about 2-3 inches closer...

[Digitalwave]

Consider that with most aftermarket seats, the rails won't be height adjustable, and they usually sit lower than stock seats.

[Hatchman]

may I suggest platform shoes instead?

[aglio]

may I suggest platform shoes instead?

hahaha she did too...but then said.."if only they were still in style"

so no height adjustment on aftermarket seats...i was looking at some corbeaus that i really liked too.

wonder if it would be possible to get a longer rail or move the one already there.

[Digitalwave]

Which Corbeaus? I have Corbeau Forzas in my car, with the Corbeau E30 brackets. The seats sit a good 5-6" lower than stock seats. I am 6'0, and I can't see my hood from in the seat anymore.

[aglio]

Which Corbeaus? I have Corbeau Forzas in my car, with the Corbeau E30 brackets. The seats sit a good 5-6" lower than stock seats. I am 6'0, and I can't see my hood from in the seat anymore.

i was thinking more along these lines [non-fixed]:

http://corbeau.com/products/legacy/legacy.shtml

http://corbeau.com/products/trs/trs.shtml

http://corbeau.com/products/gts2/gts2.shtml

[Digitalwave]

I would imagine they still sit lower than stock.

[mikeedler]

my wife isnt much taller, and she has no problems. is the seat adjusted to the highest position. It does adjust up, and as it goes up, it also goes foreward. on my e46, my wife just sets the seat in the highest position, and when i get in I just drop it down, and that moves it back far enough for me.

[aglio]

my wife isnt much taller, and she has no problems. is the seat adjusted to the highest position. It does adjust up, and as it goes up, it also goes foreward. on my e46, my wife just sets the seat in the highest position, and when i get in I just drop it down, and that moves it back far enough for me.

my seat does not adjust up in my 91 318is. it's 'upward' adjustment pivots it on a rear axis, that lifts the front of the seat base only. that normal?

[KenC]

The whole seat should adjust up and down. My Mom is 5'1" and can drive my car with the e36 seats in it easily. I might suggest getting some of those, although you'll have to fabricate your own brackets to mount them.

[aglio]

The whole seat should adjust up and down. My Mom is 5'1" and can drive my car with the e36 seats in it easily. I might suggest getting some of those, although you'll have to fabricate your own brackets to mount them.

hmm, so the E30 sports seats should adjust UP..in a typical manner? i need to do some investigating...i thought i tried everything. maybe i'll try the passenger seat, perhaps the driver's seat is broken. shit, i'm just going to rip them out this weekend if i have to. i was hoping for an excuse to buy aftermarket seats too!

[Nathan]

I'm 5'4" and i keep the seat atleast a couple inches back from as far as it could go. And if you want to adjust the seat up, press down on the lever that is closest to the back. The one that if you pull up it adjusts the angle of the back of the seat. It will probably be hard to do as most seat shocks are blown.

[aglio]

I'm 5'4" and i keep the seat atleast a couple inches back from as far as it could go. And if you want to adjust the seat up, press down on the lever that is closest to the back. The one that if you pull up it adjusts the angle of the back of the seat. It will probably be hard to do as most seat shocks are blown.

awesome...seat shocks must be blown, i tried pushing down on it...i'll investigate after work, thanks!!!

[george graves]

Can I suggest hand controls?



(just kidding)...


...

[aglio]

Can I suggest hand controls?



(just kidding)...


...

pwahahhaa nice...it took some 'jarring' but i got the seat to move up properly...woohoo