Calling on R3V detectives!

[RagtopE30]

I recently acquired a new set of wheels that have some really interesting front seats. Please help me figure out what they are!

If it matters, It is a grey market 323i E21 that never got federalized because it was imported about 10 years ago.

Here are some pics:





I will get better pictures tomorrow.

[325ix]

They look like Recaro LX's kind of.

Levent has a set of srd's with the same pattern, he may know.

http://gutenparts.goodsie.com/seats

[RagtopE30]

Awesome thanks for the lead

[Tanktheory]

For the love of god be careful in those 3 points.

[RagtopE30]

^ educate me

[325ix]

You don't want a harness without fixed back seats or a roll bar. Stock seats are designed to bend one way or the other in a roll over so that you don't get your spine snapped by the roof being crushed. With a harness you are now stuck in the upright position with the roof descending towards you, which is why you need a roll bar.

[willworkfore30s]

dibs if he wants to sell!

[RagtopE30]

The harness is anchored on the rear parcel shelf with what looks like a male and female seat belt buckle. I will get better pics and post them. I dont think this harness would prevent me from avoiding the accident you describe.

[325ix]

All I did was answer the question.

[RagtopE30]

And I appreciate it. I am just not very well educated on harnesses. I will probably remove the harness anyways as I dont see myself strapping in every time I drive it.

[acolella76]

You don't want a harness without fixed back seats or a roll bar. Stock seats are designed to bend one way or the other in a roll over so that you don't get your spine snapped by the roof being crushed. With a harness you are now stuck in the upright position with the roof descending towards you, which is why you need a roll bar.

Um... you're on the right track but not entirely there. If he were to have a fixed back seat with a harness (or even stock belt) and no bar, THEN he would have a problem. As for now, his seats will still collapse in the event of a roll-over, and the harnesses will still keep him from moving a dangerous amount but they won't prevent the seat from moving where it needs to go.

[325ix]

Um... you're on the right track but not entirely there. If he were to have a fixed back seat with a harness (or even stock belt) and no bar, THEN he would have a problem. As for now, his seats will still collapse in the event of a roll-over, and the harnesses will still keep him from moving a dangerous amount but they won't prevent the seat from moving where it needs to go.

I was talking more so about a 5 point with a regular seat.

[RagtopE30]

Ok So still no info on the seats. Please help me identify who makes them and when they were available. I did look at Levents site but once again there is limited info. And I have searched and searched and can not find any pictures of Recaro's that look anything like the fabric and wording on these or levent's.

[VadGTI]

That seat design was pretty popular in Europe in the 80s. They could literally be anything. Any tags underneath?

You don't want a harness without fixed back seats or a roll bar. Stock seats are designed to bend one way or the other in a roll over so that you don't get your spine snapped by the roof being crushed. With a harness you are now stuck in the upright position with the roof descending towards you, which is why you need a roll bar.

Stock seats are not designed to bend. What happens is that the OEM 3-point activates (pretensioners, etc.), but leaves a bit of slack which is enough for you to angle away from a collapsing roof in a roll-over. With a 4 or 5-point, you're strapped in with no excess movement so the roof caves in on your head and crushes your spine.


Sent from a rotary-dial phone using Edna the Small Town Operator

[der affe]

Now now kids.........belts mounted to the floor behind the seat exert the downward crushing force you speak of. If the shoulder portion of the belts are mounted properly to an on harness bar, you are ok.

Additionally, if you were to run a seat belt designed for said purposes to mount to the rear seatbelt mounting points like these:

http://www.soloracer.com/rallye4.html

http://www.soloracer.com/rallye3.html

http://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/rallye/rallye-4

OR IF YOU HAVE THE BIG $ THESE

http://www.schrothracing.com/tuning/autocontrol/autocontrol-II

You will be fine with them and not crush your spine in an accident as long as you are using a seat approved by Schroth. No, it does not have to be a fixed back either.

From your pics, you appear to have Schroth belts in there.

Kids, please stop spreading misinformation, it does no one any good.


Now in reguards to the seats, they look like some type of Recaro LX or maybe a Monaco.