E21 Recaro-time!

"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
03/31/2014 at 09:31 • Filed to: BMW 2002TII TOURING

I've found and bought two original E21 Recaros this weekend for my 2002 touring-projekt! I'll have to refurbish them so they'll look somewhat like these (but black finish instead of brown as my 2002 is Inka Orange) from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! :

The seats will have a long way to go to look like these though as the state they're in is pretty 'used':

I'll have them refurbished at a local shop. But I'm not sure yet if I'll opt for leather or old-school OEM-vinyl which is way cheaper. I could also opt for some contrast by using other cloth/colours for the 'inside', maybe going the same direction like my '87 911 has (black leather outside/black&white velours inside) as the original seats have a similar contrast:

Also important to me would be to try and save the sides of the E21-Recaro's as these came, as you may know (but probably don't), with the BMW-roundel stamped on it. But the sides look heavily used so I'm not sure if that's possible, or how I could restore that:

Now how did they get these logos over there (the E21 Recaros were an original factory-option). Anyone has an idea what will stick on leather/vinyl like this or if it's even possible to be done by one self?

DISCUSSION (17)

505Turbeaux > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 09:34

buddy of mine had a 320is that had these. Great seats, great cars. He had almost 400K on it when he sold it and just light wear on the drivers bolster. Great choice for the touring...

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 10:05

Ive got a set of these in my 1602, to this day they're still the best seat Ive ever had

Jobjoris > Trunk Impaired 318
03/31/2014 at 11:29

I always loved these! What colour/material did you mount in what colour '02?

Jobjoris > 505Turbeaux
03/31/2014 at 11:32

Thanks! 400K without refurbishing? Man, that's a lot. Luckily I'm not planning to reach that in next couple of years so this refurbishing is probably/hopefully the last one.

Justin is driven > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 11:32

I have these in my Volvo. They're exactly the right brown color so they look stock, and I love them.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 11:38

completely original OEM black vinyl in a red '02

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 12:39

Kinja'd!!!

I've been thinking about what to do with my Spitfire's seats actually. There's an automotive apholstery place in the town I went to school in, but I'm not sure what to get them done in. The options are either vinyl or leather, and either black or tan.

This is the colour it will be, so either black or tan will work (although I do have black carpets at the moment). I'm not sure about leather though. I get the feeling it'd be a bit too posh for a Spitfire :)

Jobjoris > Justin is driven
03/31/2014 at 12:57

That's the only way I would want it: front, back seat and other upholstery should al look in place. I'll end up altering the back-seats as well and this projekt is getting really expensive but the result is only thing that really matters to me now.

Jobjoris > Trunk Impaired 318
03/31/2014 at 13:00

Pictures please! The more I think about it I think the sides made out of leather in combination with centers out of velours are the way to go for me. Isn't vinyl too sticky in the summer?

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/31/2014 at 13:11

For me the tan upholstery only works with darkish green, black or red. I would go for black with that blue. The top of the dash and the top are also black I suppose and with all those different colours (the dash itself is wood?) I would end up getting really annoyed.

Main problem with the seats the '02 came with is that there is NO lateral support, the Spit is probably better, not?

Don't be afraid of the spit looking posh when opting for leather. It will be posh when you start that 6 cylinder in such a tiny car anyway ;-)

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 13:14

She's in storage until at least the end of April but I'll see if I've got any pics around

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 13:16

She's in storage until at least the end of April but I'll see if I've got any pics around. The vinyl can get bad on really hot days but I've never had an issue with it, I live in upstate NY so it's not really something I have to worry about

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 15:18

I'm not sure 'good lateral support' is something I would use to describe the Spitfire seats, although I suspect it's negated somewhat by the fact that you're wedged into the cockpit pretty snugly.

Good point about the conflicting colours. I was leaning towards black anyway. It's good to hear a solid reason for it :)

Justin is driven > Jobjoris
03/31/2014 at 16:16

Awesome. It was a lucky coincidence for me - I just wanted some nice seats to replace the stock Volvo recliners that are comfy for long trips but that don't exactly support the driver.

Jobjoris > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/31/2014 at 16:52

Haha, that's what I meant with a better lateral support in the Spit. Driveshaft tunnel and door keep you in place anyway!

Jobjoris > Justin is driven
03/31/2014 at 16:56

So what Volvo are we talking about? A 240? From the 850 and onwards the seats are really good. I've had a 240 Estate and that had real comfy seats but no support whatsoever.

Justin is driven > Jobjoris
04/01/2014 at 15:15

A 240 estate is exactly what I have. :)