Whose bloody daft idea was it to get these then?

I would appreciate the comfort if my back didn't hurt quite so much lol Bit dark, pics won't really work to well will they? Maybe tomorrow morning may be best.

 

 

So fitting - I had horror stories about the troublesome bolt the last time around, and given I've got somewhere to go tomorrow it wouldn't have been good for it to fail now !

I nearly didn't get it out the car on that last trouble bolt but have managed to by levering weight on the seat to prise it out while unscrewing

 

I didn't waste a good new bolt and took one from the passengers which was still fairly usable, I knew it was going to be a mess so didn't want to waste my brand new bolt on a disaster of a thread.

But thankfully, it has gone in and even tight. Something to worry about for later. So how do you rethread them exactly, I'm going to need some assistance on this one for a later date but its all good for now at least.

 

I was 50/50 on the look until the whole of the rears gone in. I'm still a bit marmite 'bout it but though but there is no way any seats are going in or out now because of that sodding rear drivers side bolt !

 

So NOW is anyone going to buy my (near immac) standard seats now for gods sakes ! I've just gone over them with upholstery cleaner and drying here in the house. I haven't even shifted the mk1 standard covers (they aren't far off being mint either) !! I'm accumulating lol

TTIUWP

Alright I've had an Indian and backs had a rest

 

 

Probably should have adjusted the bases a bit so they don't look quite so saggy lol. Not the end of the world. I've heard that using a hairdryer can help as it shrinks the leather but you can have the same problem recur again.

Looks good so far good colour combo, looks like you've defo had an indian looks like you've creased the middle of the seat with the aftermath lol

It wasn't THAT hot  Lovely though, the masala is my fave

They look fantastic. Suit the car down to the ground. Top work.

Thanks

Sorry been out since about 9am this morning and just got back otherwise would have done some proper daytime pics

I don't like the yellow and black seats just a bit too much yellow. I understand the car is yellow, can't put my finger on it. Would have preferred all black if it were my car, but it isn't.... So carry on.

Racist

 

Just what have you got against yelloooooooow

Lol. Glad you took that well mate. I guess they look much better in a yellow fab than they would say a blue or red fab. Lol.

Yeah the colour is quite strong, but the colour scheme of the car is quite strong already anyway - it kind of compliments ? Far moreso than bloody yellow and beige of the standard seats lol

 

I do get your point though, and I think they would work better particularly well in say a black car, for increased contrast and is a bit strong in a yellow but I'm not too fazed - I'm happy.

 

The main decider for me though to fit them is they are THE most comfortable seats you will get in a car. Far better than the standard vRS/sports seats and lumbar too plus heat/airbag if I can ever be bothered with that lol.

Even my father 2 yr old elegance TSi (which has lumbar) isn't quite a comfy as these, they just wrap around you. Recaros rule !

Looks a top job. 

I'm sorry I really need to update with PROPER pics lol!
 

Got the day off on thurs/fri so I will probably do then as those pics aren't good justice.

Hey, was your seats out of a 3 or 5 door? Also how did you remove the lower part? I have had a quick look but can not see anything obvious. Last question can you remember the size of the spline bit used to get the rear of the fronts off?

Sorry man, no idea cos they were loose already and the guy had a golf and not fitted at the time, thing they may have been out for a while.

I'd hazard a guess at 5 door like the Fabia though, no folding front seat.

 

What, you meant the front lower? Its dead easy mate, seats out, carefully unclip/unscrew the plastics where appropriate. On the fabia, there are 2 torx style screws at the back holding plastics on, plus another 2 in middle, might be on at the front with the cubby. Remove the cubby first too.

Then the 4 big bolts are immediately obvious holding the top and bottom seat parts together, a biggish spline I think.

 

Oh and a clever trick, you can't swap the upper part between drivers and passengers, but the lowers much be interchangeable cos I just made the driver the passenger and so on, so any wear on bolsters will be evened out, i.e. drivers side bolster like new, the more worn part of the drivers moved to where the passenger ISN'T going in and out of - full of bright ideas, me.

 

Its on a thread here somewhere for the main seat bolts....lemme take a look....?

Apparently the part number of these bolts is/was N908 921 01 and it is an M8 x 28mm (with a multi spline socket head)

Hmm might be different on my a3 seats then as i have removed all the plastics but cant see anything to allow the bottom cushion to come off the base :s

Edit: ah i see i didnt make it obvious saying the lower part, i meant the cushion from the base.

Ah Joe, now that makes more sense.

Its the fabric itself ! You unclip it like the rear.

 

If its the same as the Fabia and the Recaros.....Turn the rear base upside down and note where the fabric pushes into the metal seat frame.

Basically get a driver in there and you prise the plastic clips around the seat up, all around. This releases the fabric, which will hold the fabric to the base until removed Note you have to use a bit more force than you think you ought to.

Thought i might of had to pry it off but thought i read there where a couple of bolt on clips so wanted to double check. The clips i have to pry off, is there any trick to it and are they easily broke?

The "clips"  - no its more like plastic trim that goes all around the fabric, well stitched to the fabric so that it can basically turn through 180 degrees or whatever and hold the fabric in tension to the base.

 

That is what was meant by "unclip", more the fact that it will pop loose as you start to lever said trim out from the pockets/recess they sit in (in that gap around the seats).

There are some points as you can see around the seat where the recess is narrower so probably exert more force to remove. Note that in removing you bend the metalwork open a bit so might be worth bending it back a little when refitting.

 

Am I doing a poor job of explaining, trust me its far easier doing it than explaining it. Basically push driver into the gap/twist or lever out. Feed out all around the seat, job done. Not sure if Audis are the same so don't hold me to this 100%

It's very tricky to explain.... But the above comment is correct. It's quiet easy, you just need something to get you started to lever the plastic trim off.

Really suits the car

Yes i get you cheers, just held on by tension basiclly. You are a star mate, waiting for a spline bit off my brother and will crack on when the back rest is off. Only thing im worried about is mine are 3 door so dont have the 2 spline bolts either side just one a side and a pin wich the mechanism hooks to and releases when you fold forward to get in the rear. Hoping it can be altered or a nut and bolt can go through, if not i will have to do some fabrication.

Looks really good!

What you trying to do, transfer the entire of the seat over?

 

Don't do that, just transfer the seat foam + material (or just material if you prefer but more difficult as it involves removing the hog clips). You just need a donor like I did ? Or your own seat base ?

 

I could actually have just used my own seat as donors, but mine are fairly mint so pity to break up, and actually have a briskodian coming to pick em up on Sat for a fair price.

Actually I felt pretty bad about dismantling the 2006 seats as they were in good nick lol. Got the material though and someone that is interested in refurbishing their seats with it, so no waste.

 

If you don't include fuel cost (return to nr London was a bit costly for that probably, at least £20), then Leicester way, by the time I've recycled what I've got left over including my own seats it would have cost me £40 to upgrade to these Recaros lol.

Im swapping every on to my vrs seat basis. So the bottom cushion then the unbolting the back part and bolting it to the fabia base aswell like in pasty boys guide.