Hello all

I've recently changed to an MX-5. It's a 2009 mk3.5 and is nearly perfect. The only thing that bugged me and I said to myself I would sort was the seats.

They are the standard full black cloth ones and they are a bit faded and worn which is ashame as the car has very low miles. There is also a bit of a scuff on the inner side if the drivers seat which appears to have been DIY repaired to an acceptable standard to prevent any further damage.

I've picked up a set of identical design seats from another mk3.5 of the same year but in leather with both door cards trimmed in leather also.

They are from a garage not far from me in Worthing who deal with damaged cars. The seats look in excellent condition for 2nd hand.

Does anyone know if they are a straight swap in and out? It seems quite a few people have done it from forums etc.

The leathers have airbags in the side wall of the back support which would be redundant in my car as the cloth seats do not have airbags fitted. The same goes for the heated seat functionality but maybe it's possible to get these wired up by an auto electrician...

Anyway it seems the main points are that the seats fit which fingers crossed they will and that the relevant wiring can be connected for seat belt / occupant sensory for the seat belt warning system and passenger airbag.

The seller is going to fit them with me as part of the agreement but I am hoping to get some pointers on here. The MX-5 forums seem a fairly quiet place.

Thanks in advance.

Would this be of any help http://www.mx-5.com/Forum/Room/Topic/?topicId=14580?

Hello all

I've recently changed to an MX-5. It's a 2009 mk3.5 and is nearly perfect. The only thing that bugged me and I said to myself I would sort was the seats.

They are the standard full black cloth ones and they are a bit faded and worn which is ashame as the car has very low miles. There is also a bit of a scuff on the inner side if the drivers seat which appears to have been DIY repaired to an acceptable standard to prevent any further damage.

I've picked up a set of identical design seats from another mk3.5 of the same year but in leather with both door cards trimmed in leather also.

They are from a garage not far from me in Worthing who deal with damaged cars. The seats look in excellent condition for 2nd hand.

Does anyone know if they are a straight swap in and out? It seems quite a few people have done it from forums etc.

The leathers have airbags in the side wall of the back support which would be redundant in my car as the cloth seats do not have airbags fitted. The same goes for the heated seat functionality but maybe it's possible to get these wired up by an auto electrician...

Anyway it seems the main points are that the seats fit which fingers crossed they will and that the relevant wiring can be connected for seat belt / occupant sensory for the seat belt warning system and passenger airbag.

The seller is going to fit them with me as part of the agreement but I am hoping to get some pointers on here. The MX-5 forums seem a fairly quiet place.

Thanks in advance.

Good luck and hope the replacement goes okay.

 

Look forward to your photos once completed.

 

Enjoy the top down motoring in this lovely weather.

Would this be of any help http://www.mx-5.com/Forum/Room/Topic/?topicId=14580?

Thanks, I read this one last night. Very good detail included but the thread has kind of been left I think. It would be interesting to know if the owner changed the seats in the end. I will post and see if they are still an active member...

Thanks Keith. I'll upload photos to this thread provided all goes well!

The physical swap should be straight forward - I'm pretty sure that Mazda wouldn't have changed mounting points on the mk3, mk3.5 or mk3.75.  The fact your original seats don't have airbags makes the swap so much simpler, but I doubt it will be straight forward to get these connected - the car might even need a different airbag controller/SRS module.  Hooking up the heated seats should be easy enough if you can get hold of the switches and the loom. 

 

As for forums, try looking on miata.net  - good for technical advice, or try mx5nutz.com - that's pretty active.  mx-5.com was a thriving forum but it went very, very quiet after an 'upgrade' that scared off most of teh regular users

The physical swap should be straight forward - I'm pretty sure that Mazda wouldn't have changed mounting points on the mk3, mk3.5 or mk3.75.  The fact your original seats don't have airbags makes the swap so much simpler, but I doubt it will be straight forward to get these connected - the car might even need a different airbag controller/SRS module.  Hooking up the heated seats should be easy enough if you can get hold of the switches and the loom. 

 

As for forums, try looking on miata.net  - good for technical advice, or try mx5nutz.com - that's pretty active.  mx-5.com was a thriving forum but it went very, very quiet after an 'upgrade' that scared off most of teh regular users

Thanks for your reply, it's very helpful.

I'm on mx5nutz and mx-5.com however both seem dead to me. I've had a few helpful responses on mx-5.com but nothing yet on mx5nutz. Thanks for the pointer on miata.net I'll take a look.

I'm assuming and have been told that not having the airbags functioning in the leather seats is no problem as the car wasn't fitted with them originally so they can remain inactive?

All I'm hoping is that the connection for the seatbelt sensors is compatible as I can't see any reason why they wouldn't fit on the rails. It seems quite a few people have done it and said it was straightforward. It's just that connection for the sensors.

As for the heated seats I'll get a quote from an electrician and go from there.

Thanks again.

The only potential issue I could see with the seat belt pretensioners/seat airbag is that the connector under the seat may be different. In which case you would need to swap these from seat to seat which the salvage yard may not be willing to do if they are to get your old seats.

I would expect the seats to be almost a direct swap. However, if the width between the runners are different it is feasible that additional holes will already be drilled but just covered up. Certainly was the practice in the 70's but we have moved on a long way since then.

Look forward to seeing it at the next meet at the Meon, may just have to bring mine along as well instead of the Skoda.

The only potential issue I could see with the seat belt pretensioners/seat airbag is that the connector under the seat may be different. In which case you would need to swap these from seat to seat which the salvage yard may not be willing to do if they are to get your old seats.

I would expect the seats to be almost a direct swap. However, if the width between the runners are different it is feasible that additional holes will already be drilled but just covered up. Certainly was the practice in the 70's but we have moved on a long way since then.

Look forward to seeing it at the next meet at the Meon, may just have to bring mine along as well instead of the Skoda.

Thanks Jerry. Appreciate your input.

What you've said is my only concern. I'm confident the seats fit fine as a number of people have said they've done the same thing very easily. I'm just concerned about the connector for the seatbelts/sensors.

I've only paid a £100 deposit which was on a credit card. The guy knows the situation so if they don't fit they don't fit and I won't be taking them. Any problems getting my deposit back then I'll raise it with the CC company, I've already been in touch with them in case it doesn't work as he has advertised them as suitable for my specific model.

Look forward to the next meet and maybe seeing your MX!

Slight change of direction now.

 

I've found a guy locally (Botley) who is going to re-upholster the seats for me for the same price so I'm going with him. Less hassle and new leather.

 

Should be ready for the next meet at the West Meon Hut.