Got around to something I had wanted to do since I bought my car. Replaced the front and rear seats.

 

My car is a poverty spec 1.6 tdi and had the basic level seats. I have had a leather interior in my cars for the last 15 years and would have got it in my octavia if I were given the choice. My seats were very poor. They were in great condition but to me felt like the seats from a van.

 

Had my eyes open for a leather interior for an Octavia but the only ones I have seen for sale have been VRS ones and I didnt want the VRS logos in my car, then I got thinking that maybe it would be a mistake to go for the leather as there are some benefits to the cloth seats.

 

• They seem to wear better (mine were 70k old and were in showroom condition, no sagging, creases or scuffs etc)
• They are nice and warm in winter
• They are nice and cool in summer

There were no cloth seats from Octavias that would be a upgrade so started to think about other possible cars, Golf MK7, Audi A3. I saw a set of cloth seats from an A3 sport 5dr for sale for £80. They seemed to fit the bill but wasnt sure if they would fit the car 100%. I figured for £80 it was worth a try.

 

 

Well I had a bit of a fright when examining them as the connectors had been cut off and had all different wires colours and different numbers of wires going in but I got hold of the wring diagrams for each car and mapped out what was what. When I took the seats from my octavia I cut off the connectors and rewired them into the Audi seats. This wasnt a big issue once I had learned how to read the wiring diagrams.

 

The next question was would the rear seats fit?  They looked right but there were some slight differences. I bolted them in and am glad to say they are a 99% fit. The Audi rears are probably 1cm narrower across than the octavia seats and this has left a 5mm ish gap at the edge of each back rest but you wouldnt notice it wasnt supposed to be like that. It looks factory so I was happy.

 

The fronts with the octavia connectors went in without issue.

 

The results are fantastic and probably the best £80 I have spent on a car. The Audi seats look much better but more importantly are much better to sit in. The foam seems much better quality and you would swear that the car has had its suspension changed. It used to feel quite crashy before but now it seems to soak up the bumps. It must be the foam is cushioning the shocks through the car. before it was like driving a van and now its like driving a luxury car. It really has made a massive and unexpected difference.

 

The seats also have adjustable thigh support and much more contoured shape with better side bolsters so at the same time as being more comfortable are much more supportive.

 

The car really has been totally transformed.

 

Here's my pic of the seats fitted. They look much better in real life but the sun was setting and my crappy camera couldnt get a better shot. Seats are less than a year old and with less that 5k on them they were an absolute bargain considering the difference they have made. 

 

Edited 17 October, 20169 yr by Pitbull@Octavia

£80!!! What a bargain. I would have paid that for the driver's seat alone.

Yeah they do seem a bargain, they must not be in much demand but for the base spec octavias they are a massive upgrade. It wasnt a one off price either as there are other sets for sale on ebay at around £100 asking price.

 

The ones with the cloth centres but with leather bolsters are going for around £400. I didnt want the half leather as for me historically the bolsters get worn pretty quickly.

Interesting mod - can you share some pics of the rears and how they fit?

Yeah I grab some shots of the slight gaps next time im at the car.

I would have never even thought of that - cool idea.

Rear bench

 

Rear gap with seatbelt held away to show

 

Rear gap with seatbelt in resting position

 

(double post - ignore)

Edited 17 October, 20169 yr by wlange

Awesome, these front seats must be great for tall people, since you can extend the front of the seat and pump it upwards.

Great Mod well done!

You may just start a craze!

Edited 18 October, 20169 yr by Suuntobob

Very nice job well done! 

 

Just wondering if you found any niggles after fitting such as, do the indicators still work? Any new-found tendency to drive down the middle of the road as if you own both sides? That sort of thing  :p

That gap would mess with my OCD, but the fronts look superb and I love this type of mods

Bravo!

Looks great - shame you couldn't get that nice centre console in too :-)

They look really good, great job

They look fab!

Looks great! Maybe you could share those wiring diagrams? Now that the word is out Audi A3 2015 seats fit, maybe others will go for it too.

I will post them up when I get home tonight.

Expect prices to go up due to demand  

Just found out they have front isofix connections too for anybody who is interested.

Just found out they have front isofix connections too for anybody who is interested.

But remember to turn off the front airbag if you use the front Isofix for a child seat.

Expect prices to go up due to demand

For £80 I'll come to Britain all the way from Slovenia to pick them up!

Was just checking some online stores for used car parts. Couldn't find those under 600 €.

Edited 20 October, 20169 yr by milanj

Here are a couple for sale.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A3-8v-front-and-back-CLOTH-SEATS-interior-5-door-/371765668616?hash=item568ef5eb08:g:I8gAAOSwNRdYBUuT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-2014-2015-NEW-SHAPE-AUDI-A3-8v-CLOTH-SEATS-INTERIOR-TRIM-BREAKING-/222261842887?hash=item33bfd693c7:g:8qkAAOSwu4BVlEHW

 

Mine came looking very dirty but a quick blast with a carpet cleaner and they came up looking like new, the material seems very stain resistant.

Here are a couple for sale.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A3-8v-front-and-back-CLOTH-SEATS-interior-5-door-/371765668616?hash=item568ef5eb08:g:I8gAAOSwNRdYBUuT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-2014-2015-NEW-SHAPE-AUDI-A3-8v-CLOTH-SEATS-INTERIOR-TRIM-BREAKING-/222261842887?hash=item33bfd693c7:g:8qkAAOSwu4BVlEHW

 

Mine came looking very dirty but a quick blast with a carpet cleaner and they came up looking like new, the material seems very stain resistant.

 

Hello, I am about to order my set of A3 seats, yours have heated seats ? And if they do, the octavias buttons for the heating still functions  in 3 positions ? 

I’ve just done exactly this as well. Agreed with all your weighing up so just did it. Managed to find the same seats and I’m well chuffed - thanks very much for posting :-)

 

Mine came with the connectors for the fronts so fitted straight in - only down side is passenger air bag was removed and now proving tricky to source. I’d recommend finding a set with both airbags, you live and learn...

 

Great seats, amazing difference. I had elegance spec half leather seats, was getting back pain, could never get in the right position and the roll round corners was pretty bad. 

I was worried I was going to have to change it as back pain so bad, now it’s pretty much the perfect car. 

 

64 Oct Est 2.0d Elegance