THSCC Forums

the bmw is adeaquetly tweaked and now it is time to do roll bar, harnesses and seats. i am good on the bars, harnessess should be no problem but seats i need some input on.

i post here as i would like the input of track rather than autoX as a primary opinion. thanks, steve.

Steve,
The biggest problem putting race seats in a BMW is the offset needed to clear the transmission hump and still get the seat centered to the steering wheel.
Not knowing your year ,model ,type of seat used (bottom mount or side mount) and type of sliders you're using,I can't get specific. But all these things will enter into the equation. If you are tall,sliders and ready made brackets often put you too close to the roof.
I'd ask around to BMW owners with the same equipment as you and make sure you fit.
VAC makes some very nice universal mounts but they're not cheap!!
Good luck,
Chris

Some generic advice (sorry if it sounds like a broken record):
Before you buy anything, it is suggested that you read the tech guide (http://www.thscc.com/timetrial/nonhtml/ ... _Final.pdf) to make sure you have got the right "master plan" in mind. If you have questions, ask a member of the track team ahead of time - we are here to help.

Make sure the seats you are getting (remember, equal protection for your instructor) are either FIA approved (and don't require a back brace) or that you have appropriately mounted seat-back braces and that your harnesses are mounted per the GCR and the manufacturer's recommendations.

You should also try and sit in some seats before buying - they are usually made in different widths. As to fitment in your car - other owners are a good resource but be careful who you listen to. If you find a model or two that are used consistently and fit well in the information archives for your vehicle, but are no longer manufactured, you can probably find the dimensions of the seat to find something similarly sized that is still in production.

HTH,
--Ashraf

Tarheel BMW CCA is sponsoring Octoberfest for the entire country this week, with social events in the Triad and driving events Mon, Tues, Wed at VIR. I suspect if you could make it up there, you would find a plethora of Bimmers sporting race seats to compare/contrast to your application.

_________________
Marvin McBride
Spec Miata #62