Early E12 Seats -- Adaptable to E24s?

[John in Simi Valley]

Greeting all,
As you know I have my '80 e12 and also an '83 633CSi.

Discussion is my 633 has standard comfort seats, black leather, but leather is in tatters. I got a quote from a good known reupholster shop for black vinyl at $700 for the set. My wife has given me permission to do this, but being an engineer I must always investigate Plan B (and I'm kinda cheap).

There is a recent E12 in the local wrecking yard. It is pretty rusted and neglected, nearly 650K on the odometer (and it WORKS). Lots of good parts, so let me know if you need anything.
Anyway the seats are somewhat dry but okay condition. But the thing I really like about the early e12 are the seats. Back bolsters are more pronounced and just more comfortable than the later e28 seats.

So QUESTION: has anyone tried to transplant early E12 seats into an E28-based E24.
Looks like risers MIGHT need to be added, but looks very do-able.

It's a total WHAT-IF at this point.
BAD IDEA? GOOD IDEA? What thinks thee?

[Mike W.]

I think they'll bolt up, but I think they may be a touch higher. Maybe not. Now I for one have found E28 seats to have better lower back support and have repadded many a BMW seat to my bottom/back, so I make it right. However, remember this, E12 or E28 seats don't pivot forward like 2 door seats. The back seat (already unsuitable for anyone over 12) would become completely unusable for even a grocery bag or two.

Something else to consider is putting other upholstery on E24 frames. I put E21 upholstery on an early E24 one time. Didn't quite look like either one, didn't look great, but a damned lot better than the shreds of leather that was supposed to be a seat previously.

Another option, which would require an adapter, would be to put E30 sport seats in there. 2 door, so they fold forward, and much newer and more plentiful. And they even look like E24 sport seats.

[John in Simi Valley]

I looked at E30 recaros, saw some E24s with that combo. -- It's not for me, my buddy Danny (has 100 cars in his back yard) says it best; they're "Micky Mouse" because they're out of scale, smaller seats in a big coupe. I agree, so I don't want to go there.

I pulled covers off one E28 seat and pulled them over another for my son's 528e. Harder job than it seems. Since that was almost impossible, I dismissed the idea of using other covers on an E24 seat.

The thing that sucks, is I can get really, really nice E24 Recaros, BUT they are electric. I want manual seats. The most desired option is to get nice E24 Recaros. The second option is to get tattered ones and reupholster them. Plan C is find an acceptable seat from another car that I can adapt. I used to have an Audi TT that has cool Recaros that were manual.

In the mean while, there is a wrecking yard little over 2 miles from me, it just got in another '79 528i. I'll scrounge around and see what it's got.

[wkohler]

Any real Recaro reclining seat you get will flip forward, coupe or even sedan. I've got a pair of cloth ones that reall need a reupholster but are useable as is. They could be put on a bus. I also have adapters from the seats to your manual bases.