E24 Sport seat compatibility

[chicane]

Gentleman -

Does anyone know the compatibility of Post 1983 E24 sport seats among the various years? In other words would a 1985 set of sport sets fit in a 1988 (harness, rails, etc) and cosmetically do they look the same.

Thanks...

[dwcains]

Bolt pattern on the rails is the same. Seat belt receptacles are the same, and come with the seat. The stitching pattern on the early versus late seats is quite different, though. The early seats have 5 pleats on the base, while the later have 3. There is also the question of power versus manual, and some (rare) had heating elements, too. So, if you put the early seats in a late car, which is what I think you're asking primarily,the fronts and rears won't match, in terms of the pleats. Here's a pic of the manual sport seats in my '85:



From 1987>, powered sport seats:

[chicane]

Thanks it appears that you are half right. Looks like the 3 pleat design was offered 86-89 and the 5 pleat design was offered 84/5 - 88. So there is some overlap.

https://www.gahh.com/interiors/seats?ve ... years=4900


http://www.worlduph.com/bmw/6_series/e24/

[bpoliakoff]

Uh Uh. True Recaros have 7 pleats the post 1982 cars are called BMW sport seats and have 5 pleats. I never heard of the 3 pleat seats so I can't comment on that. I have been told I am wrong, but if you go to realoem you can see the pleat difference. GAHH, a well known upholstery provider, only has 7 pleat and 5 pleat shown on their order forms.

[dwcains]

I'm sticking by my original post, regardless of what GAHH lists in their catalog.

[zinnocoupe]

As far I have seen the 5 pleat is 82 -87 and the big puffy 3 pleat is the 88-89 world bumpers cars. I guess there could be some overlap at the factory when they ran out of the 5 pleat in late 87. I've never seen that thought. And yes the real Recaros have 7 pleats