Recaro seat (E21) steering wheel offset annoying?

[chuncomunco]

Anyone find the recaro seat conversion a minor annoyance? i've considered on doing the conversion many times but never did because i was afraid the 1 - 1 1/2 offset from the steering wheel may bother me and affect my autoX performance.

whats your opinion?

[esty]

i never knew there was an offset...i reckon that's how unnoticeable it is to me...seriously...i was unaware...

i found that i sit a bit lower but not lop-sided

[Pierre]

I noticed it after I was told. And sure enpugh, it is. But for the most part, I don't notice.

On the track, I notice it more, especially with the 5-point harness. But the annoyance level is low enough that I haven't been motivated to do anything about it.

The improvement of the Recaro by far outweighs the minor annoyance.

[peteinjp]

No problem here but if it did bug you it probably would be easy enough to offset.

[2002Targa]

I've had one in my car for the last 10 years and never even knew it was there till a few weeks ago when a buddy was sitting in my car. He said it wasn't centered and I argued with him till I went around to the back of the car and looked. I still don't notice it unless I'm actually TRYING to notice...

[c.d.iesel]

using 'any' seat just bolted over the original

tracks on the floor will result in a seat off centered so

your close to the door, and usually too high.

You need to fabricate brackets for any seat so the set is as far inward

next to the trans tunnel - quite easy with Angle Steel stock, a drill and

a few nuts and bolts. You still use the original BMW seat track

with release handle with your new brackets bolted to them, and

the bare seat bolted to the brackets in next to the tunnel - centering

you with the steering column. AND the seat will be lower.

DO NOT BUY any of the so-called aftermarket seat adapter track

mounts - you'll need to open the sunroof and leave the door

open for your fat shoulders.

You need to place the seat so the inner side bolsters slide along the center consol - then you'll be 'CENTERED'.

[Kidasters]

Check Bill Williams' blog on his P2 project. He's putting some Scheels in his car, which have the same problem. Bill has some great pictures on what he's done to get his seats to sit centered, but it was not that easy (many iterations).

[chuncomunco]

thanks for you input! looks like a lot of you are rather satisfied with the conversion. I guess i'll place my order soon! thanks again!

[TobyB]

Funny, I sometimes notice when I'm sitting in pregrid,

but as soon as we roll out of the hot pits,

I have other things to think about.

t

[Arizona02]

The 02 drivers door, the arm rest grab handle design doesn't go upward like the one on the passenger's side. When turning the stock large diameter steering wheel i.e. 74- 76 models, the left hand would come would be close to hitting the upward part of the grab handle if it were there.

Re;custom seat mount design. One race car i remember seeing had a different design. works good for a non factory seat installation. A flat plate of aluminum maybe 3/8 inch thick & approx 18"x18" used as a platform placed between the seat & the slider seat mounts. With the plate bolted to the sliders the seat can be position on the plate closer to the trans tunnel. Place the seat on the plate.Once you determine a comfortable position bolted the seat to the plate.