'Comfort' or sports seats

[AndyBaur]

I have finally organised the retrim of my Baurs' interior. The standard front seats were well past their best so I obtained a pair of Recaro's (E21's I believe but from different cars) with the intention of getting them retrimmed with the rear seat & centre of the door trims done to match.

Now I'm having second thoughts. Should I stay OEM or go for the Recaro's.

I've looked in the For Sale section to get an idea of what the sports seats would fetch but they seem to be a little scarce. The proceeds would certainly help with the costs of the retrim & upcoming re-paint

[nas80]

The standard seats bounce too much if you have hard suspension.

[AndyBaur]

The standard seats bounce too much if you have hard suspension.

Spax -40 on middle-ish setting.

The sports seats were made for smaller people than myself so I am kinda wedged in

[polov8]

Always recaros! The stock seats are terrible! Even on standard suspension you have to hang on to the steering wheel for grim life in the corners, it radically improves the feel of the car to be able to loosen your grip on the wheel a little!

[Jeroen]

Yep, the stock seats are that flat they don't help you keep on your place in any way. But on the other hand, Recaro's are pretty narrow indeed. However, because of their shape you will sit lower where they become even more narrow over time. Some foam and fresh elastic belts at the bottom can already make a difference. And otherwise you may want to consider a temporary seat like the ASS (no pun intended lol) of Scheelmann sets Alpina used. These are wider around the hips.

[AndyBaur]

The Recaros grip benefits are not in doubt, it's what the were designed for after all. It's more a question of style - it is a cruiser kind of car.

Also, if they are worth much (they both really need a refurb) then as stated, it would help with other costs. The SL hasn't sold yet & even when it does I'll be taking a big hit on it. Tip - don't buy an '80's SL - you won't like it & you'll struggle to sell because there are so many about

[Jeroen]

Decent sports seats are sought after indeed and putting some fresh cloth on them (if you can find the right cloth) is dear as well. And if it's only for cruising... comes down to your own taste, personally I love sports seats, in any car!

If you like BMW's, I think in most cases you won't like the comfy boats that Mercedes built back then. Big engines sometimes, but as a friend of mine uses to say they are mainly good at turning petrol into noise.

[AndyBaur]

If you like BMW's, I think in most cases you won't like the comfy boats that Mercedes built back then. Big engines sometimes, but as a friend of mine uses to say they are mainly good at turning petrol into noise.

A good observation! They can certainly do that.

The R107 is (imho) well over-rated. I does what it does well enough but not to the extent that warrants all the hype. It was pig-ugly in comparison to the preceding W113 Pagoda & MB only fiddled with details over the next 15 years when they should have been addressing some of the shortcomings (of which there were quite a few).

[Duracel79]

Andy,

As you probably know the E24 recaro's are a bit wider and can be made to fit an E21.

Ben

[AndyBaur]

As you probably know the E24 recaro's are a bit wider and can be made to fit an E21.

Indeed - I found them very comfortable in my E24.

However, after considerable thought I have decided to stay with the standard seats. The attractions of the Recaro sports were tempting but the seating position is a little low for my liking & frankly I'm not really going to be throwing the Baur around enough to make a lot of difference.

Funnily enough, whilst everyone on this forum was for the the sports seats, everyone else who knows the car (friends, neighbours & family, including a couple of people who want to buy the car) are in favour of the oem standard seats.

So, I'll be leaving the Recaros in the car until after the retrim & repaint (middle of August) then I'll put them on the For Sale section. I'll get some photos organised to show the condition etc.

PM me if you want to register interest

[LeeLee]

Standard seats are junk unless you want it standard through and through change them recaros hug you couldn't imagine driving without now,there so much more comfy just retrim in a classy colour and material or you'll get sick of them quick

[LeeLee]

People who aren't car people or passing interest types,usually know nothing,I have guys who know nothing about my car go "oh I like the standard steel wheels!" (Even though there pitted and it looks a lot better on bbs rm's) then there opinions are followed with what's the mercedes called that's like this?!?! Hahaha And oh the retro standard brown seats look great -_-.look at other peoples built cars or standard pics and decided don't listen to people they might have bad taste

[AndyBaur]

Opinions are like ar5eholes - everybody has got one.

I was convinced the Recaros would be a revelation, way better than the standard seats but, while they do hold you better they sit a bit low which makes the wheel seem high, they aren't so easy to get in & out of & they are rather small by today's standards. Nothing to stop a future owner fitting them if that's what they want.

But, my decision is made. The standard seats are being recovered with an almost exact match to the original material.