Comments on: Ask MF: Will The US Get Recaro Seats? http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Han http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-237080 David Han Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:11:35 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-237080 <p>So can the R56 Recaro seats be retrofitted into the R53?</p> So can the R56 Recaro seats be retrofitted into the R53?

]]> By: Seth Maltzman http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-231663 Seth Maltzman Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:34:41 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-231663 <p>Can anyone tell me where to get decals that go around the arm rest of a 2007 cooper, I saw a black and white Union Jack in a photo and I am very interested. Also, Are there any websites that have decals besides the ones that resemble the standard grille badges?</p> Can anyone tell me where to get decals that go around the arm rest of a 2007 cooper, I saw a black and white Union Jack in a photo and I am very interested. Also, Are there any websites that have decals besides the ones that resemble the standard grille badges?

]]> By: Aussom http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-231506 Aussom Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:22:21 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-231506 <p>Hmmmm.... The BMW service reps here in Oz mentioned to me when I had to have the pasnger seat sensor harness replaced that my 2002 MCS has a sensor in the base of the passenger seat - with the two font seats being Recaro brand clad in leather with side airbags.</p> <p>Am I missing something here? Either this article doesn't make sense, or the BMW service department isn't?</p> Hmmmm…. The BMW service reps here in Oz mentioned to me when I had to have the pasnger seat sensor harness replaced that my 2002 MCS has a sensor in the base of the passenger seat – with the two font seats being Recaro brand clad in leather with side airbags.

Am I missing something here? Either this article doesn’t make sense, or the BMW service department isn’t?

]]> By: lavardera http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230809 lavardera Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:08:22 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230809 <p>I raised the drivers side only idea, and I raised it last time this came up. I'm glad to see others get behind the idea. They can implement this now, case closed.</p> I raised the drivers side only idea, and I raised it last time this came up. I’m glad to see others get behind the idea. They can implement this now, case closed.

]]> By: nuvolari http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230781 nuvolari Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:28:31 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230781 <p>Yes.</p> Yes.

]]> By: JP http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230703 JP Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:19:32 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230703 <p>um.... i don't mean to possibly sound dumb... but if i came down to it and it's just the passenger side... the newR56 seats aren't bad... but in the end unless you're rallying or always track with someone else in the car... i don't think you need the passenger seat... so could one just order the driver's seat and leave the passenger seat alone so there's no air bag sensor problem???</p> um…. i don’t mean to possibly sound dumb… but if i came down to it and it’s just the passenger side… the newR56 seats aren’t bad… but in the end unless you’re rallying or always track with someone else in the car… i don’t think you need the passenger seat… so could one just order the driver’s seat and leave the passenger seat alone so there’s no air bag sensor problem???

]]> By: kevinn http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230620 kevinn Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:32:33 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230620 <p>This is kind of a B.S. issue. For years the Porsche Euro sport was not available in the US for the same reason. But in 2008 Porsche saw the light and Recaro/Porsche found a way to make it work. Another post talks about how Mitshbishi made it work too.</p> <p>It's time for MINI to step up and do the same. Folks will line up to buy the seats for existing cars and others will add them to the upcomming orders.</p> <p>As another post said, the issue is with the passenger side airbag. Most just want the seat for the driver side. Back to Porsche, you can order just a driver side sport seat and a normal passenger side seat. With the gabillion options available on a Mini this should not be an issue.</p> <p>In the end it is simple BS. The US is one of the largest (if not the largest) consumers of MINI cars and we get the shaft on great items such as the "real" sport seats.</p> This is kind of a B.S. issue. For years the Porsche Euro sport was not available in the US for the same reason. But in 2008 Porsche saw the light and Recaro/Porsche found a way to make it work. Another post talks about how Mitshbishi made it work too.

It’s time for MINI to step up and do the same. Folks will line up to buy the seats for existing cars and others will add them to the upcomming orders.

As another post said, the issue is with the passenger side airbag. Most just want the seat for the driver side. Back to Porsche, you can order just a driver side sport seat and a normal passenger side seat. With the gabillion options available on a Mini this should not be an issue.

In the end it is simple BS. The US is one of the largest (if not the largest) consumers of MINI cars and we get the shaft on great items such as the “real” sport seats.

]]> By: GregW http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230547 GregW Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:15:25 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230547 <p>I was told that you could now buy JCW sports seats with air bags. Are these the same as Recaros?</p> I was told that you could now buy JCW sports seats with air bags. Are these the same as Recaros?

]]> By: nuvolari http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230519 nuvolari Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:57:25 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230519 <p>The R56 JCW seat is the Recaro Sportster CS.</p> <p><a href="http://www.recaro.com/index.php?id=483&L=2" rel="nofollow">Recaro Sportster CS</a></p> <p>It appears you can now purchase one with a "universal" side airbag unit, although I am guessing this would cost you at least one testicle. You can pick one up sans airbag in the US for around $1200, plus mounting hardware. Swapping out the driver's seat only is not a problem at all, but you will have to add a resistor to the airbag circuit. This is well documented on multiple forums and something I have done myself. (I have a Sparco Evo in my R53 JCW.)</p> The R56 JCW seat is the Recaro Sportster CS.

Recaro Sportster CS

It appears you can now purchase one with a “universal” side airbag unit, although I am guessing this would cost you at least one testicle. You can pick one up sans airbag in the US for around $1200, plus mounting hardware. Swapping out the driver’s seat only is not a problem at all, but you will have to add a resistor to the airbag circuit. This is well documented on multiple forums and something I have done myself. (I have a Sparco Evo in my R53 JCW.)

]]> By: Jon http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230503 Jon Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:52:49 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230503 <p>Is there any hope of importing the JCW seats from Europe, and retrofitting them, without getting totally ripped off by the poor exchange rate?</p> <p>Has anyone ever done this to their MINI.</p> Is there any hope of importing the JCW seats from Europe, and retrofitting them, without getting totally ripped off by the poor exchange rate?

Has anyone ever done this to their MINI.

]]> By: lavardera http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230479 lavardera Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:15:55 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230479 <p>This is stupid. All I want is a recaro for the drivers side. Screw the passenger side and let the seats come over.</p> This is stupid. All I want is a recaro for the drivers side. Screw the passenger side and let the seats come over.

]]> By: C4 http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230477 C4 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:58:01 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230477 <p>I would love to see a factory MINI being offered with Recaro seats in the US. And not necessarily on a JCW factory model. I would not hesitate to order Recaros if available from the factory on a "Normal" R55 or R56 S.</p> I would love to see a factory MINI being offered with Recaro seats in the US. And not necessarily on a JCW factory model. I would not hesitate to order Recaros if available from the factory on a “Normal” R55 or R56 S.

]]> By: Ed http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230467 Ed Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:26:41 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230467 <p>Mitshbishi managed to make them available in the 2008 EVO X for the US market that my son has and they are great. That car rocks and you don't move anywhere in that seat. Don't think there are too many of those cars around but maybe the same seat fits several other models.</p> Mitshbishi managed to make them available in the 2008 EVO X for the US market that my son has and they are great. That car rocks and you don’t move anywhere in that seat. Don’t think there are too many of those cars around but maybe the same seat fits several other models.

]]> By: greg http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/08/04/ask-mf-will-the-us-get-recaro-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-230447 greg Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:55:35 +0000 http://www.motoringfile.com/?p=6832#comment-230447 <p>Too bad. I sat in an Elise this weekend with similar seats. Felt like I had put my hand in a velvet glove. Then I tried to get out and the trouble started...</p> Too bad. I sat in an Elise this weekend with similar seats. Felt like I had put my hand in a velvet glove. Then I tried to get out and the trouble started…

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