Recaro Seat Option Delayed for the MINI Coupe & Roadster
The highly anticipated Recaro seat option will be unavailable for the Coupe and Roadster during the month of April. This is due to a subtle tweak in the design of the stand-alone post/pivot for the seatbelt due to potential wear issues.
The new loop better accommodates the wider bolstering of the seats and reduces long-term wear. At this point it looks as if the delay will be for April production only.
<p>Still annoyed they did not get this worked out of the start of the Coupe production. I would have opted for this in a instant. Now after taking deli every of the car doubt they will go in as they are silly expensive as stand along purchase items.</p>
<p>So will there be some sort of retro fit or repair for those that already have the Recaro seats. I have a JCW Roadster coming with Recaros that was built before the stoppage. Will the posts be updated by Mini at a later date.</p>
<p>I would really like to know if these seats sit lower to the ground than the standard seats!What I hate the most about the original R56 seats is how high you sit.The R53 seats were much lower to the ground.I hope someone knows if the new Recaro seats or the JCW Recaro ones are lower…Thanks</p>
<p>I had a 2010 R56 with the ‘Aftersales’ JCW Recaro’s installed (imported from UK). They sat too high for my taste (I’m 6’1″). They went in with some minor modifications (Seat cover on Pass side had to be RR for the airbag sensor and the Driver’s side inner rail had to be modded for the airbag proximity sensor. I took delivery (Feb) of a 1/2012 build R56 MCS with the factory Recaro option and they (in the lowest setting) sit about as high as Lounge option seats. Under thigh support is GREATLY improved. Ingess/egress is not difficult (not nearly as bad as Aftersales Recaro’s) but support in turns is fantastic. Day-to-day ‘liveability’ is outstanding. </p>
<p>“R53 seats much lower”… I am very pro-R53 (and con-R56) but the seats in the R53 never felt any lower than R56 seats to me. Every MINI seat, including the Recaros from conversations I had with EU forum members who had these and a few who imported them to N.America, has been TOO HIGH. So much so that they are known informally as “barstools” in the MINI community. It’s a terrible way to setup a seat for anyone except those coming from SUVs or full size sedans. Coming from sports cars it was the single most glaring thing to me, the high seat height in a sporting car. </p>
<p>But it is all relative… I was amazed at how many people (obviously used to SUVs etc) would comment that my R53 JCW seats were “so low to the ground”. WTF? 🙂 </p>
<p>Well, I do have a JCW coupe with the Recaro seat option ordered 1/30, produced the week of 2/6, on a boat 2/15, stateside 2/23, me driving it 3/9…</p>
<p>I’ll have to take a look at the wear point, at this point my big beef is that the seat belt loop mounted on the seat allows the buckle to retract too far and you have to go “fishing” for it.</p>
<p>Love the Seats! (LOVE the car). I thought I’ve give up mpg from my 07 R56 S, but over the first 1800 miles I have 36 mpg and the last 500, 37 mpg without driving like granny. (best so far: Cromwell MN to Brainerd MN, 44 mpg!</p>
<p>Seats are a great option, they had to keep the car locked up so people would try and sit in it while I was out of town. Really Really comfortable.</p>
<p>PS. Since I dibs the Eclipse Grey with Red roof,no stripes, I bettter not see anyone else driving one!</p>
<p>I ordered mine on 3/16, just got the info from my dealer that it will be delivered around 5/23. But how will I know if I got the “new” seats option? What is the difference?</p>
<p>The delay is definitely longer than April. My order should have gone not production last Tuesday (8 May) and as yet there’s no answer from the dealer on ow long the delay will be. They reckon there around 1500 cars in the queue now.</p>
<p>The delay is only for the Coupe or Roadster etc, isn’t it? If you want a hatchback with Factory Recaros, I understand you can order it now without any additional delays.</p>
<p>Well, that’s what my (UK) dealer just told me anyway.</p>
<p>Still annoyed they did not get this worked out of the start of the Coupe production. I would have opted for this in a instant. Now after taking deli every of the car doubt they will go in as they are silly expensive as stand along purchase items.</p>
<p>So will there be some sort of retro fit or repair for those that already have the Recaro seats. I have a JCW Roadster coming with Recaros that was built before the stoppage. Will the posts be updated by Mini at a later date.</p>
<p>If the car has not been through the VDC would they not fix it there?</p>
<p>I would really like to know if these seats sit lower to the ground than the standard seats!What I hate the most about the original R56 seats is how high you sit.The R53 seats were much lower to the ground.I hope someone knows if the new Recaro seats or the JCW Recaro ones are lower…Thanks</p>
<p>I had a 2010 R56 with the ‘Aftersales’ JCW Recaro’s installed (imported from UK). They sat too high for my taste (I’m 6’1″). They went in with some minor modifications (Seat cover on Pass side had to be RR for the airbag sensor and the Driver’s side inner rail had to be modded for the airbag proximity sensor. I took delivery (Feb) of a 1/2012 build R56 MCS with the factory Recaro option and they (in the lowest setting) sit about as high as Lounge option seats. Under thigh support is GREATLY improved. Ingess/egress is not difficult (not nearly as bad as Aftersales Recaro’s) but support in turns is fantastic. Day-to-day ‘liveability’ is outstanding. </p>
<p>“R53 seats much lower”… I am very pro-R53 (and con-R56) but the seats in the R53 never felt any lower than R56 seats to me. Every MINI seat, including the Recaros from conversations I had with EU forum members who had these and a few who imported them to N.America, has been TOO HIGH. So much so that they are known informally as “barstools” in the MINI community. It’s a terrible way to setup a seat for anyone except those coming from SUVs or full size sedans. Coming from sports cars it was the single most glaring thing to me, the high seat height in a sporting car. </p>
<p>But it is all relative… I was amazed at how many people (obviously used to SUVs etc) would comment that my R53 JCW seats were “so low to the ground”. WTF? 🙂 </p>
<p>They’re not any lower. However old seats generally are lower than identical new ones.</p>
<p>Especially for heavyweight drivers. :)</p>
<p>Yes, mine are practically on the pavement. :)</p>
<p>Well, I do have a JCW coupe with the Recaro seat option ordered 1/30, produced the week of 2/6, on a boat 2/15, stateside 2/23, me driving it 3/9…</p>
<p>I’ll have to take a look at the wear point, at this point my big beef is that the seat belt loop mounted on the seat allows the buckle to retract too far and you have to go “fishing” for it.</p>
<p>Love the Seats! (LOVE the car). I thought I’ve give up mpg from my 07 R56 S, but over the first 1800 miles I have 36 mpg and the last 500, 37 mpg without driving like granny. (best so far: Cromwell MN to Brainerd MN, 44 mpg!</p>
<p>Seats are a great option, they had to keep the car locked up so people would try and sit in it while I was out of town. Really Really comfortable.</p>
<p>PS. Since I dibs the Eclipse Grey with Red roof,no stripes, I bettter not see anyone else driving one!</p>
<p>I ordered mine on 3/16, just got the info from my dealer that it will be delivered around 5/23. But how will I know if I got the “new” seats option? What is the difference?</p>
<p>The delay is definitely longer than April. My order should have gone not production last Tuesday (8 May) and as yet there’s no answer from the dealer on ow long the delay will be. They reckon there around 1500 cars in the queue now.</p>
<p>I cancelled my Recaros as according to my dealer here in Germany all orders were pushed at least to mid October.</p>
<p>The delay is only for the Coupe or Roadster etc, isn’t it? If you want a hatchback with Factory Recaros, I understand you can order it now without any additional delays.</p>
<p>Well, that’s what my (UK) dealer just told me anyway.</p>