other seats in US M3

[Robmaster]

i notice that the US M3 have other seats than the european M3. did somebody know why??

[NYCMCBM3]

I noticed it as well , but idk why , also the E93 has the euro seats ,but not the e92 or e90

[mkoesel]

The official line is it is related to airbags, though this is subject to debate. Assuming you buy that rationale, then presumably it was a cost saving move to avoid retesting and recertifying for the US market.

Search for more background info and discussion.

[Uli_HH]

I think the only difference were the side upholstering of the lower seats and probably the adjustable leg bar ... look at the pics (from this forum!):
Euro Seats

US Seats

... at this places were NO AIRBAGS !!!

Could it be that the US Boy need the slightly lower upholstering and therefor more comfortable and wider seats because in the USA there are more people that are not slim enaugh to fit the higher upholstering as in Europe?

Greets Uli_HH

[mdosu]

we fat boys.

They did this with the Recaros in Evo 8/9 a while back as well. We all fat, want another pop tart fatty?

[GOLFFRR]

lol

[FVM3]

I just noticed that

[meyergru]

I just looked it up in the ETK. It's a cost thing: The seats in the US M3 models are the same as in all the other E92 models (and E81, E82, E88 as well).

I can kind of understand that rationale given that the M3 is almost twice as expensive here in the EU. Also, I now get why some of you US guys swap the seats for aftermarket parts. They were a discriminating factor in my choice of an M3 as a replacement for my 335i. I think they are way better - and, being a fat boy myself, I judge the euro M3 seats are wider (and lighter, as I can see from the ETK).

[Erie Von Otto]

I know its menial, but it has been bothering me since in noticed it a few weeks back when I saw that the rear seats have the Euro style but the front do not. Makes it feel like the symmetry is not there... so I have been wondering about costs to replace that along with the mirrors.

What is the ETK?

[meyergru]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

I know its menial, but it has been bothering me since in noticed it a few weeks back when I saw that the rear seats have the Euro style but the front do not. Makes it feel like the symmetry is not there... so I have been wondering about costs to replace that along with the mirrors.

What is the ETK?

It's "Ersatzteilkatalog" - translated "spare parts catalogue", there you can see all the parts with their cost, technical data and model usage. You can also look up the parts on the internet via http://www.realoem.com. There is no part number for the whole seat, though, you have to combine all of the individual seat parts, including the leather covers.

But if you are in Germany, you should already have the Euro ("real M3") front seats? You want to swap them out for standard seats?

[Erie Von Otto]

Originally Posted by meyergru

But if you are in Germany, you should already have the Euro ("real M3") front seats? You want to swap them out for standard seats?

Thanks for the info. I wasn't thinking in Deutsche. I am on tour here and the car is US Spec so no coola Euro seats or mirrors fur Ich, mein Freunde!

Plus, I just want the cover under the back of the knees. It would match the upper backrest of the front seats and the rear seats... why did they skimp there? Seriously...

[FStop7]

Cost or something related to a safety regulation I imagine.

[jdsmoke]

Originally Posted by Uli_HH

I think the only difference were the side upholstering of the lower seats and probably the adjustable leg bar ... look at the pics (from this forum!):
Euro Seats

US Seats

... at this places were NO AIRBAGS !!!

Could it be that the US Boy need the slightly lower upholstering and therefor more comfortable and wider seats because in the USA there are more people that are not slim enaugh to fit the higher upholstering as in Europe?

Greets Uli_HH

I have the Euro seats in my 2011 conv w ext leather. Not sure what the other models have.

[Jeff_DML]

Originally Posted by meyergru

I just looked it up in the ETK. It's a cost thing: The seats in the US M3 models are the same as in all the other E92 models (and E81, E82, E88 as well).

I can kind of understand that rationale given that the M3 is almost twice as expensive here in the EU. Also, I now get why some of you US guys swap the seats for aftermarket parts. They were a discriminating factor in my choice of an M3 as a replacement for my 335i. I think they are way better - and, being a fat boy myself, I judge the euro M3 seats are wider (and lighter, as I can see from the ETK).

what? I thought the lower seats are non-m, US spec sport seats for our fatter US asses, but the seat backs are the normal M3 ones. I know the seat backs are not the same as the normal e9X US sport package seats.

edit: guess you are talking about just the bottom seats

[RatchetM3]

Originally Posted by mdosu

we fat boys.

They did this with the Recaros in Evo 8/9 a while back as well. We all fat, want another pop tart fatty?

WTF LOL that was hilarious but true

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by Wall$treet

Its not a matter of airbag problems or fat americans-it is simply about cost. However I cannot think of one reason why the vert would have the euro seats. makes no sense at all.

The bottom piece is identical to the regular 3 series sport seat and the back is the m3/euro m3 seat which is the same. That is really the part that matters to be honest as the seat bottom is not much different from car to car. So we got what matters.

I believe the US-spec vert does NOT have the euro seat. The vert does have the stripe on the leg support, but not the higher thigh bolsters.

Would really like to get my hands on the euro seat bottoms but prob not worth the cost.

[jqsmooth]

I would have never noticed... until this post. Ignorance is bliss. It doesn't bother me. I'm just happy to be driving an M3.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by jqsmooth

I would have never noticed... until this post. Ignorance is bliss. It doesn't bother me. I'm just happy to be driving an M3.

Well put!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

I believe the US-spec vert does NOT have the euro seat. The vert does have the stripe on the leg support, but not the higher thigh bolsters.

I thought I remembered that the conclusion was that the thigh bolsters for the E93 M3 are the lower type - i.e. a different design from the E90/E92 M3 - on all M3s world wide. Keep in mind these thigh bolsters are definitely different than used those for the E93 3 series. This is in contrast to the US E90/E92 M3 where we know that the thigh bolsters are simply borrowed from the E90/E92 3 series.

[creepy coupe]

[QUOTE=Uli_HH;10280970]I

Euro seats have the open out knee support also.

[E90Fleet]

The E92 M3 has the exact same front seat backrests in the EU and USA models

The US models have a different seat bottom ( same one used in E92 and E90 in USA)
The mechanical part of the seat bottom is the same as the regular E92 in the USA model

The thigh support in the USA M3 is the same as the "regular" E90 and E92
The actual mechanical part of this is the same on the EU and USA model, its the filling and leather that is different

The front headrest is the same in the EU and USA and is used in the E92 and E90

The Airbags used in the USA models are different from EU models ( the whole airbag system is different in USA models for most BMW models in the USA)


The E93 uses the same seats in the USA and EU

[Locksmythe]

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