Review: Cobra Nogaro seats (uniquely street friendly fixed back bucket seat)

[ZiMMie]

Interesting option. Presumably they make this only for the manual BMW OEM sliders? I didn't see an option for the power seat rails.

It also looks like they have a complete customer in-house mounting solution that doesn't use the BMW sliders at all:
https://www.speedengineering.de/prod...pole-position/

If I'm interpreting this right, it also looks like they have seat belt mounts for the passenger and driver side that allow the factory seat belt receiver (the one mounted to the OEM BMW rails) to be used:

Driver side

Passenger side

I don't think manual or electric will need a specific bracket as the mounting 4 bolts are the same between the two.

I'm only interested in using the original seat base. There plenty other companies that offer seat mounting solutions for the e46 chassis.

As for the seat belt mounting, if the stock based it's used, then the seat belt retractor will just bolt up to the base/stock mount.

[Obioban]

Thanks guys..

Here is another option for brackets based on cobras dimensions.

This company is well respected in the racing community here and it's cheaper as well. You don't have to pay extra for sliders handle.

They also provide material report which is required for TÜV.
https://www.speedengineering.de/prod...r-komplettset/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-DTg4K9loc

Looks like those are pole position specific.

[Casa de Mesa]

Thanks guys..

Here is another option for brackets based on dimensions.

The company is well respected in the racing community here and it's cheaper as well. You don't have to pay extra for sliders handle.

They also provide material report which is required for TÜV.
https://www.speedengineering.de/prod...r-komplettset/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-DTg4K9loc

Interesting option. Presumably they make this only for the manual BMW OEM sliders? I didn't see an option for the power seat rails.

It also looks like they have a complete custom in-house mounting solution that doesn't use the BMW sliders at all:
https://www.speedengineering.de/prod...pole-position/

If I'm interpreting this right, it also looks like they have seat belt mounts for the passenger and driver side that allow the factory seat belt receiver (the one mounted to the OEM BMW rails) to be used:

Driver side

Passenger side

[ZiMMie]

Thanks guys..

Here is another option for brackets based on cobras dimensions.

This company is well respected in the racing community here and it's cheaper as well. You don't have to pay extra for sliders handle.

They also provide material report which is required for TÜV.
https://www.speedengineering.de/prod...r-komplettset/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-DTg4K9loc

[Obioban]

Got a reply back from Cobra. They state that it's 405mm between the width of the mounting points and 290mm between the 2 side mounting holes.

That put it exactly like the Recaro Pole.

Obioban are you certain about the 430mm width mouthing points?

Thanks

Not certain at all! Was going off a vague recollection from measuring them back when I first installed them years ago.

[Casa de Mesa]

If you heard from Cobra, I'd trust that.

[ZiMMie]

The Nogaro is ~429mm wide at the mount points, IIRC

Got a reply back from Cobra. They state that it's 405mm between the width of the mounting points and 290mm between the 2 side mounting holes.

That put it exactly like the Recaro Pole.

Obioban are you certain about the 430mm width mouthing points?

Thanks

[Obioban]

The Nogaro is ~429mm wide at the mount points, IIRC

[ZiMMie]

Does anyone know if you one can use Recaro Pole position seat mounts with the Nogaros?
is the mounting width the same?

it seems like it will, i cant confirm this as cobra is not clear with their dimensions.

Could someone please confirm the width of the mounting points? is it 390mm?

So far this is what i have found.

[dukeofchen]

This is why I got the spacer fabric seats instead of leather/vinyl. Spacer fabric is different from what Recaros are wrapped in, which is more perlon/velour and feels like tshirt. Spacer fabric is different and is a lot more breathable (and per Cobra lasts longer).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Awesome, that's great to know. The other fabrics are more aesthetically pleasing but I'd definitely go function over form here.

Maybe custom ordering a vinyl / leather outer paired with spacer fabric inner would be the best compromise for me.

[mrgizmo04]

Anyone in a hot climate have insights about the available fabrics and specifically how well they ventilate? We see 90F+ most of the summer and booty sweat is a major pain point 😅.

Would die to have seat air cooling during the summer months.

This is why I got the spacer fabric seats instead of leather/vinyl. Spacer fabric is different from what Recaros are wrapped in, which is more perlon/velour and feels like tshirt. Spacer fabric is different and is a lot more breathable (and per Cobra lasts longer).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[mrgizmo04]

Hmm, makes sense. I think your other picture made it look like it was further forward than it actually is. Much less concerned after seeing this new pic.

I see the sub bar is already made to mount it somewhat far back. I'm guessing it's designed to sit as far back as possible before interfering with other parts of the seat/rail, so yeah maybe mounting it further back isn't feasible.

Oh and good point on the ASM with the quick fits. Guess that for quick fits, the main purpose of the sub strap is to keep the lap belts on your hip bones and not let them ride up. Sub strap angle is probably a bigger concern with regular harnesses without the ASM thing.

Boom, yep, at least that's the thinking.

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[Obioban]

Good insights mrgizmo04 I appreciate it! Looks like I've got some pondering to do then...I'm also curious if manual sliders would get you there.

I too am wondering when I'll just shut up and get the tire trailer, tbh it might be easier then stuffing things in the trunk, since the toolbox could just stay mounted to it. Then again, additional equipment almost never results in an actually simpler experience.

Now the roof idea is new to me...I think I'm not against lifting the wheels up there, but yea driving like that seems wonky. Not sure what the weight limits are up there either.

If I need to rush, I can remove the front seat, take the tires out, put seat back in, take street wheels off, swap to track pads, adjust camber, put track tires on, and set tire pressures in <30 minutes. Of that, getting the tires out of the car is probably ~5 minutes total (including putting each at its destination corner, and putting the deflator valves on them as I do).

I do have a portable power 3/8" drive wrench that makes the seat removal/install <1 minute, and an impact gun to make the tires go fast, and an off roader tire deflator kit, and an air pump that shuts off at a pressure of my choosing, that all live in my track box.

I stopped using a dedicated track car because I hate trailering. Trailering with my M3, or sticking a top heavy, speed limiting, roof rack on it doesn't appeal to me at all.

[dukeofchen]

Anyone in a hot climate have insights about the available fabrics and specifically how well they ventilate? We see 90F+ most of the summer and booty sweat is a major pain point 😅.

Would die to have seat air cooling during the summer months.

[heinzboehmer]

Hmm, makes sense. I think your other picture made it look like it was further forward than it actually is. Much less concerned after seeing this new pic.

I see the sub bar is already made to mount it somewhat far back. I'm guessing it's designed to sit as far back as possible before interfering with other parts of the seat/rail, so yeah maybe mounting it further back isn't feasible.

Oh and good point on the ASM with the quick fits. Guess that for quick fits, the main purpose of the sub strap is to keep the lap belts on your hip bones and not let them ride up. Sub strap angle is probably a bigger concern with regular harnesses without the ASM thing.