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Internet searches on this are difficult as most of the search results relate to child seats!
I understand the correct mounting brackets must be used, so buying any old seats and banging them in won't work, but it is possible to swap brackets from existing seats/how must it be done?
And also what are the most comfortable seats going for folk who don't find having their back forced into a concave shape on a long journey is a good thing?
Just moved from an Alfa 159 with the most gorgeous seats I've ever sat in to a Volvo V50 which has adjustable lumbar support, but still doesn't support very healthy posture in the mid-back.
deep pockets?
https://www.recaro-automotive.com/us/product-areas-us/aftermarket-seats/products/orthoped.html
wzzzz - NO! I could perhaps afford an armrest 😀
Modern cars aren't really modular like that. You might be able to do it for a van, especially a regularly customised one like a Transporter, but very unlikely in a modern car. You are either looking at something custom made (and expensive) or being lucky and finding something that uses the same mounting holes. Start close by looking at other models in the range that maybe had better/different seats. There are probably cars from other badges in the group that use the same chassis that might work.
v50 is focus based, so it wouldn't surprise me if other focus-based cars had the same seat rail mounting points, but I'd be surprised if any were better than the v50 - volvo seats have a great reputation. as above, see if you can find a top-end model that might have had better seats, or failing that give it a month or so - i Find it takes me a while to find a comfy position when I get a new car
I'd be surprised if the volvo seats didn't have a bunch of pyrotechnics (seat belt tensioner and airbag) in them that need to be wired up for the airbag light not to be lit (which is an MOT fail), so it'll be tough to get anything vaguely unusual in there
Providing the seats actually fit the opening you can easily adapt brackets to make them work. You have to be careful if you have items such as heated seats or they are electronically adjusted. You can splice into the harness but they don't always work. Some do though if you buy from the same manufacturers.
You have options of adapting the brackets on the bottom of your new seats to fit the runners of your existing, or having brackets made to adapt your new seats to the existing mounting points. It's worth seeing what the dimensions of a set of 159 seats are and then what their mounting dimensions are and then going from there.
sell the V50 and buy another 159.
Are you sure the seats are working properly or not just worn out from some 120 kg couch potato driving it for years? We had a V50 back in the day and the seats were excellent, one of its best features. So before you get into re-engineering the interior I would try to sit in another V50 and see if the seats are just as bad. Or as above, just sell the car and move on.
Haha, I love the 159 but it's not even sold yet - not for me, too sporty/not quite practical enough.
I feel so old having just written that 😛
Will create a thread on classifieds but if anyone is interested I'll take £1000 for it (from here, need to put on Gumtree for £1500) - 07 reg, 86k on clock, service history since 2012, recently had it's big service (80k) where quite a lot was done to it. Some scuffing on bumpers and a wee scrape on the rear passenger wheel arch but otherwise good condition inside and out. As above, luxurious AF comfort and the best car stereo I've ever heard.
As above, are you sure the seat isn’t borked?
I’ve sat in literally dozens of different models and owned a couple too, the seats are always great ime.
ou have to be careful if you have items such as heated seats or they are electronically adjusted.
Various safety systems could get very upset too if the seat has sensors (which it will these days)
As mentioned above though, Volvo seats are generally great. IME they often feel softer than most at first but actually support really well. Worth checking that its not been killed by a previous owner
Of course it will invalidate your insurance
Could a retrimmer add more support to it?
Sounds like you need one of those beaded seat things taxi drivers use 🙂