Audi TT Mk1 front seats - how I did it

[Rigid]

The original seats in my March 1971 Stag weren't great and the cost to repair just the covers seems alot so I bought a pair of Audi TT black leather seats for £100.

The Audi runners need adjusting.
First cut off the nipples

nipple.jpg
See that large hole - this is where you bolt the back of the runner.

Then remove the gubbins from the runners:


Then enlarge one of the rounded-square holes.
You'll know which one because when you align the large hole at the back you can see which hole needs adjusting.

[Rigid]

You use the original bolts but add washers to guarantee the security.
I also added a 10mm nut under the outside runner to tilt the seat inwards just a tad.
If you don't do this the seat interferes with the B-post when reclined.

The height of the seat is shown here.
I can't remember what the equivalent was originally but these Audi seats seem slightly higher, but this could be because the originals had sagged.
seat height 2.jpg

Here is the clearance at the B-post
bolster.jpg

And the tilt
tilt.jpg

I also needed to change seat belts to match those built into the seats - like these.

buckle.jpg

[Rigid]

I used this tool to adjust the holes.
tool.jpg

[singapore stag]

Good work, thanks for sharing. I had a Mk1 TT Misano Red with Red interior and seats. Very comfortable seats.

[mjheathcote]

The problem when fitting aftermarket seats is that the original mounting points are off set due to the transmission tunnel.
When I fitted Recaro seats my goal was that the seat had to be in the same position relative to the centre line of the car, and at least no higher.
I achieved this, but with a Recaro seat runner system only only 1cm deep.
I see far to many conversations that look good, but in reality have the seat higher, or offset too close to the B pillar.

[Rubce]

I have Fiat Coupe seats in our Stag. They are positioned lower and further back than standard Stag seats. The result is more legroom and less wind,. They provide a very comfy ride as demonstrated on the recent Club Triumph RBRR and 10 Countries events.

Regards

Bruce

[singapore stag]

2012 I fitted these Recaros, after which I painted the runners...easy fit, no drilling.

recaros.jpg recaro2.jpg recaros1.jpg

[Andy Mathers]

I'm also wanting to go down this route as well - I have the Audi TT Seats to install but noticed that you need to change seat belts as well Which replacement ones did you go for - I'm assuming Audi TT ??
I'm wanting the seat squab slightly higher at the front to allow a greater length from behind my knee to the pedals and might need a spacer underneath at the front to tilt the runner - now I'm concerned that the seat backrest might foul the B Post. Did you wire in the seat heater ?

[ramjam2005]

How strange the much debated seat swap appeared again just as I was looking at mine in the garage yesterday. I have a good pair of Rover Tomcat leather seats set aside which I picked up on eBay years back but have since read a number of seat conversion threads over the years as these too seem to have issues with clearance on the B post without a bit of jiggery pokery with fabricating brackets.

Looking at my first photo of underside original (Drivers) Stag seats you can see that the runners are already off-set slightly from centre presumably by design to overcome this issue but as the original seats have a much more curved front edge they don't interfere with the gearbox tunnel when fully forward, also the left and right squab bolsters aren't fully symmetrical and the seat back curves in at the shoulders - all by design I guess from the tech-bods at BL.

I won't hi-jack this thread with the full details, but I plan to experiment to see if I can transplant the Stags complete runner and raising assembly and graft onto the base of the Tomcat.
Stag assembly is attached by 4 bolts, and a tack welded plate at front for the raising winder mechanism which unfortunately also runs through the tubular seat frame. The Tomcats had a similar raiser but not integral to the seat base as you can see from second photo with runners removed.

I'll see if I can purchase some old Stag seat bases to supply the donor parts (Tony White ?) That way if it all goes Pete Tong I still have my original seats intact and will go the more expensive renovation / rebuild route which I have costed out at least £1500 just for a pair of front seats in leather (parts only).

IMG_3108.jpg IMG_3107.jpg IMG_3106.jpg

[Rigid]

The seat belts I used were actually from the rear of a Renault Kangoo. I didn't have original Stag belts because a PO had already swapped out the double cassette for a pair of long stall affairs.

I haven't bothered with connecting them electrically - no plans to drive the car in the cold weather, but that is always an option.