Cruel S4 seats, and/or where to buy new A4 seats...

[scm6079]

I've *always* loved sports seats, and through 3 Porsches, 3 BMWs, and a B6 Audi S4 I've never had a sport seat I didn't love before. Last October I picked up my 2010 S4 ** and now that I've had some time with the car, I'm pulling my hair out crazy over the seats. To say I'm really not a fan of the B8 S4 seats is an understatement, in fact, I hate them. I'm 5' 8", 185lbs - and the lower left thigh bolster is murder for me. Shorter trips are great - but I commute a hour and a half a day, and just can't take it anymore. In Europe (http://audi.co.uk) the S4 does not come with the seats we have here (our seats are a 590GBP option) - which look like they may work for me, and look like they may be A4 s-line seats. Based on that, I'm hoping the US A4 seats will be a "bolt-in" option (with perhaps a deal VAG reprogram).

However, my quest to change them out has been far more difficult than I ever imagined. Audi does not sell seats - only the individual seat parts. My dealership will only rebuild my existing seats to the A4 style - which will cost around $12,500. Complicating my issue is I'm in a lease, so I was hoping to simply change out seats so I could put the S4 seats back in later.

Does anyone have any ideas for making the lower thigh bolsters less evil, or know where one can buy a set of new or used A4 seats? I have done a nationwide junkyard search with no luck so far, and been watching forums for a couple months ** so either (most likely) I'm not looking in the right place, or these seats are not available.

Thanks everyone,
Scott

[wesleyfbm]

an upholstery place. shave down the foam and re-fabric them????idk

[Sour]

theres lots of aftermarket options that are great or you can buy rails and oem audi seats from another audi and not have to go through the stealership probably looking at a 1-3k on the high side

[scm6079]

theres lots of aftermarket options that are great or you can buy rails and oem audi seats from another audi and not have to go through the stealership probably looking at a 1-3k on the high side

You don't happen to know of any aftermarket options do you? I've checked the normal places (Stasis, APR, etc.) - and none have any aftermarket seat options. :( With the airbags, seat memory and other controls integrated with the seats it seems like aftermarket options are limited or non-existant. Since the Euro S4 comes with different seats - it seemed like that would be a "factory approved" approach.

-Scott

[toaster]

the older recaros are 1000x more supportive than the new s4 seats.

i am seriously not sure what audi was thinking...

[Okan509]

I'm sure someone with an A4 would swap with you, free of charge haha

[L0U]

I'd buy a race car lightweight seat with a 5 point harness. No airbag required, and very safe.

[adbender]

Dude...I struggled a bit with the seats to but kept messing with configurations until I hit the sweet spot.

I take it you tried everything to date...? If so, bummer.

To those who haven't...keep adjusting.

[akasch]

I'd totally trade you my seats out of my a4 if it wasn't a lease! I absolutely love the seats in my dads S4.

[rktskicar]

I've *always* loved sports seats, and through 3 Porsches, 3 BMWs, and a B6 Audi S4 I've never had a sport seat I didn't love before. Last October I picked up my 2010 S4 ** and now that I've had some time with the car, I'm pulling my hair out crazy over the seats. To say I'm really not a fan of the B8 S4 seats is an understatement, in fact, I hate them. I'm 5' 8", 185lbs - and the lower left thigh bolster is murder for me. Shorter trips are great - but I commute a hour and a half a day, and just can't take it anymore. In Europe (http://audi.co.uk) the S4 does not come with the seats we have here (our seats are a 590GBP option) - which look like they may work for me, and look like they may be A4 s-line seats. Based on that, I'm hoping the US A4 seats will be a "bolt-in" option (with perhaps a deal VAG reprogram).

However, my quest to change them out has been far more difficult than I ever imagined. Audi does not sell seats - only the individual seat parts. My dealership will only rebuild my existing seats to the A4 style - which will cost around $12,500. Complicating my issue is I'm in a lease, so I was hoping to simply change out seats so I could put the S4 seats back in later.

Does anyone have any ideas for making the lower thigh bolsters less evil, or know where one can buy a set of new or used A4 seats? I have done a nationwide junkyard search with no luck so far, and been watching forums for a couple months ** so either (most likely) I'm not looking in the right place, or these seats are not available.

Thanks everyone,
Scott

where do you have your front seat thigh support pullout set at? Is it extended? Is it flush? Mine is extended all the way.

Bruce

[Legacykid]

This concerns my future purchase, can you get a pic and show where it is that hurts. Is it possible that a few seats were cut differently than others, i have heard a few ppl its being a bother to.

[LI Audi]

if my A4 wasn't a lease I would swap you my seats and buy you a case of your favorite beer

[BKNYCS4]

I feel the seats are supportive and comfortable and my passengers seem to think the same

[NWS4Guy]

Just completed a 340 mile (each way) trip over and back to Idaho from Seattle. Around a 5 hour drive one way with no stops. Most comfortable seats I have done a longish road trip driving in. If you are having issues with the seat hitting your upper thigh, then either your leg is not extended far enough (slide the seat farther back), or you need to tilt the front of the seat down and/or the back up in order to take more weight off that area.

[S4-Tommy]

A friend of mine is looking for the S seats and would love changing with you. He has got normal sport seats in leather/alcantara.
The only problem I see is, that he also lives in Austria.

[Dr GP]

You might want to start calling some Large Audi salvage yards. Check the internet. I bet you could pick up some recaro seats from the B6 or B7 s4. I thought the seats in my 04 S4 were the best I ever had. BTW, I and others have had similar problems with the sport seats in our 335is. Did you ever think that the problem lies not with your seat but with your back and spinal nerves. You very well may have a disk problem or early signs of spinal stenosis(like me) . You might want to check that out as well.?

[B1601S4SF]

You might want to start calling some Large Audi salvage yards. Check the internet. I bet you could pick up some recaro seats from the B6 or B7 s4. I thought the seats in my 04 S4 were the best I ever had. BTW, I and others have had similar problems with the sport seats in our 335is. Did you ever think that the problem lies not with your seat but with your back and spinal nerves. You very well may have a disk problem or early sings of spinal stenosis(like me) . You might want to check that out as well.?

Love the medical advice coming from "Dr. GP" :)

[Dr GP]

And you get it free here on AZ. Will cost you in my office!

[Dr GP]

Not sure if these might fit? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OEM-New-VW-Recaros-Jetta-Golf-GLI-Recaro-seats-FreeShip_W0QQitemZ290388700584QQcmdZViewItemQQptZM otors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item439c83e da8

[adbender]

You might want to start calling some Large Audi salvage yards. Check the internet. I bet you could pick up some recaro seats from the B6 or B7 s4. I thought the seats in my 04 S4 were the best I ever had. BTW, I and others have had similar problems with the sport seats in our 335is. Did you ever think that the problem lies not with your seat but with your back and spinal nerves. You very well may have a disk problem or early signs of spinal stenosis(like me) . You might want to check that out as well.?

I was wondering about that too as i was driving quite comfortably today.

Whole list of things on the differential but not worth the scare.

Either way...hope you find a remedy.

[scm6079]

You might want to start calling some Large Audi salvage yards. Check the internet. I bet you could pick up some recaro seats from the B6 or B7 s4. I thought the seats in my 04 S4 were the best I ever had. BTW, I and others have had similar problems with the sport seats in our 335is. Did you ever think that the problem lies not with your seat but with your back and spinal nerves. You very well may have a disk problem or early signs of spinal stenosis(like me) . You might want to check that out as well.?

I certainly won't rule out it's just my body getting old and broken - but so far it seems to be just these seats. I'll have to see what it will take to put in the older Recaro seats ** I loved them in my last S4, and they appear to be widely available - and quite inexpensive. I'd wager the airbags / electronics probably won't be compatible, however, which will be a bit of a bummer.

So far my search for Audi salvage yards hasn't been going well - I can seem to locate quite a few older Audi parts from the local salvage yards (ie. aara.com) - but can't seem to find newer ones at all. I suppose that could be called a testament to the safety accident/avoidance of these cars (and/or exclusivity). If anyone knows a source for Audi parts (i.e. an audi specialized salvage yard) please post - I'd love to know about it.

-Scott

[dave405nyc]

shokan.com is an audi parts only salvage yard, and they seem to have b6 s4's

[L0U]

http://www.fourstarmotorsports.com/tabid/107/ProductID/17/PageIndex/1/Default.aspx

http://www.fourstarmotorsports.com/DesktopModules/Store/Thumbnail.aspx?IP=/Portals/0/Images/Products/Seats/Recaro/RECARO_Seat_ProRacerSPA.jpg&IW=300

4k, alot less than 12k, and it has resale value.

[Dr GP]

It probably is the seats that are causing YOU the problem due to the postural position it places your body. With pinched nerves, sciatica and stenosis, the problems can be exacerbated by certain positions. Have you tried, raising or lowering the height of the seat and then adjusting the inclination of the seat back. Perhaps so. Funny thing is that I have had similar problems with both my 98 M3 and 07 335i. both with sports seats. My 02 A6 did not have sports seats and my S4 had the recaros and had no problems with those. Drove an 09 M3 and those seats felt great but only drove for 30 minutes. When My sciatica was really bad(driving the 08 M3) after 10 minutes of driving, I was in excruciating pain. Would go away quickly after I got out of the car and stood up. It eventually subsided. but it reappeared this summer again, but not as bad. Not sure i can blame it on the seats. Seats just brought back the latent problem

[L0U]

http://www.recaro-seats.co.uk/ergonomics/style-topline.php

buy the best seat there is, in small, medium, or large. 1600 is a cheap solution.

[L0U]

http://www.recaro-seats.co.uk/images/child-seats/recaro-monza-seatfix/black-aquavit-250.png

[i_eat_staples]

dunno if i would run a race seat and 5 pt without a cage JIC of rollover

[A4 Centaur]

Hey, just have you current seats recovered with a new foam seating that you like. Should only take a week or so if you have a good shop. Pull your seat out and take to the shop. They will add foam or take it away based on your ideas. They will recover the seat and only a pro will notice the difference when your lease is up.

[Alkivar]

if you are going to consider going to the A4 Sport seats... you might want to consider a set of the A5 Sport seats instead... the bolsters are a bit wider giving you more room in the seat.

[badgerbimmer]

Cobra Misano. Cobra makes great seats, I have the Suzuka in my track car. http://www.motorsportseats.com/cobra/misano.html

[Machupo]

dunno if i would run a race seat and 5 pt without a cage JIC of rollover

+1 ** cage before harness!

[L0U]

pick up an r8 recaro seat from a wreck would be nice.

[Mick4]

You very well may have a disk problem or early signs of spinal stenosis(like me) I'm with Dr GP. This man is suffering from multi-level degenerative disc disease, more than likely with an associated grade 2 spondylolisthesis at the L5-S1 disc space. In addition to a complete herniation at this level, left sided foraminal stenosis is apparent as a result of localized osteophytic spurring.

I prescribe taking your wallet out of your pocket while driving....that things huge.

[NWS4Guy]

I prescribe taking your wallet out of your pocket while driving....that things huge.

Couldn't agree more. The littlethings like this people take for granted build up over time into a huge problem.

[soulman978]

What color is your interior? I have the sport seats in my A4.