MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: fakie1977 on November 07, 2018, 09:59:07 am

Title: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 07, 2018, 09:59:07 am
Hoping someone knows the answer - are the front seats from LHD and RHD GTI same? Reason I ask is I am looking at replacing the drivers side (right) of my 2007 GTI which has wear on the bolster. Looks like it’s cheaper for me to buy a second hand one than try to repair and all the passenger ones on LHD are obviously in much better conditions than drivers side in UK. Thanks


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: colesey on November 07, 2018, 10:02:28 am
Smart thinking!
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: andyR43 on November 07, 2018, 01:13:36 pm
Am I missing something here or wouldn't it be easier to use the inside bolster from a UK passenger seat to repair the outside bolster on the drivers seat?? Also there would be even less wear on that bolster than the outside bolster from a LHD passenger seat. (Ow my brain hurts :phew:)
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: pudding on November 07, 2018, 01:43:22 pm
Yep, or buy new foam sections from VW, but you do need some skill in rebuilding seats.  It can be a right pain in the hoop!
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 07, 2018, 01:58:03 pm
Good point - no idea how easy it would be to strip front seat and build back up again but then chances are I’d mess it up since I’m sure it takes some skill to make it look right (also would it not make the rest of the seat look bad if you just replace the bolster?)

I’m currently living in Belgium so i figured it would be easy for me to pick up LHD versions here or in Germany and fit the whole thing to my UK spec car.


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: pudding on November 07, 2018, 02:04:28 pm
That is a good advantage if you can find one cheaply :happy2:

I’ve rebuilt quite a few VW seats (inc MK4 R32 Koenigs) and tbh the bottom half isn’t too bad, and the foam sections are reasonably priced from VW. Foam rots and crumbles with age, so I would use new parts personally and it’s much firmer than used foam.  The main difficulty is the brass loops that hold the material to the frame. You can buy trim tools but some stout pliers work well also.
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 07, 2018, 09:08:20 pm
Thanks - anyone confirm if LHD and RHD seats are indeed the same before I start searching?


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Christiank on November 09, 2018, 03:51:30 pm
Seats are all the same... Just take the heating for an example - I'm a LHD and my control relay for heated seats are located beneath my driver(left) seat.

I'm pretty sure your RHD cars also have this relay control for heating elements in seats located under your passanger (left) seat.

If you have electric seats you will have issues finding a LHD cabin where passanger seat is electric controlled
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 09, 2018, 04:20:17 pm
Thanks for confirmation - fortunately my seats are manual so that will make it much easier.


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Tommac001 on November 14, 2018, 05:35:40 pm
I have just had the hole in my drivers seat RH bolster repaired. This was done by a local upholsterer James Thomson of Kirkcaldy who made an excellent job. It took some time to source a suitable material but eventually we got a good match. They replaced two complete panels. For your info the auto material reference was F1371.
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 15, 2018, 08:02:27 am
Thanks for the additional information. Do you have any before and after pictures to show the work?


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Tommac001 on November 15, 2018, 09:49:53 am
I have no pics before but will post an after pic later.
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Tommac001 on November 15, 2018, 05:18:34 pm
I would add the photo if somebody can tell me how!

Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Andy on November 15, 2018, 05:35:11 pm
I would add the photo if somebody can tell me how!



I use post image.org
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Andy on November 15, 2018, 05:36:17 pm
https://postimages.org
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: chigmuss on November 15, 2018, 06:23:44 pm
Am I missing something here or wouldn't it be easier to use the inside bolster from a UK passenger seat to repair the outside bolster on the drivers seat?? Also there would be even less wear on that bolster than the outside bolster from a LHD passenger seat. (Ow my brain hurts :phew:)

Looking at the seats in my Ed30 this may not work, the outer bolster has weaker threads to allow the airbags to tear through the seat and open up. The non airbag bolster has stronger thread? So a RHD passenger cover swapped to the drivers seat will have the weaker airbag stitching now on the inside, not the outer side (make sense??)

SO a LHD market seat would be better as the passenger seat from that will have the correctly orientated stitching.

As Pudding has mentioned here (or might have been another thread) the prices for these as spares fromVW are outrageous. A good upholsterer matching the leather is maybe gonna be the easier route / most economical.
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Tommac001 on November 15, 2018, 07:40:32 pm
Thank you Andy!

(https://i.postimg.cc/DJV816z3/Screenshot-20181115-163423.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/DJV816z3)

See above pic.

<: Panels which have been replaced.
x: Position of hole in fabric.
Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: fakie1977 on November 15, 2018, 07:45:19 pm
Looks good - really good match. can I ask how much it cost and was it a drop off and wait a day or 2 or just sit and wait while they do it? No idea what the process is.


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Title: Re: GTI front seats LHD versus RHD
Post by: Tommac001 on November 15, 2018, 07:49:59 pm
I dropped off the seat in the morning and it was ready at 5pm. The cost was £140.
The seat cover has to be removed, the damaged panels replaced, the foam repaired and then the cover replaced.