Well, someone else on one of the other forums already let the "cat out of the bag"...so I thought I post a couple of pix. Just the front/rear seats are installed. I still have to add the matching door panels ...and rear manual side shades and the rear black side bolsters. I still need to reinstall the 40% rear seat...so the pix looks a tad askew (just the seatbelt is holding it in). All in due time. No rush. The big ticket items are installed.

Myself and one other Bostonian C5-er embarked on a mission: To import a complete set of front/rear OEM recaro seats - the ultimate OEM upgrade.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/32631/recaro_front.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/32631/recaro_rear.jpg">

The process was very simple...and for the most part...painless. The other Bostonian will remain nameless....but it's only a matter of time before BostonDriver finds this post....and provides the rest of you with the link. I assume he will spend the better part of today searching for it. Ha!!

My set came from a 2003 S6 avant...that was a test car in Ingolstadt....so my seats had about 20,000km's on them. Plus, they were black, heated, had the airbags...but no memory (which wasn't a big deal for me...because I don't have that option anyway). These could have easily fit a sedan...but the avant has the linkage for the rear partition net...so I was even more excited. I liked the S6 set over the RS6 set...because I didn't want the RS6 logo (just the Recaro logo) on my seats...which pretty much qualifies (in my book) as rebadging.

I/we got:
- matching front/rear seats
- rear side bolsters
- front rear door panels
- a few odd/ends of interior pieces

Everything was packed extremely well....and was shipped via air-freight...and arrived in a day. No issues, damage etc..etc. It just took us about 2 days for this stuff to clear customs...and then....it was like opening the biggest...baddest...awesomest (if that's even a word) package you could ever see. Imagine Christmas...as a 5-year old....and multiply that by a factor of 20. That was the feeling. I am still giddy just thinking about it.

Fit/feel:
So far, I can't really comment on the seats...because they were installed just before I went to Maui for 10-days....and my car's been with the dealer for some maintenance work since I returned....so I have only driven on these new seats for about 60 miles. I will say that they are much more comfortable than the sport seats...but don't offer the same tight feel that the side bolsters from the US-spec sport seats offer. I've done a 3-hour road trip with my previous sport seats...and have felt a bit fatigued ....and I don't imagine that will be the case with the Recaro's....in my honest opinion. I consider these a nice hybrid feel between the sport and comfort seats. Plus, the retractable front legrest is a very comfortable option to have. The rear seats give me more of a "bucket" seat feel. Similar to the 4.2 "hump", but not as extreme.

Installation:
Pretty darn easy. See my sig for links to BD's documented process.

My old sport seats:
Well....those were sold....waaaay before I even embarked on importing the Recaro seats. A local AW'-er bought my front/rear set and we installed them that very night. He's very happy.....and I was happy that he could prepay me....because I had a lot of $$ floating in/out of my bank account to handle the wire. Thanks Lee!!!!

Cost:
I won't disclose the cost...but I will say that it was worth it (including shipping via airfreight - sooo worth it!!!). One of the great aspects about having your car paid off....is that you can have the flexibility to "pull the trigger" on items like these. Plus, at the killer price that we paid....I really consider these an investment. You can't really say that about too many upgraded parts with our cars. Agree? Besides, I'll keep and care for these seats....and if I end up getting a S6 avant...these will be moved over. If I end up getting a C6...then these will be sold at profit. Aside from Todd Richards, I don't know of too many folks that have invested the time/energy to import a matched set of OEM Recaro's. And even Todd's were from two different cars. Which makes my new seats a very rare item.

Boy, my car has come a long way in 4+ years. It's hard to believe that these seats...are in my lonely 2.8. Go figure. Either way, it will be hard for me to not smile.....everytime I get behind the wheel.

I have an online album with about 50 pix from the entire experience. I'll post more of them at a later time.

Enjoy!

PS: I still consider this an upgrade...and not a mod.

 

Very nice. I'm jealous!

 

...of acquiring a set myself.

I'll email you directly to compare notes.

Excellent job, by the way

 

Ted, you got mail

 

and at a fairly reasonable price too. As you mentioned, you can always sell the set in a few years and break even or turn a profit.

 

I heard, but I did not say anything until you did )) Congrats!!!

 

Great Upgrade! Congrats! They look soooo nice!

 

Beautiful Ted - I see you as a maybe for tomorrow night. Any chance the new leather makes it?

 

I really like the look of those seats, but I cannot justify the cost at this time. Just signed on an architect for the home addition. Self-imposed freeze on mods now in effect...we'll see how long that lasts.

The RS6 sides will have to wait now...

Here are Esquire's seats...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/Baltimore/esquiresseats1.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/Baltimore/esquiresseats2.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/Baltimore/esquiresseats3.jpg">

 

well, its pretty but too expensive for me /