GTI front seats LHD versus RHD

[fakie1977]

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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[colesey]

Smart thinking!

[andyR43]

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 )

[pudding]

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!

[fakie1977]

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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[pudding]

That is a good advantage if you can find one cheaply

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.

[fakie1977]

Thanks - anyone confirm if LHD and RHD seats are indeed the same before I start searching?


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[Christiank]

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

[fakie1977]

Thanks for confirmation - fortunately my seats are manual so that will make it much easier.


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[Tommac001]

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.

[fakie1977]

Thanks for the additional information. Do you have any before and after pictures to show the work?


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[Tommac001]

I have no pics before but will post an after pic later.

[Tommac001]

I would add the photo if somebody can tell me how!

[Andy]

I would add the photo if somebody can tell me how!

I use post image.org

[Andy]

https://postimages.org