V-class front passenger seat conversion - single to twin

[scwrobinson]

Has anyone converted a V-class single seat into a twin. Ide like to consider this as the quad/motorbike sizes mean all the rear seats have to come out to accomodate them and then I can only take 1 of my 2 kids.

Getting hold of a twin seat is not a problem courtesy of Ebay and retrimming in leather is easy through a contact of mine (although am not sure he can match up the perforated style centre seat section).

Questions -

Any issues with airbag connectors?
Any issues with the seat bases differing or does the double seat just bolt on?
Do I have to remove the drivers arm rest or is there enough room for it?
I will also have to remove the bottom centre console for leg room - Do Vitos have front carpet I can use or will I have to do something bespoke?
Does the double seat recline or is it static?
Do I have to reclassify it as an 8 seater. Any implications from an MOT point of view?

Any other issues someone might have come across would be helpful.

Thanks,

Simon

[stoneboy]

Can't help much but...

Airbag connectors shouldn't be an issue - there aren't any in mine.

Pretty sure the seat base is different.

The centre console has carpet under it. I can't remember if it goes as far under the dash as it does in the footwells though.

Good luck.

[Range-Stormer]

Hi Simon

Its all straight forward - I did it about a year ago.

Remove passenger seat from the base (hex of torx)

Then you can remove the base, need a long socket extension bar - just be careful as the battery, fuses and relays are under the seat - I cought something and the airbag light then came on - had to get Dealer to diag the fault!! oops

Once the seat base is out you can fit the new seat - attaches to the same holes as the single seat

Drivers arm rest is still ok

Our Vito was classed as a 5 seater - changed this to 6 seater but often it is 4 as we have 5 dogs...

Lets sat the new double is not as luxurious as the single seat I took out - does not recline, cosy when there are two on the seat... leg room is ok in the middle for kids

Front seat lifts up so you can access the battery - you can't easily access the battery with jump leads, so I am going to be wiring up an anderson socket so we can jump start it if required (especially as it's the other halfs)

MOT not a problem as long as seat belts work and the vehicle has up to the max seats as they can see you can remove blocks of seats.

Hope this helps

Cheers Julian

[Lurgs]

>Any issues with airbag connectors?
Yes, see my thread about this > http://www.benzworld.org/forums/v-cl...ml#post2977130
>Any issues with the seat bases differing or does the double seat just bolt on?
Uses existing bolts although it was a pain to get them done up as there is very little room. I had to make up an extended socket with a swivel bit (about a foot long) to get down inside & get the nuts done up. Also it needs two people to lower it down over the battery & fuse box as it needs wiggling about.
>Do I have to remove the drivers arm rest or is there enough room for it?
There is enough room for it.
>Does the double seat recline or is it static?
Static
>Do I have to reclassify it as an 8 seater. Any implications from an MOT point of view?
Not sure, dont think it matters as they can be 2 seater up to 8 seater as they have all the seat connections.

>Any other issues someone might have come across would be helpful.
Yes, see my thread about the child sensor.

[scwrobinson]

Thanks for the help. I got a win seat from Ebay and am getting it, and head rests retrimmed in leather.

Because I want to do the job properly, the trimmers are going to swap the airbag sensor from the original seat into the twin. Yes the airbag lights come on but I have a colleague at Stephens Engineering in Edmonton, London who will turn it off for £20.

The only issue I have is that I removed the centre consol to make additional leg room and the carpet had loads of holes in it for the mounting brackets. I have carefully cut away the centre consul and reshaped it using a bit of hardboard and grey carpet to match the vehicle (or pretty close). I have tried to attach some pics of the modified consol. I used some of the left over bits and reshaped them carefully with a low blow torch to use as a carpet strip to edge the front properly to make it look as close to what it might have looked like fresh from the factory.

I needed to use this to hide the vent tube to the rear compartment. Im guessing the cans dont have this and have carpet or mat throughout.

Will post pics of seat fitted once I get it back in leather. I will then have an 8 seater.

Not sure if anyone has an opinion to what that will add to the value (if anything) but its only cost £60 so far for the seat and a recalled favour from a mate (about £150) to get it recovered in leather.

Hope this is useful to some of you. I have the single seat in grey leather with the base if anyone is interested.

Simon

[scwrobinson]

Job complete. Twin seat retrimmen in leather but is slightly lighter shade due to the current seats being 9 years old and not exactly new.

I got the trimmers to remove the airbag sensor from the single seat and place it in the twin and the light went out as soon as I replugged the sensor in. I thought Ide have to pay for it all to be reset.

Only other issue is that the twin seat has slightly smaller seats so its not as comfortable for adults but the kids dont feel it.

The seat base on the twin seat fitted straight on to the existing bolt holes so really simple conversion.

Ive got some matching carpet on its way for the modified console and to stick on to the twin seat base as its black paintd metal at present.