Fixed Back Seats

Shinigami! · Postby **Shinigami!** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:39 am

Hey guys i did a quick search and by that i looked at the first three pages.
so my question is have you ever been pulled over witha fixed back bucket seat in your mx5?
did you get defected for the seat?
are fixed back bucket seats even legal? as far as i know they are a defect full stop and cant be mod plated? true or not?

Any help is much appreciated. John

broady · Postby **broady** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 12:55 am

Shinigami! wrote:Hey guys i did a quick search and by that i looked at the first three pages.
so my question is have you ever been pulled over witha fixed back bucket seat in your mx5?
did you get defected for the seat?
are fixed back bucket seats even legal? as far as i know they are a defect full stop and cant be mod plated? true or not?

Any help is much appreciated. John

I can't recall being pulled over since I installed my Sparco.

AFAIK it doesn't need to be engineered if it's on stock rails. But don't hold me to my word.

two40 · Postby **two40** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:32 am

Hey John. If you're concerned you should probably speak to an engineer in your state rather than ask on a forum where you'll get a lot of well meaning but not definitive replies like broady's one.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:39 am

my understanding for vic is that if the seat itself is ADR Approved it is legal. (assuming stock seats don't have airbags or anything)

However, it must mount using factory rails. Any adapter plates etc make the mount illegal (not sure on the legality of adding a hole to stock rails like the Sparco Sprint V requires)

take this all with a grain of salt though, it's only what I remember so it may well be incorrect.
Check with RTA/Vicroads etc!!!

Adam_NAclubman · Postby **Adam_NAclubman** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:01 am

Fixed-back are illegal in coupes with rear seats, not a problem we have, so if it has ADR approval and the mounts are originals or engineer approved then you should be apples

FMS01 · Postby **FMS01** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:08 am

Mine is bolted to the floor in a fixed position (ADR'd Velo GP90) and a cop did have a problem. Now have a mod plate for it.

s2ky_mx · Postby **s2ky_mx** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 4:52 pm

If you're in NSW,

Seats not ADR approved falls under=

USE VEHICLE NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD
Defective seating $243, 3pts

As far as im aware, even if its ADR approved you still need it to be Engineered.

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:47 pm

^ wow, i didnt know that seats were a points offence. I checked it out :shock:

So, BRIDES in NSW are 3 points, bugger that....ADR + Cert is the only way to go.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:39 am

For Victorians
Replacement seats fall under VSI 19

Replacement Seats
Seats supplied as an option by the vehicle manufacturer may be fitted.
A VASS approval certificate is not required for this type of seat replacement provided;
The seat is one supplied by the vehicle manufacturer as an option for that vehicle and is actually replacing an existing seat.
The original seat mountings are used, and
Appropriate seat belts are fitted.

In cases where the replacement seat is not one offered as an option by the vehicle manufacturer and the vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 January 1969 a VASS approval certificate showing continued compliance with the applicable ADRs will be required.

Appears that in Victoria, all seats require a VASS Certificate, including seats from different models of MX5

Shinigami! · Postby **Shinigami!** » Sat May 01, 2010 2:52 pm

i spoke to my engineer guy but he says fixed back's are illegal and can't be mod plated? yet another workshop is stating that fixed back seats can be plated.
hence why i'm asking for peoples inputs. and thanks for all the inputs aswell (y) if it helps i'm in QLD.

Speedyblue · Postby **Speedyblue** » Thu May 13, 2010 10:01 am

I have a fixed back sparco sprint in my MX5 and I have had it blueplated. Completely legal, as long at the seat complies with the ADR's.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Thu May 13, 2010 1:01 pm

I'm in QLD, have been pulled over with Sparco Sprint fitted, and roof down at the time, so the cop was easily able to see the seat, and he didn't mention it. That's not to say another cop wouldn't have either

Regardless though, they are legal if mod plated in QLD, but not all fixed back seats are. Mine now has a mod plate to suit. Richard at MX5Plus did mine.