Upgrade to Audi Q5 seats

[Touchwood]

Over Christmas I sourced some Audi Q5 half leather seats from a low mileage 2019 model, the suede in the centre panels is very close to the covering on the Mobiframe bench seat/bed, so i wont need to re-trim.

These have now replaced my 2+1 bench seats (Bricks with Heating 2023) which will be going in the For Sale section once I have finished the wiring of the Audi seats in the next few weeks.

The rails on the Audi seats are about 80mm wider and offset for the transmission tunnel (which the van obviously does not have).

I ordered a pair of THQ fixed adaptors which work well and centred the seats nicely. These are heavy duty laser cut from 6mm steel, 3 holes lined up perfectly with the factory seat bases, 1 needed drilling and 1 needed the hole cleared as about half of the hole was obstructed by the seat base where the Audi seat rail needs to bolt through.

Took 2 hours start to finish including a trip to Screwfix to buy a sharp new 10mm drill bit. The seat adaptors do partially cover up the seat base cubbyhole, but this little niggle is easily forgotten with the added comfort (especially for my passenger) and the novelty of being able to traverse from the cockpit to the lounge without needing to go outside and back in. Also being able to stand on the floor to open and close the poptop is a bonus.

I still need to get some caps for the redundant double seat base fixings, and a new mat

I am asking for ideas, or photos with what anyone has done to mask or hide the seat mechanism which on the van is clearly visible between the seats, and a bit of a mess to be honest.

 

[PhillH]

Looks like they are heated? Are you going to source an adapter loom to go from your original connection to the Audi connection? Sure there will be people on here who can help

 

[Touchwood]

Hi PhillH, yes they are heated and they have a 4 way lumber adjustment. Im was thinking about some sort of adaptor looms, but not found any yet.

I have spoken to a company called Audi Retrofits and they can source original VW connectors and wire them in for me....it needs to be right, especially the passenger airbag / seat belt proximity sensor. Also the Audi ones have 4 wires for the heated seats, VW just 3.

I also read on here that the T6.1 has component protection on the drivers side seat belt buckle, which sounds strange, but don't really want to take off the one of the VW seat which will then be different to the passenger side one. Will let you know how it goes and the final solution.

 

[tomosllyr]

If you find a solution for covering the middle mechanism can you post it on here? I'm looking at doing the same now.

 

[PhillH]

I’m sure this is something @stan-the-man can help with

 

[ben5560]

Yeah you will have an error probably on the seatbelt, when i put T6 seats into my T6.1, it was not happy with the seatbelt...

 

[64 SPLIT]

When I fitted Mercedes A Class seats to my old van I made up a cardboard template and then cut that out of a Carver storage box to make side panels from. Then trimmed the panels in pleather to match the seats (although you could use stretch carpet etc. too).
The front edge I heat-moulded a curve into so that the top edge tucked under the seat base and then used a pop rivet to fix it into the metal seat base. I unbolted the seat belt receiver from the seat base and drilled a suitable size hole so that when I bolted the seat belt receiver back on it held the trim panel in place.

 

[Touchwood]

When I fitted Mercedes A Class seats to my old van I made up a cardboard template and then cut that out of a Carver storage box to make side panels from. Then trimmed the panels in pleather to match the seats (although you could use stretch carpet etc. too).
The front edge I heat-moulded a curve into so that the top edge tucked under the seat base and then used a pop rivet to fix it into the metal seat base. I unbolted the seat belt receiver from the seat base and drilled a suitable size hole so that when I bolted the seat belt receiver back on it held the trim panel in place.

View attachment 313687

Many thanks for sharing, that is a great solution - I will go down this route

 

[borat]

I have same issue with seat mech showing from my s8 seats. It didn’t bother me until Chris at @Dav-Tec pointed it out and said there’s a 3d print solution he thought. He didn’t have time to scan it in the end with all the other issues we were dealing with, so I’m now trying to persuade a mate to help me design something that I can 3d print. If it happens I’ll let you know but guessing it will vary for each seat type

 

[Towtugt6]

I have same issue with seat mech showing from my s8 seats. It didn’t bother me until Chris at @Dav-Tec pointed it out and said there’s a 3d print solution he thought. He didn’t have time to scan it in the end with all the other issues we were dealing with, so I’m now trying to persuade a mate to help me design something that I can 3d print. If it happens I’ll let you know but guessing it will vary for each seat type

Hi Borat, I have the same seats, please let me know if you managed to create a good 3dprinted side moulding

 

[borat]

Hi Borat, I have the same seats, please let me know if you managed to create a good 3dprinted side moulding

Unfortunately not. It’s way beyond my design skills. I’ve asked a mate to help but he’s been too busy.
How are you finding the seats? I think they may be the most comfortable seats ever!

 

[Vedubber]

I am also in the same position currently trying to find something that can cover the insides of the mechanisms.
We have a 3D scanner arriving at work this week and have 3D printing capabilities.
We have my transporter and a colleagues crafter to do.
So hopefully we can come up with a solution.

 

[borat]

I am also in the same position currently trying to find something that can cover the insides of the mechanisms.
We have a 3D scanner arriving at work this week and have 3D printing capabilities.
We have my transporter and a colleagues crafter to do.
So hopefully we can come up with a solution.

Is this with the S8 seats? I’ll happily pay you for a solution if you are successful.

 

[Vedubber]

Is this with the S8 seats? I’ll happily pay you for a solution if you are successful.

No we both have Golf R seats in this instance.

 

[borat]

No we both have Golf R seats in this instance.

Ah ok. Still be interested to know what you end up with if you make something

 

[Towtugt6]

Unfortunately not. It’s way beyond my design skills. I’ve asked a mate to help but he’s been too busy.
How are you finding the seats? I think they may be the most comfortable seats ever!

I love my seats too... although the lady that must not be ignored is not so keen... but I think that is down to not having a solution for the heated seats yet that were on the old standard seats... I'm still trying to find a solution for those although all electric motion and lumbar is working

 

[borat]

I love my seats too... although the lady that must not be ignored is not so keen... but I think that is down to not having a solution for the heated seats yet that were on the old standard seats... I'm still trying to find a solution for those although all electric motion and lumbar is working

Heated seats is possible. We did it on ours. There’s a hacky way and the proper way. I’d highly recommend the proper way as the hacky way involves bypassing some of the protection circuit afaik. If you had it on the old seats it should be as simple as getting the right loom as I assume you already have the controls on the dash and it should be coded already?
The only thing not working on ours is massage but that’s not possible. I’d also love to get memory sorted but on the Audi those buttons are on the door so it’s not possible.

 

[Vedubber]

I’ve ordered a 3 level controller from eBay, should be arriving next week so will see how I can make it work with mine.

 

[Towtugt6]

Heated seats is possible. We did it on ours. There’s a hacky way and the proper way. I’d highly recommend the proper way as the hacky way involves bypassing some of the protection circuit afaik. If you had it on the old seats it should be as simple as getting the right loom as I assume you already have the controls on the dash and it should be coded already?
The only thing not working on ours is massage but that’s not possible. I’d also love to get memory sorted but on the Audi those buttons are on the door so it’s not possible.

Have you managed to get the ventilation function working, I think that I have a solution but haven't had time to check it out yet

 

[borat]

No I haven’t I’d forgotten about that one If you manage to get it working I’d love to know how. Personally I’d take ventilation over heated seats any day lol