How to tell between replica Euro GT3 seats and OEM?
#1
How to tell between replica Euro GT3 seats and OEM?
So I recently bought a set of euro GT3 seats for my (gasp!) BMW M3. Were sold to me as OEM Euro GT3 seats. I saw the pics and as far as I could tell, they looked like the real deal.
Went to a track event today with the local PCA chapter. Lo and behold, parked next to me are not 1, not 2, but 3 996 GT3's.
So I moseyed on over and checked out their seats. Here's where I started to get a little concerned. There are minor differences between the seats in those 3 GT3's and the ones currently sitting in my garage.
The harness lap belt surrounds on mine are plastic inside and out. The GT3's today only had plastic on the outside, leather was sitched on the inside.
I don't have a porsche part # sticker on the bottom of my seats, nor do I have the little plastic nubs that hold the seat belt harness.
Besides that, they look identical, down to the embossed Porsche crest. I obviously have different seat brackets, sliders and side mounts to fit my BMW.
My question is, did Porsche make more than 1 generation of these seats? Is it possible that I have an older generation?
Or did the person who sold me these seats not know they were replicas and sold them to me as OEM?
If that's the case, I need to know for sure before I contact him and attempt to return these...
Went to a track event today with the local PCA chapter. Lo and behold, parked next to me are not 1, not 2, but 3 996 GT3's.
So I moseyed on over and checked out their seats. Here's where I started to get a little concerned. There are minor differences between the seats in those 3 GT3's and the ones currently sitting in my garage.
The harness lap belt surrounds on mine are plastic inside and out. The GT3's today only had plastic on the outside, leather was sitched on the inside.
I don't have a porsche part # sticker on the bottom of my seats, nor do I have the little plastic nubs that hold the seat belt harness.
Besides that, they look identical, down to the embossed Porsche crest. I obviously have different seat brackets, sliders and side mounts to fit my BMW.
My question is, did Porsche make more than 1 generation of these seats? Is it possible that I have an older generation?
Or did the person who sold me these seats not know they were replicas and sold them to me as OEM?
If that's the case, I need to know for sure before I contact him and attempt to return these...
#3
I have been under the impression if they have the Porsche crest on them they are OEM. They are made by Recaro, and may have there logo somewhere on the seats.
Saying that, there are a lot of replica's out there, some better then others.
Saying that, there are a lot of replica's out there, some better then others.
#5
my oem Euro GT3 seats are four years old and are as you described with the Porsche crest and leather stitching on the inside of the belt holes...mine say "Recaro" on the back top leather between the harness eyelets..
Last edited by GT3 Chuck; 06-21-2009 at 04:07 PM.
#7
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#8
MK
#9
Great. These are replicas and the seller has refused to refund my money, even though I offered to pay to ship them back to him.
Anyone want to buy a set of REPLICA GT3 seats? Make offer.
Anyone want to buy a set of REPLICA GT3 seats? Make offer.
#10
Try a FS post in the classifieds,there is a set of reps with yellow inserts that people say they would be buying if they weren't yellow.
#12
Hey guys, I need a little help. Could someone please take some pics of the following and email them to me?
I need a good shot of the back of the seat with the "Recaro" embossed logo and the torx screws on the back of the shoulder harness holes. A good shot of the inside and outside lap belt harness holes, a good shot of the entire back and front of the seat to show the quality of the leather and lastly (and this is the tough one) a shot of the bottom of the seat showing the porsche part # sticker as well as the seat belt harness guide nubs.
Thanks!!
I need a good shot of the back of the seat with the "Recaro" embossed logo and the torx screws on the back of the shoulder harness holes. A good shot of the inside and outside lap belt harness holes, a good shot of the entire back and front of the seat to show the quality of the leather and lastly (and this is the tough one) a shot of the bottom of the seat showing the porsche part # sticker as well as the seat belt harness guide nubs.
Thanks!!
#14
Yep. I'm heading over to my shop tomorrow morning with the seats so they can physically inspect them and write an "expert" opinion. I'll submit that to my credit company and they'll credit my account for the total.
If I can find out his address I'll ship them back, if that's what my credit card company wants me to do.
If I can find out his address I'll ship them back, if that's what my credit card company wants me to do.