How Do I Fit The Sparco SPX Into My VW Golf Mk7?
Seat fitting guide
The Sparco SPX is one of the most popular seat upgrades we fit to the VW Golf Mk7. It is a reclining seat, so it still works as an everyday seat, but it has a carbon fibre shell and a much more supportive shape than the factory seat.
Fitting it is straightforward once you have the right parts. This guide covers what the SPX is, which sub-frame and runners go with it in a Golf Mk7, and how the job goes together.
- The Sparco SPX is a reclining sport seat with a carbon fibre backrest, around 12kg
- It base mounts on Sparco's 345mm by 271mm pattern and is sold as seat only
- In a Golf Mk7 it goes on the Sparco Golf Mk7 direct fit sub-frame
- Add Sparco sliding runners if you want to move the seat forward and back
- The SPX is handed, so order a driver side and a passenger side for a pair
What is on this page
Why the Sparco SPX suits the Golf Mk7
The SPX is Sparco’s carbon fibre reclining seat. The backrest is carbon and the lower section is composite, and it weighs around 12kg. It is made in Italy, trimmed in leather with an Alcantara centre, which grips you better than smooth leather in a seat without deep bolsters.
For a Golf Mk7, whether a GTI, R or standard car, it makes sense because it keeps the recline. You can still set the backrest angle, fold it forward for rear passengers and live with it every day. It takes the standard seat belt or a four point harness, and it has no head support wings, so it does not crowd the cabin.
It is a Road and Track seat, not FIA homologated. If you need an FIA seat for competition, the SPX is the wrong choice and a fixed back FIA bucket is the right one.
The sub-frame: Sparco's Golf Mk7 frame
The SPX is sold as seat only, so each side needs a sub-frame made for the car. For the Golf Mk7 we recommend the Sparco direct fit sub-frame. It bolts to the Golf's factory floor mounting points in place of the standard seat runners, with no drilling into the floor.
The frame uses Sparco's 345mm by 271mm bolt pattern, the same pattern as the SPX, so the seat lines up without any modification. It covers the Mk7 and the Mk7.5 facelift, 2012 to 2020. It is sold as a single frame for one side, so order two for a pair of seats.
Adding sliding runners
Without runners, the seat is fixed in one position on the frame. If more than one person drives the car, or you want to set the seat exactly, add a pair of Sparco sliding runners between the frame and the seat. They are made to the same 345mm by 271mm pattern, so everything bolts together.
Runners add a little height under the seat. In a Golf with a helmet on, head room can be tight, so if you are tall, tell us your height and we will help you decide whether runners suit your setup.
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How the job goes together
1. Take the factory seat out. Slide it forward and back to reach the bolts, then remove it. Check what wiring runs to the factory seat before you unplug anything, as disconnecting a seat’s wiring can bring on a warning light on the dash.
2. Build the seat stack on the bench. Bolt the runners to the base of the SPX if you are using them, then bolt the seat, or the seat and runners, to the Sparco frame.
3. Fit it to the car. Put the assembly in and bolt the frame to the factory mounting points. Make sure the seat belt buckle is secure and easy to reach with the new seat in place.
4. Check everything. Torque every bolt, check the seat locks in position and the recline works, and check the belt fastens properly.
Garreth’s advice is to sit in the seat on the frame before the final tighten, to make sure the height and position feel right. If you are not confident doing the work, have a garage fit them.
If you are thinking about a fixed back bucket seat for your Golf, our guide to fitting Sparco Sprint bucket seats in a Golf Mk7 covers that route. And if you are considering mixing seat and frame brands, read why Recaro seats and Sparco mounts do not mix first.
What frame do I need to fit a Sparco SPX in a Golf Mk7?
We recommend the Sparco Golf Mk7 direct fit sub-frame, which uses the same 345mm by 271mm pattern as the seat.
Do I need to drill the floor?
No. The Sparco frame bolts to the Golf Mk7’s factory seat mounting points.
Can I use a harness with the SPX?
Yes. It takes a four point harness, or the standard seat belt.
Is the Sparco SPX FIA approved?
No. It is a Road and Track seat, so it is not for competition that needs an FIA seat.
How many seats and frames do I order for a pair?
The SPX is handed and the frame is sold for one side, so order a driver and passenger seat and two frames.
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Our Golf Mk7 setupSPX on the Sparco frame
Same bolt pattern from seat to frame, with Sparco runners if you want adjustment.
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