Fitting Recaro Pole Position Seats To Your Renault Clio
Seat fitting guide
One question we get a lot is which parts you need to fit Recaro Pole Position seats to a Renault Clio. We have been fitting seats to Clios for many years, from the Mk1 through to the Mk4, so we know these cars well.
The good news is that the fitting is straightforward once you know the order the parts go in. This guide covers the seat, the side mounts and the frame, and how the Pole Position works with the Clio's standard seat belts.
- The Pole Position is a side mount seat
- You need the seat, a pair of Recaro side mounts and a frame for the car
- Recaro list direct fit frames for the Clio Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 and Mk4
- The ABE version is road approved for use with a standard three point belt
- The FIA version is for competition with a harness
What is on this page
Choose the right Pole Position
Start with the seat, because the version decides what else you need. The Pole Position ABE has German ABE road approval, which allows it to be used with a standard three point seat belt, subject to confirmation for the specific car. That lets you keep the factory belts and still have a proper bucket seat, which gives a neat, factory fitted look, as in the Clio in our photo.
The Pole Position FIA is the competition version, approved to FIA 8855-1999 and designed for a 6 point harness. If the Clio is going to compete, that is the one to choose. There is also a carbon ABE version, and our guide to the Recaro Pole Position Carbon explains how the three compare. All of them suit drivers under 6ft with a 32 to 36 inch waist.
Add a pair of side mounts
The Pole Position has no base fixings. It is a side mount seat, so it bolts through the sides of the shell to a pair of side mounts, one on each side.
Recaro make their own side mounts for the Pole Position, in steel and in aluminium. These are the ones to use, because they are made for the shell and the FIA label on a Recaro seat goes with Recaro side mounts. The slotted holes give a choice of height and angle for the seat.
Then a frame for your Clio
The side mounts connect to a frame, and the frame bolts to the Clio’s floor using the factory seat mounting points. Recaro list direct fit frames for the Clio Mk1, the Mk2 (which includes the 172 and 182), the Mk3 including the 197, and the Mk4.
Frames are specific to each generation, because the floor mounting points are not in the same place. Some include sliding runners and some keep the car’s original sliders, so it is worth checking with us before ordering. Garreth’s advice is simple: send us the registration and the seat you want, and we will confirm the frame and side mounts that go with it.
-
From £1,039.50 Incl. VATPayPal CreditTop 10 productKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
-
From £995.40 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
How it goes together
The order is the same on every Clio. The Pole Position bolts to the side mounts on both sides of the seat. The side mounts bolt to the frame. The frame bolts to the floor of the car at the factory points.
Using fitting parts made for the seat and the car is the safest way to get the seat solidly mounted at the right height. If you want to understand why side mount seats are the most flexible to fit, our guide to seat bolt patterns explains how side mounts bridge the gap between seat and frame.
What do I need to fit a Recaro Pole Position to a Renault Clio?
The seat, a pair of Recaro side mounts and a direct fit frame for your Clio generation.
Can I use my Clio's standard seat belts with a Pole Position?
The Pole Position ABE is road approved for use with a standard three point belt, subject to confirmation for the car.
Which Clio generations can take a Recaro frame?
Recaro list direct fit frames for the Clio Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 and Mk4.
Is the frame the same for every Clio?
No. Each generation has its own frame, because the floor mounting points differ.
💬
The short versionSeat, side mounts, frame
Three parts, bolted together in that order, and the Pole Position is in your Clio.
Need a personal recommendation?
We're here to ensure you pick the right seat.
Contact us today.