How Do I Fit Cobra Nogaro Bucket Seats In My Mini R53?
Customer question, Cobra Nogaro in a Mini R53
A customer emailed us this week asking how he gets Cobra Nogaro bucket seats into his Mini R53. He had the seat picked and wanted to know what bolts it to the floor, so we put a quote together and it made sense to write the whole answer down. He asked about one seat and a pair, so we priced both.
Garreth took the first look and Cameron checked the numbers, and the short version is a direct fit Cobra frame for the R53, a set of Nogaro side mounts, and the seat itself.
- The Nogaro is a side mount shell, so it needs side mounts as well as a frame
- Cobra make a direct fit subframe for the R53 that bolts to the factory floor mounting points
- One seat: frame with sliding runner £255.00 plus Nogaro side mounts £78.00, which is £333.00 inc VAT
- A pair: two frames with runners £510.00 plus two pairs of side mounts £132.00, which is £642.00 inc VAT
- The seat is extra, from £629.00 inc VAT for the Club Sport up to £819.00 for the Circuit
- The R53 frame is right hand drive: pick driver side, passenger side or the pair
How the parts stack up
Garreth: The Nogaro is a fibreglass shell with its mounting holes in the sides, so it does not bolt flat to a frame the way a reclining seat does. Cobra make steel side mounts cut for that shell, and they connect down to a vehicle specific frame. That is why this is a three part kit rather than a single bracket.
Cameron: From the floor up it is the Cobra frame for the R53, its sliding runner, the side mounts, then the seat. The R53 frame is a base mount frame with a 291mm x 330mm fixing pattern that bolts to the factory floor mounting points, and it is made for Cobra seats. That order matters when you read the quote, because each line is one layer of the stack.
Picking the Nogaro
The Nogaro comes in several trims on the same shell, with the Club Sport the cheapest way in, the Street and Circuit above it with more trim choices.
Cameron: Every one of them is built for drivers over 6ft with a 32 to 36 inch waist. Tell us your height and waist and we will say how it will sit in the car. The Club Sport, Street and Circuit are all 910mm tall, 560mm wide across the shoulders and 490mm across the base, and they weigh 7.9kg.
Garreth: They are Road and Track approved. They are made to order by hand in the UK. The listings quote an average lead time of 4 to 6 weeks, so ask us for the current one before you plan a date. Prices below are inc VAT and start from the figure shown.
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The kit and what it costs
This is the quote we sent the customer, with every price including VAT.
| Part, all inc VAT | For one seat | For a pair of seats |
|---|---|---|
| Cobra BMW Mini R53 direct fit subframe, with sliding runner. Choose driver or passenger side, or the pair. | £255.00 | £510.00 (driver and passenger pair) |
| Cobra Nogaro steel side mounts | £78.00 | £132.00 (the 2 pairs listing) |
| Fitting kit total, before the seats | £333.00 | £642.00 |
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Garreth: Add the seat on top. A single Nogaro Club Sport starts at £629.00, so one seat fitted with this kit is from £962.00. A pair of Club Sports with the pair kit comes to from £1,900.
Cameron: If you like the Street or the Circuit the kit does not change, only the seat price does.
Why the Nogaro suits the R53
The Nogaro is a great fit for the R53. When we fitted a Mirco RTS-2 low in a customer car we ended up with a rule of thumb of a seat no wider than 590mm across the shoulders, 500mm at the base and 915mm tall, and the Nogaro Club Sport, Street and Circuit come in at 560mm, 490mm and 910mm, so they sit comfortably inside it. Our guide to mounting seats low in an R53 has the full picture.
Cameron: Every part in the kit is made to go together. The Cobra frame bolts to the factory floor mounting points, and the Nogaro side mounts are cut for this shell. A runner adds roughly 25mm to the seat height, as our sliding runners guide explains.
Garreth: On a road car I would keep the runner so two people can drive it, and on a one driver track car I would go lower, as the guide above shows with side mounts straight to the floor.
Cameron: Either way it is a lovely pairing, the Nogaro in an R53.
What fitting involves
The Cobra frame is direct fit, so it bolts to the factory seat mounting points. Cobra note that bolt points can vary by up to 10mm between brands, so some holes may need extending. Drilling may be needed too.
Cameron: A few things come up on the frame listing. Some cars need an airbag resistor to stop a warning light once the original seat is out, and the factory belt buckle may need a bracket, which Endurance Motorsport make as an optional extra. Send us the car and the registration and we will tell you what applies to your R53.
The frame is a right hand drive part, and it is not made for factory seats taken out of other cars.
Garreth: If you are not sure which part does what, our bucket seat mounting guide covers base mount against side mount, and the guide to working out what a seat bolts to shows how to measure the holes. Both take a few minutes to read. Drop us an email or click to open a chat.
Questions about Nogaro seats in a Mini R53
How do I fit Cobra Nogaro bucket seats in a Mini R53?
You need three things: the Cobra BMW Mini R53 direct fit subframe with its sliding runner, a set of Cobra Nogaro steel side mounts, and the seat. For one seat the frame and side mounts come to £333.00 inc VAT, and for a pair £642.00 inc VAT, before the seats.
Do the Nogaro seats need side mounts?
Yes. The Nogaro is a fibreglass shell that bolts through its sides, so it needs Nogaro steel side mounts as well as the frame. They are cut for the Nogaro shell, so they are the right part for this seat.
Does the R53 frame come with a sliding runner?
The frame in the quote includes the sliding runner. Choose driver side, passenger side or the pair when you order.
Will a Cobra Nogaro fit in a Mini R53?
Yes, it is a great fit. Our R53 rule of thumb is a seat no wider than 590mm across the shoulders, 500mm at the base and 915mm tall, and the Nogaro Club Sport, Street and Circuit are 560mm, 490mm and 910mm.
How much does a Nogaro cost for a Mini R53?
The seat starts at £629.00 inc VAT for the Club Sport, £789.00 for the Street and £819.00 for the Circuit. Add £333.00 for the frame and side mounts for one seat, or £642.00 for a pair.
How long do Cobra Nogaro seats take?
Cobra seats are hand built to order in the UK, and the listings quote an average lead time of 4 to 6 weeks. Ask us for the current lead time before you plan a fitting date.
Tell us your height and waist
Come and see the Nogaro range, or ring Garreth and Cameron on 0115 647 8650. Give us the car, your height and your waist size, and we will put the kit and the seat together for you.
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