VW Bora Mk4 bucket seat guide
1999 to 2005
The Bora Mk4 is one of the better-served cars in this catalogue for fitting frames, with five confirmed makers to choose from. Custom Cages and OMP both build roll cages specifically for it too, so a proper competition build is a straightforward order rather than a search for parts that fit.
The frame you choose depends on the seat brand and mounting style you want. Corbeau and Recaro are locked to their own seats; Planted, OMP and Sparco work more broadly.
- Planted bracket, £222.60, base mount, confirmed for the Bora Mk4
- OMP direct fit subframe, £123.50, and Sparco direct fit subframe, £86.68, also confirmed
- Corbeau direct fit subframe, £294.00 and Recaro direct fit subframe, £441.00, each locked to their own brand of seat
- Custom Cages build a T45 kit at £1,928.90 and a CDS kit at £1,328.27 specifically for the Bora Mk4
- OMP also offer a Multipoint Weld In cage at £1,413.10 and a 10 Point Bolt In at £1,136.09
- All FIA harnesses carry a stamped expiry date that ends their competition life regardless of wear
Five fitting frames
Planted Technology confirm a bracket at £222.60, base mount. OMP offer a direct fit subframe at £123.50 and Sparco at £86.68, both working with a range of seat brands. Corbeau at £294.00 and Recaro at £441.00 are locked to their own seats. Most bucket seats on this page are side mount, so a set of side mounts on top of the Planted, OMP or Sparco frame is the usual route.
The fitting kit
Pick the Corbeau or Recaro frame only if you are running a seat from that brand.
- Planted Technology bracket, £222.60, base mount
- OMP direct fit subframe, £123.50
- Sparco direct fit subframe, £86.68
- Recaro direct fit subframe, £441.00, Recaro seats only
- Recaro FIA Steel Side Mount Brackets to fit Podium, £281.40
- Sparco FIA Steel Side Mount Brackets, £90.00 fits Sparco, OMP, Cobra and Sabelt side-mount seats
- Endurance Motorsport Sliding Runner Kit, £40.80 fore-aft adjustment
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FIA competition bucket seats
The OMP First R at £294 and the Auto Style Type BS1 at £270 are the entry point. The OMP Champ-R at £381.60 the Mirco RS2 3D at £425.40 and the Sparco Evo QRT at £570.00 sit in the middle. The Sabelt GT3 at £517.20 and the Recaro Pole Position at £995.40 sit further up, and the Corbeau Sprint X System 3 XL at £840.00 and the Recaro Classic Pole Position ABE at £2,179.80 sit at the top of the range.
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Reclining sport seats
The Sparco R100 at £282.00 and the Auto Style Type RS6-II Vinyl at £333.60 are the entry point. The Sparco R100 Martini Racing at £349.99, the Auto Style Type BS5 at £354.00 and the Sparco GT at £505.90 sit further up. The Recaro Cross Sportster CS at £1,587.60 and the Sparco SPR at £1,858.94 sit toward the top, and the Recaro Sportster CS With Heating at £2,154.60 is the premium option here.
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Our recommendationChoose the frame that matches your seat brand
With five frames on offer, the choice comes down to whether you are set on a Corbeau or Recaro seat, or want the broader compatibility of the Planted, OMP or Sparco frame. Cameron works out the fit and the best combination for a given car, so tell him your build and he will narrow the list.
Harnesses
There is no harness made specifically for the Bora Mk4, so you are fitting a universal belt and working out the mounting yourself. The standard rear seat belt mounts are not rated for harness shoulder strap loads, so one of the cages below, a bolt-in harness bar, or a fabricated anchor point is needed.
The Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £294.00 are both FIA 8853-2016. The TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 is FIA 8854-1998. All three carry a stamped expiry date regardless of wear. For a road or trackday car, the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts cost less, though none of those four are HANS compatible.
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Our recommendationConfirm the anchor before the belt
Tell us whether the car is caged, what is behind the seats now, and whether a head restraint is going in, and we will tell you what the shoulder straps can anchor to before you spend anything on the belt.
Roll cages
Custom Cages build a T45 Multipoint kit at £1,928.90 and a CDS Multipoint kit at £1,328.27 specifically for the Bora Mk4. OMP offer a Multipoint Weld In cage at £1,413.10 and a 10 Point Bolt In at £1,136.09.
If competing, check the specification against your class regulations before ordering, and keep the sign-off paperwork with the logbook. Pad any tube within reach of a helmet, and tell your insurer, because a cage is a notifiable modification.
What fits what
All seats below fit the Bora Mk4 on the frame that matches, with side mounts added where the mounting column says side mount. Where a cell says not listed, the manufacturer has not published that figure.
| Seat | Mounting | Approval | Driver height | Waist | HANS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition bucket seats | |||||
| OMP First R | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| OMP Champ-R | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Under 6ft | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| Mirco RS2 3D | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| Sparco Evo QRT | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sabelt GT3 | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | All heights | 32" to 36" | HANS friendly |
| Recaro Pole Position | Side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reclining sport seats | |||||
| Sparco R100 | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | Over and under 6ft | All sizes | Not listed |
| Sparco R100 Martini Racing | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | All heights | 32" to 36" | Not listed |
| Sparco GT | Base mount, 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | Under 6ft | 32" to 36" | Not listed |
Common questions
Which frame does the Bora Mk4 need?
Five are confirmed: Planted at £222.60, OMP at £123.50, Sparco at £86.68, Corbeau at £294.00 for Corbeau seats, and Recaro at £441.00 for Recaro seats.
Which cage is confirmed for the Bora?
Custom Cages build a T45 kit at £1,928.90 and a CDS kit at £1,328.27 specifically for it. OMP also offer a Weld In cage at £1,413.10 and a Bolt In at £1,136.09.
Can I use a Corbeau seat on the Planted frame?
No, not one we would recommend. Corbeau make their own frame to their own mounting specification. Use the Planted, OMP or Sparco frame for a broader range of brands instead.
Which harness should I buy?
For FIA competition, the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £294.00 both meet 8853-2016, and the TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 meets 8854-1998. For road and trackday use, the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts cost less but are not HANS compatible.
Can I use the standard rear seat belt mounts for the harness?
No. They are not rated for the loads a harness shoulder strap puts through them in an impact. One of the cages above, a bolt-in harness bar, or a fabricated anchor point is needed instead.
More help
If you want the frame confirmed against your seat, or a cage checked against your class regulations, the contact link is the quickest way to get it looked at.
Need a personal recommendation?
We're here to ensure you pick the right seat.
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