Which BMW E36 Bucket Seat Mounts Should You Use?
Seat fitting guide
The BMW E36 takes bucket seats from Cobra, Corbeau, Sparco, OMP and most other brands, and there are several ways to bolt them in. The question we get asked most is which mount to use, and the answer depends on two things: whether the seat needs to slide, and whether it is side mounted or base mounted.
This guide goes through the fixed side mounts, the sliding options and the base mounted frames we list for the E36, and which seats each one suits.
- Fixed side mounts: Cobra, QMS and PCI Racing all make E36 specific pairs
- For Cobra bucket seats, Cobra's own E36 side mounts are the safe choice
- For a sliding bucket seat, the PCI Racing E36 sliding sub frame is a complete kit
- Base mounted recliners suit the frame from their own brand, or a Planted Technology bracket
- The E36 cockpit is roomy enough for most seats from the major brands
- Check the floor round the mounting points before buying anything
What is on this page
Fixed position side mounts
A side mount bolts to the sides of a bucket seat and to the E36’s original floor mounting points, so there is nothing to fabricate. Fixed mounts do not slide, so the seat is set at installation and stays there. That suits a track car with one driver.
If you are fitting a Cobra bucket seat such as the Imola, Suzuka or Monaco Pro, we recommend sticking with Cobra’s own E36 steel side mounts to get the fit right. Cobra make them to use all of the car’s original bolt points, and they fit side mountable seats only. There is a separate Cobra E36 side mount for GT specification seat hardware, which catches people out: the GT refers to the seat, not the car, so ask us if you are unsure which you need.
For most other side mount bucket seats, the QMS and PCI Racing E36 mounts give plenty of adjustment and a fixed position that lines up well with the steering wheel. Cobra seats can use them too. QMS make an FIA approved steel pair and an aluminium mount for the E36 and E46, and PCI Racing’s E36 adjustable seat mount gives the largest range of adjustment and the lowest seat position in their range. Corbeau side mount seats use their own bolt points, so check with us before pairing one with an aftermarket mount.
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Sliding seats and base mounted recliners
If the bucket seat needs to slide backwards and forwards, for a car shared between drivers or a road car, our choice for a side mounted seat is the PCI Racing E36 sliding sub frame every time. It is an all in one kit: frame, runners and side mounts, bolting to the base of the car’s seat mounting points, so you only need the seat to go with it.
For a base mounted reclining sport seat from Sparco, OMP, Corbeau or Cobra, stay with the direct fit frame from the seat’s own brand. The Cobra E36 subframes come with a sliding runner included and suit Cobra base mountable seats, and the Corbeau E36 sub-frames use Corbeau’s own bolt pattern. Sparco’s E36 sub-frames are sold one per side and give a fixed installation unless you add Sparco sliding runners.
Planted Technology frames are the other route. They have bolt points for most seat brands and come as separate parts for the coupe and the saloon, so count the doors before ordering.
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![Planted Technology BMW 3 Series Coupe [E36 Chassis] (1992-1999) Seat Bracket](https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SB006PA-2-300x300.jpg)
![Planted Technology BMW 3 Series Coupe [E36 Chassis] (1992-1999) Seat Bracket image 2](https://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/SB006DR-2-300x300.jpg)
Which seats suit an E36
The E36 has a fairly spacious cockpit, so it takes a wide range of seats from all the major brands, from a Sparco R100 reclining seat to a Cobra Nogaro Club Sport bucket. That leaves you free to pick the seat that suits your body shape. Garreth’s advice is to send us your height and waist and tell us what the car is used for, and we will suggest seats that fit both you and the car.
One job comes before any of this. Most E36s have led busy lives, and a mount can only do its job if the metal it bolts to is sound, so lift the carpet and check the floor round all four mounting points first. For reclining seats in the saloon, our E36 saloon reclining seat guide goes into more detail.
Which side mounts should I use for Cobra seats in an E36?
We recommend Cobra’s own E36 steel side mounts, which use the car’s original bolt points. There is a separate version for GT specification seats.
Can a bucket seat slide in a BMW E36?
Yes. The PCI Racing E36 sliding sub frame is a complete kit with runners and side mounts, so the seat slides fore and aft.
Do I need extra side mounts with a PCI Racing sub frame?
No. PCI Racing kits include the side mounts and runners, so you need only the seat and the frame.
Is the Planted E36 bracket the same for coupe and saloon?
No. Planted list separate brackets for the E36 coupe and the E36 saloon.
What should I check before fitting seats to an E36?
Lift the carpet and check the floor round the mounting points, as a mount is only as strong as the metal it bolts to.
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Our usual answerMatch the mount to the seat
Cobra mounts for Cobra seats, PCI Racing for a sliding bucket, the seat's own brand for a recliner.
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