So, you’re looking to enhance the comfort and style of your 2000 Audi B5 A4? A popular and effective upgrade is swapping out the original seats for sportier or more premium options, like those from an Audi S4. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of how to replace your standard Audi B5 2000 seats with upgraded seats, focusing on a practical approach for DIY enthusiasts. We’ll cover everything from removing your old seats to wiring and securely mounting the new ones, ensuring a successful and satisfying upgrade for your Audi B5 2000.
Parts and Tools You’ll Need for Your Audi B5 2000 Seat Upgrade
Before you begin upgrading the seats in your Audi B5 2000, gather all the necessary parts and tools. For this seat replacement, you will generally need:
- Complete Seats: Acquire a set of replacement seats. In this guide, we’re focusing on installing Audi S4 seats into a 2000 Audi B5 A4. Ensure the seats are complete with all components.
- Wiring and Connectors: Obtain the necessary connectors and wiring to power the seat motors, especially if you’re upgrading to power seats in your Audi B5 2000. This might include sourcing connectors that match your car’s existing wiring harness and the new seats.
- Hardware: Be prepared with various hardware components such as bolts, nuts, and washers to ensure secure mounting of the seats in your Audi B5 2000. Having a selection of sizes is advisable to accommodate any unforeseen discrepancies.
Removing the Original Seats from Your Audi B5 2000
The first crucial step in upgrading your Audi B5 2000 seats is to safely remove the existing ones. This process is similar for both the driver and passenger sides.
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Disconnect the Battery: Before starting any work on your car’s electrical system, especially components like seats that may involve airbags, it’s critical to disconnect the battery. This prevents accidental airbag deployment or electrical shorts during the seat removal process in your Audi B5 2000.
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Remove the Seat Pin: Locate and remove the retaining pin, often a ‘pin-type thing’ as shown in the image, that secures the seat track.
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Slide the Seat Back: Once the pin is removed, slide the seat completely back on its track. This will provide access to the front mounting points of the seat in your Audi B5 2000.
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Detach and Remove the Seat: Carefully detach the seat from its mounting points. The side closest to the center console usually pops out first. Wiggle the seat to free it, being cautious of the carpet to avoid snags. Once detached, carefully lift the original seat out of your Audi B5 2000.
Comparing Original and Upgrade Seats for Your Audi B5 2000
Before proceeding with installation, it’s helpful to compare the original seats with your new seats, such as S4 seats, for your Audi B5 2000.
Here’s a comparison of an S4 seat bottom:
And the original A4 seats with manual adjustments:
Notice the difference in mounting points. S4 seats typically have two fixed front points and sliders in the rear, while your Audi B5 2000 might have different configurations. Upon removing the carpet, you’ll likely see the pre-existing mounting holes in the floor of your Audi B5 2000, which may or may not align perfectly with the S4 seat mounts.
Wiring the New Seats in Your Audi B5 2000
Wiring is a critical step, especially when upgrading to power seats in your Audi B5 2000. For basic power functions, you’ll generally need to connect power and ground for each seat.
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Identify Connectors: Locate the existing seat connectors in your Audi B5 2000. Typically, there are multiple connectors (yellow, green, red). For power seat functions, the red connector might be the most relevant. Note any differences between the driver and passenger sides.
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Wire the Connectors: Wire the new seats by adding pins to the existing connectors in your car. For power seats, you’ll likely need to add power and ground wires. In the example, pins were added to the red connector for power functions.
Here’s a view of a completed passenger side connector wiring:
And the driver’s side connector wiring, showing added pins for power seats in the Audi B5 2000:
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Ensure Wiring Slack: Make sure to leave enough slack in the wiring to accommodate the full range of seat movement. This prevents damage to the wiring when adjusting the seats in your Audi B5 2000.
Mounting the S4 Seats in Your Audi B5 2000
Mounting the S4 seats into your Audi B5 2000 requires addressing the differences in mounting points. The original article explores a bolt-based solution and then refines it to a welding approach.
Addressing Mounting Differences
S4 seats often use two Allen bolts at the front mounting points. A robust solution is needed to securely fasten these seats in your Audi B5 2000. Initially, the idea was to use high-grade bolts, fender washers, regular washers, and nuts.
The plan was to cut a small slit in the floor crossmember to insert a wrench and nut for tightening the bolts. Calculations were made to ensure the strength of this setup, suggesting it would be sufficient for typical crash scenarios, even exceeding requirements for shear and tensile strength under extreme deceleration forces relevant to an Audi B5 2000.
Welding Solution for Seat Mounts
Realizing a more integrated and possibly simpler approach, welding nuts directly to the floor became the preferred method. Cutting out the section of the floor with the S4 seat hole, welding a nut underneath, and reinstalling it provides a factory-like mounting point. While slightly more involved than just bolting, welding offers a very secure and clean solution for mounting S4 seats in your Audi B5 2000.
Another necessary modification for proper S4 seat installation in an Audi B5 2000 is removing the front pin support used for manual seats. Be aware that this modification is irreversible and will prevent you from reverting to your original manual seats.
Final Steps and Considerations for Your Audi B5 2000 Seat Upgrade
After wiring and mounting your new seats, thoroughly test all seat functions, especially if you’ve installed power seats in your Audi B5 2000. Check for smooth movement and proper operation of any motors or heating elements. In the original project, switch issues were encountered, highlighting the importance of testing all functionalities post-installation.
Safety First: Always prioritize safety. Ensure all connections are secure and the seats are firmly mounted. If you are not comfortable with wiring or welding, seek professional assistance to complete these steps for your Audi B5 2000 seat upgrade.
By following these steps, you can successfully upgrade the seats in your 2000 Audi B5 A4, enhancing both the aesthetics and comfort of your vehicle.
