Front seats wont swivel [ Swivelgate ]

[GrannyJen]

Yes, those comfort seats are still out there, waiting to catch someone unawares, but there is a big difference buying a new vehicle off a still evolving brochure and buying a vehicle that is already in the showroom.

I for one when buying my Cali asked "can you show me how the seats swivel?". If it was "sorry luv, can't do that" then I would not have touched it with a barge pole.

 

[Gavrobb]

"I for one who buying my Cali asked "can you show me how the seats swivel?"."

Agree entirely in fact it was the fact that I had even asked this very same Q in the showroom demo (and was demonstrated by the salesman) while waiting for my new Cali that led me to be pretty comfortable about being in the right on this. I dont think the dealer will be setting himself up for the pain of going through this again.

 

[GrannyJen]

There is certainly going to be a glut of comfort seats on the market

I can imaging them to start appearing soon in grimy cab waiting rooms and 1960's transport cafe's clearing out the synthetic leather sofa's.

 

[Sp0_0k]

We poor Brits don't get the konfigurator...
The options pricelist had no warning - not updated since November 2015.... Poor show VW.

I've ran my config several times through German one, due to lots of other country ones didn't combine option prices properly. Even made an English translation for it.

 

[Stoneybroke]

I've ran my config several times through German one, due to lots of other country ones didn't combine option prices properly. Even made an English translation for it.

I tried to use the German version, but Google Translate didn't work on all the pages, plus too many options vary between countries...

 

[Romke]

Maybe this is the best of both worlds?

Reimo has a lot of swivel bases for T5 (and presumably T6) seats. There's a low-profile one (see pic) that adds just 25mm to the seat height. I'm seriously considering ordering height-adjustable "comfort seats" and adding a swivel base to them afterwards.
The full series: https://www.reimo.com/en/D-accesori..._cama_cinturon/DXI-plataformas_giratorias_vw/
The low-profile swivel base: https://www.reimo.com/en/59498-flachdrehsockel_fuer_vw_t5_fahrerseite/

 

[Sp0_0k]

Is it possible to replace original plate with this one to get less height?

 

[Romke]

Is it possible to replace original plate with this one to get less height?

No idea. Ask Reimo.

 

[Gavrobb]

Not even close to the same quality as factory swivels - totally different. As a last reprieve for those caught up in 'Swivelgate' with no recourse it's a good suggestion but I wouldn't compromise this to get height adj seats. I would imagine it will still require the hand brake modified also.

 

[Sp0_0k]

I might end up switching the left swivel chair with a comfort one if anybody got it by accident

 

[X4 VWC]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, well, not that old but would value opinions on here. Has anybody fitted one of the after-market swivel solutions? Is it any good? I'm asking because I have been offered a really good spec at a really good discount ... with comfort seats. I would like them to swivel, so need to understand if an after-market solution is realistic. Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[WelshGas]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, well, not that old but would value opinions on here. Has anybody fitted one of the after-market swivel solutions? Is it any good? I'm asking because I have been offered a really good spec at a really good discount ... with comfort seats. I would like them to swivel, so need to understand if an after-market solution is realistic. Would love to hear your thoughts.

I'm sure it is possible but it will raise the height and you would need to check that the electrical wiring for airbags etc is compatible.

 

[Sp0_0k]

Still proposing a left seat with a swivel Will switch for a comfort one.

 

[Stoneybroke]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, well, not that old but would value opinions on here. Has anybody fitted one of the after-market swivel solutions? Is it any good? I'm asking because I have been offered a really good spec at a really good discount ... with comfort seats. I would like them to swivel, so need to understand if an after-market solution is realistic. Would love to hear your thoughts.

I put a swivel on my Caravelle, but just the passenger seat. It's one with a built in safe, so the whole seat base came out. It's no higher than the drivers seat. Very satisfied. Certainly an option to retro fit.
All wiring unplugged, Feed it through centre hole and reconnect - no problems, but ignition off, key out out battery disconnected or you will get an airbag fault light that needs clearing (high resistance i.e. broken circuit)

 

[X4 VWC]

Thanks, SB. It's good to know that it can be done if I like the rest of the vehicle.

 

[Gavrobb]

I think its a really good question X4 - well worth bringing up here and I can imagine you are one of many folk debating the same thing as these vans come up now. As previous in the thread we went through this one with a conversion specialist here before getting to a 'proper' resolution and of course it can be done but not quite the same quality as the factory.

You can also pick up a set of 'proper' Cali seats from a breaker yard - from what I understand it's not hard to find - more expensive than retro fit but perhaps less expensive than the discount on a comfort seat Cali?

Either way it would be good to hear how you get on and I hope that this thread is a good reference for all who were affected - it certainly proved invaluable for us. (thanks to all....)

 

[Bigted]

I put a swivel on my Caravelle, but just the passenger seat. It's one with a built in safe, so the whole seat base came out. It's no higher than the drivers seat. Very satisfied. Certainly an option to retro fit.
All wiring unplugged, Feed it through centre hole and reconnect - no problems, but ignition off, key out out battery disconnected or you will get an airbag fault light that needs clearing (high resistance i.e. broken circuit)

Bear in mind that the Cali has a battery under this seat

 

[Stoneybroke]

Bear in mind that the Cali has a battery under this seat

Good point, but the plate would still have some clearance. I have a 110Ah battery under my driver's seat, retro fitted, all below height of the box upon which the seat is bolted, and could fit a swivel plate, but haven't, as I have a Beach on order! And my seats have height adjustments...
There a plenty of retro fit solutions out there with batteries too, and it could be a good solution to someone willing to compromise with non swivelling comfort seats.

The fact remains that VW should be able to engineer a swivel seat with height adjustment for Cali's rather than compromise on a £40-£55k vehicle.

 

[X4 VWC]

I decided to go for the vehicle with 'Swivelgate' seats. There appear to be several after-market options, though I would be careful about doing this with the driver's seat since these may introduce some play that might be bothersome, I'm not sure, but plenty of converters can tackle this job. SInce I am now buying a Beach instead of an Ocean, I will fit a MaxxCamp pod behind the driver's seat. And since the pod will be there, the seat won't turn, so the problem is completely solved! I suppose that would be like removing the awning if unsure whether to choose silver or black ... but, I think it can be made to work.

 

[Graeme Reid]

Still proposing a left seat with a swivel Will switch for a comfort one.

Hi, are you still looking to switch your swivel seat? If so, what trim do you have?

 

[methley]

I decided to go for the vehicle with 'Swivelgate' seats. There appear to be several after-market options...

My Caravelle came with non swiveling seats. However I retrofitted factory swivels to both of them and also have a leisure battery under the driver's seat. The cheapest route was to buy in donor seats with swivels (quite hard to find) in the correct colour plastics. I then swapped the swivel bases over to my own seats and refitted the non swivel bases to the donor seats to sell on. So it is possible to fit factory swivels to your comfort seats, but it's quite an involved process.

 

[Tom3310]

My Caravelle came with non swiveling seats. However I retrofitted factory swivels to both of them and also have a leisure battery under the driver's seat. The cheapest route was to buy in donor seats with swivels (quite hard to find) in the correct colour plastics. I then swapped the swivel bases over to my own seats and refitted the non swivel bases to the donor seats to sell on. So it is possible to fit factory swivels to your comfort seats, but it's quite an involved process.

Methley, could you direct me to where you got the swivel seats from?? Thanks Tom

 

[methley]

One from Colin at Oxford T5 and one from eBay Germany!

 

[Graeme Reid]

Methley, could you direct me to where you got the swivel seats from?? Thanks Tom

Hi Tom, I just finished successfully fitting two swivel plates to my 2016 beach with comfort seats. Work great although the drivers seat is a bit fiddly to turn and now squeaks a bit. Takes around 1 hr per seat to fit. They do restrict the height adjustment but well worth it. Bought them from Kiravans.

 

[Stoneybroke]

Even with OEM swivelling seats the drivers side is fiddly until you get the hang of it so probably no different to your retrofit!

Yes, I was surprised with the VW ones as they only appear to go one way, whilst the retro-fit one I put in our Caravelle can turn either way, which avoided some of the kerfuffle - that said, I didn't put one on the driver's side.