00 Impala seats in a 94 Bonne?

[renchjeep]

I have access to a pair of front bucket seats from a 2000 Impala former detective unit with (about) the proper color for my 94 Bonneville SE. My original buckets are pretty torn up, and the seatback on the driver's side likes to bend backwards after time, requiring a couple of good heaves from the backseat to get it back to the proper position. Both cars have power driver's seats, and the mounting bolts appear to be in the same locations. Wiring also looks compatible at a glance. The Impala seats have airbags in them, on the sides, my Bonne does not. Impala seats also have a knob on the lower area, which appears to control leg bolsters? Electric seat controls for the Impala are on the side, whereas the Bonneville controls are on the front side of the seat.

Long story short, anyone have any idea/experience if these 2000 Impala front buckets will fit and bolt into my 1994 Bonneville SE?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.

[harofreak00]

If Impala owners can put Bonneville seats in, there should be no reason you can't swap the other way.

http://www.reocities.com/reilym/bonnyseats.html

[J Wikoff]

Hmm, a 94-96 Impala is different than a 00.

[00Beast]

You could try it, but you'll need access to the FSM's, or at least seat connector pinouts for both cars, as well as you'll have to cut a pigtail out of the harness side Impala connector and match up the wires from your Bonneville Harness, solder and pray it works. Before that however, you will have to physically make sure that the Impala seat bolts in and is a good position in the car for you. Even though they look similar, it could be a completely different seating position that is super uncomfortable for you, too low, too high, etc.

[human]

Another option might be to keep your original seat tracks and bolt the Impala seats to them. Not sure how you'd wire in the airbags. Do the Impala seats have the shoulder harnesses built in? A lot of 2000+ GM cars do. My '97 LSS had a knob on the lower cushion. It was for the lumbar adjustment.

[petraman]

Impala seats are the worst seats ever made. They're not comfortable and they have absolutely NO bolsters. I'd recommend saving your money for a good pair of Bonneville seats.

[renchjeep]

Another option might be to keep your original seat tracks and bolt the Impala seats to them. Not sure how you'd wire in the airbags. Do the Impala seats have the shoulder harnesses built in? A lot of 2000+ GM cars do. My '97 LSS had a knob on the lower cushion. It was for the lumbar adjustment.

Good idea on the "seat-only" swap. Not worried about making the airbags in the 00 Impala seats work---but now that I think about it, how do I make them NOT WORK? It would certainly suck a LOT if I were driving down the road, and for some stupid reason, the airbags on the seats deployed!

Is just leaving them disconnected enough? I would think so, but thinking is sometimes not my strong point......

[renchjeep]

Impala seats are the worst seats ever made. They're not comfortable and they have absolutely NO bolsters. I'd recommend saving your money for a good pair of Bonneville seats.

HHHMMM....a good "used" pair of 94 Bonne front buckets, especially leather and in the proper "tan" color, sounds like a tall order. I did sit in the Impala seats, well the driver's side at least, and it didn't feel too bad. These seats are in a former police detective unit, and have vinyl on the sides, and fabric on the seating area. Maybe different from "regular issue" Impala seats? I will have to check them out further, by jumping the car and checking the adjustment abilities. And figure out exactly what the manual twisting knob on the side of the seat does. Maybe lumbar, or maybe thigh bolster adjustment?

[00Beast]

The knob is for lumbar I'm sure. Those seats wouldn't look good in your car, IMO. Find some Bonneville seats.

The airbags will only work if triggered by an impact sensor and if they get voltage applied to them.

[human]

The seats are probably the same as in the 'civilian' Impalas, but with the cheapest upholstery available. Police packages are generally all about the power plant and the suspension, but they more than scrimp on interior amenities. Some even have cloth seats in the front and vinyl in the back. My uncle was in law enforcement for many years, and after he suffered a back injury in the line of duty, he had to get a doctor's prescription to have the state spring for a six-way power seat for his subsequent patrol cars. He still had to pay out of his pocket for the AM/FM radio upgrade.

Impala seats are the worst seats ever made. They're not comfortable and they have absolutely NO bolsters. I'd recommend saving your money for a good pair of Bonneville seats.

HHHMMM....a good "used" pair of 94 Bonne front buckets, especially leather and in the proper "tan" color, sounds like a tall order. I did sit in the Impala seats, well the driver's side at least, and it didn't feel too bad. These seats are in a former police detective unit, and have vinyl on the sides, and fabric on the seating area. Maybe different from "regular issue" Impala seats? I will have to check them out further, by jumping the car and checking the adjustment abilities. And figure out exactly what the manual twisting knob on the side of the seat does. Maybe lumbar, or maybe thigh bolster adjustment?

[1oldman]

Impala seats are the worst seats ever made. They're not comfortable and they have absolutely NO bolsters. I'd recommend saving your money for a good pair of Bonneville seats.

HHHMMM....a good "used" pair of 94 Bonne front buckets, especially leather and in the proper "tan" color, sounds like a tall order. I did sit in the Impala seats, well the driver's side at least, and it didn't feel too bad. These seats are in a former police detective unit, and have vinyl on the sides, and fabric on the seating area. Maybe different from "regular issue" Impala seats? I will have to check them out further, by jumping the car and checking the adjustment abilities. And figure out exactly what the manual twisting knob on the side of the seat does. Maybe lumbar, or maybe thigh bolster adjustment?

My wife and I think Bonneville seats have more support and comfort that any other seat, even her new CTS. Take 00Beast's advice, stick with Bonneville seats , JMHO - BC

[renchjeep]

Impala seats are the worst seats ever made. They're not comfortable and they have absolutely NO bolsters. I'd recommend saving your money for a good pair of Bonneville seats.

My wife and I think Bonneville seats have more support and comfort that any other seat, even her new CTS. Take 00Beast's advice, stick with Bonneville seats , JMHO - BC

OK, I checked the seats out a bit more, and they are not as supportive as the Bonne seats. Still liveable, I think. The knob is lumbar support, I was hoping for thigh bolster adjustment. By looking at the mounting points a bit more, it looks like they will bolt in.

Still not ready to make the commitment, though.

The Impala seats are OK, but look WAY cheaper than the Bonne seats. And the color does not exactly match. Plus, there's that fabric covering in the seating area.

The only "real" benefit/plus that I see now is the fact that the driver's seatback in the Impala is not looking to collapse, and lay me into the back seat while driving, as the Bonne driver's seat feels about ready to do.

SO, I throw myself upon the mercy of you guys! Does anyone have (or know of) a decent set of front bucket seats for my 94 Bonne SE looking for a new car to find a home in? Preferably leather (or vinyl?) in a dark tan (fawn?) color, with power for the driver's side?
AND in SoCal, or nearby?

If not, I will most likely try the swap. For safety reasons, mostly. This Bonne is my daily driver, 60 miles per day on hilly, twisty country 2 lane blacktop. "Agressive" driving. I DO NOT need the seat finally "giving up the ghost" by collapsing, and possibly causing my own ghost to be given up. Previous owner was a heavy lad, and although I am not, the seat has seen 167k of hard use, and can't take much more.

Any help will be much appreciated.

[00Beast]

Have you looked on www.car-part.com ?

[WeeBey]

Have you considered other BPO cars for a seat swap? I have seen Park Ave seats in a Bonny and didn't like the look, but the owner was happy with the set up.

[1oldman]

OK, I checked the seats out a bit more, and they are not as supportive as the Bonne seats. Still liveable, I think. The knob is lumbar support, I was hoping for thigh bolster adjustment. By looking at the mounting points a bit more, it looks like they will bolt in.

Still not ready to make the commitment, though.

The Impala seats are OK, but look WAY cheaper than the Bonne seats. And the color does not exactly match. Plus, there's that fabric covering in the seating area.

The only "real" benefit/plus that I see now is the fact that the driver's seatback in the Impala is not looking to collapse, and lay me into the back seat while driving, as the Bonne driver's seat feels about ready to do.

SO, I throw myself upon the mercy of you guys! Does anyone have (or know of) a decent set of front bucket seats for my 94 Bonne SE looking for a new car to find a home in? Preferably leather (or vinyl?) in a dark tan (fawn?) color, with power for the driver's side?
AND in SoCal, or nearby?

If not, I will most likely try the swap. For safety reasons, mostly. This Bonne is my daily driver, 60 miles per day on hilly, twisty country 2 lane blacktop. "Agressive" driving. I DO NOT need the seat finally "giving up the ghost" by collapsing, and possibly causing my own ghost to be given up. Previous owner was a heavy lad, and although I am not, the seat has seen 167k of hard use, and can't take much more.

Any help will be much appreciated.[/quote]



I did a google search and here is a site with parts for your seats. I don't know if they'll work for you or not, but a good google search can turn up all kinds of interesting things. -BC
http://www.gmpartsgiant.com/components/ ... 2hx69.html

look at what I found lol - look at the date!
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3994&start=0

Call your local salvage yards. Even as scarce as Bonnevilles are here, I can find them from time to time. I want a set with lumbar support for mine. i know I'll have a hard time finding them & I know I'll have to get the wiring harness and controls for the center console. - Good Luck! Hope you find what you're looking for. -BC

[1oldman]

Found you some seats

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac- ... ccessories

[human]

The only potential problem there is that Buicks and Oldsmobiles of that era all had the power seat controls on the door panel and not on the seat. It seems some 1990s Bonnevilles have the seat controls on the seat, while others (SSE's and SSEi's?) have them on the center console. If your car has the latter configuration, it would definitely make an easier swap, although you would probably have to do some splicing on the wiring harnesses.

Have you considered other BPO cars for a seat swap? I have seen Park Ave seats in a Bonny and didn't like the look, but the owner was happy with the set up.