Member Since: 15 Aug 2009
Location: NE Victoria
Posts: 141
removing 3rd row of seats in d3
Is there a problem removing the 3rd row of seats in a d3 se - with regard to legal liability and physically removing with regard to any electronics etc
It would surely save a fair amount of weight and allow additional storage.
thanks for your answers
dj
21st Mar 2010 1:22 pm
StornowaySA
Member Since: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 406
I suspect this would be fine legally but good luck in finding anyone putting that in writing in 2010 (dont forget the manufacturer actually sold the car like this - 5 seater- anyway) - no electronics and yes alot less weight.MY2010 D4 HSE 3.0, e-diff, 19inch MTR's; LLAMS Height adjustor, LR f & r light guards, LR side steps, LR bright finish side door mouldings; LR/Mantec G4 front bash plate, LR G4 Winch kit, Warn 9500lb Winch; GOE compressor guard, Uniden UHF, LR bright finish roof rails, LR G4 driving light kit, LR G4 ladder, 4 x extra rear compartment 12V sockets, Traxide dual battery system and Optima Yellowtop battery, ORS drawer system / fridge slide, LED rear compartment lighting.
22nd Mar 2010 5:39 am
mrandmrsh
Member Since: 25 Sep 2008
Location: Holmfirth
Posts: 487
If you wanted you could fit the optional sliding floor as well. Could cover the hole left by the seats. You would then have a flat loadspace floor that slides to ease loading with a very usable storage space underneath where the seats were.
At the first MoT the tester insisted that the seatbelts were removed, which was a PITA, as from time to time I reinstalled the seats.
At the next MoT the tester was content, despite the seat belts being in place.Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
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22nd Mar 2010 10:29 am
Preacher
Member Since: 15 Aug 2009
Location: NE Victoria
Posts: 141
BlackAdelaide wrote:
I suspect this would be fine legally but good luck in finding anyone putting that in writing in 2010 (dont forget the manufacturer actually sold the car like this - 5 seater- anyway) - no electronics and yes alot less weight.
Chris are you saying your vehicle is a 5 seater anyway
Doing it is easy but if you are pemanently changing the vehicle from a 7 - 5 seater then in most states you will need to get it re-engineered and recorded with you state tansport authoity At least that would be much easier than going from a 5 - 7 seat option. I think you are able to take them out on a temporay basis without this fuss though.
It would be nice if you could put the spare wheel in there instead of having to hang it off the back on a wheel carrier when fitting a long range tank too.Now D3 HSE TDV6 - waiting to be modified
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22nd Mar 2010 11:28 pm
StornowaySA
Member Since: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 406
No, mine is a 7 seater.MY2010 D4 HSE 3.0, e-diff, 19inch MTR's; LLAMS Height adjustor, LR f & r light guards, LR side steps, LR bright finish side door mouldings; LR/Mantec G4 front bash plate, LR G4 Winch kit, Warn 9500lb Winch; GOE compressor guard, Uniden UHF, LR bright finish roof rails, LR G4 driving light kit, LR G4 ladder, 4 x extra rear compartment 12V sockets, Traxide dual battery system and Optima Yellowtop battery, ORS drawer system / fridge slide, LED rear compartment lighting.
23rd Mar 2010 9:44 am
MattJ73
Member Since: 16 Feb 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 18
Anyone know if its easy to fit the 3rd row of seats if the car was originally a 5 seater? ie are the provisions there to install the 3rd row of seats?
24th Mar 2010 5:07 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Matt,
It's not so much if it's feasible, but whether it's economical. Not only do you need to source the third row seats, seatbelts etc, but you also have to replace the second row seats to one of (abt) 30:30:30 configuration in order to allow third seat access.
I can't see it being worthwhile,
PeterThe Bearded Dragon
24th Mar 2010 7:01 am
DiscoEvo6
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: Notts
Posts: 66
MattJ73 wrote:
Anyone know if its easy to fit the 3rd row of seats if the car was originally a 5 seater? ie are the provisions there to install the 3rd row of seats?
Why not swap cars with Preacher
24th Mar 2010 10:51 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72788
NJSS wrote:
I did this in a Disco 2.
At the first MoT the tester insisted that the seatbelts were removed, which was a PITA, as from time to time I reinstalled the seats.
At the next MoT the tester was content, despite the seat belts being in place.
Have taken the rear and middle seats out of mine, told insurer who was happy. Looked up the regs for MOT where seats removed & seat belt left, basically if there are no seats there the belts are not classed as seatbelts. My car passed with no middle seats but outer belts present, no rear row of seats but belts there with the bottom end stashed in the side stowage bins. Had a full cargo deck fitted instead of seats.
24th Mar 2010 12:56 pm
MattJ73
Member Since: 16 Feb 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 18
Bushwanderer wrote:
Hi Matt,
It's not so much if it's feasible, but whether it's economical. Not only do you need to source the third row seats, seatbelts etc, but you also have to replace the second row seats to one of (abt) 30:30:30 configuration in order to allow third seat access.
I can't see it being worthwhile,
Peter
Peter,
The economics of it are under control, however i did not count on the second row seats being an issue.... Might have to make sure the donor car is colour coordinated... Im buying in the next few weeks and my Dad (Preacher) is looking to buy soon too and does not want the 3rd row. So it still comes back to knowing if the provisions for the 3rd row are existing in a 05 HSE?
Matt.
Last edited by MattJ73 on 25th Mar 2010 5:43 am. Edited 1 time in total
25th Mar 2010 5:40 am
MattJ73
Member Since: 16 Feb 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 18
DiscoEvo6 wrote:
MattJ73 wrote:
Anyone know if its easy to fit the 3rd row of seats if the car was originally a 5 seater? ie are the provisions there to install the 3rd row of seats?
Why not swap cars with Preacher
Can you say 'donor car'?
25th Mar 2010 5:42 am
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi Matt,
Thanks for the clarification.
I remember that some 2005 HSE vehicles were brought into Oz as 5-seaters. I guess that you are considering one of these.
I GUESS that all of the HSE infrastructure is there to allow the fitting of the third row and alternative 2nd row seats (typically 5 seaters have a 2nd row in 60:40 combination. I can't comment if this was the case for the 5-seater HSEs or not).
I do agree that, at least, you and Preacher will need interior colour compatibility, as you will need to swap interior trim as well as seatbelts and seats.
Unfortunately, I haven't heard of it being done and don't think that I can help any further.
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(dont forget the manufacturer actually sold the car like this - 5 seater- anyway) - no electronics and yes alot less weight.
At least that would be much easier than going from a 5 - 7 seat option. I think you are able to take them out on a temporay basis without this fuss though.
