SPA seats fitted to an 850

Post by **matthew1** » 24 Aug 2025, 11:08

A member of my MVS FB group has started the work of fitting heated/cooled 2018 XC90 seats into his 850.

First, they're wider than P80 seats, with different tracks and mounting points. Second, they're adjustable in far more ways than P80 seats are. Third, the airbags will be a particularly difficult task to both handle and bring online (accident trigger signal).

Before you write this off as a failed mission that hasn't actually failed yet, let me add that Juan is very skilled. With this project he's aiming to join the top 1% of 850 modders and be elevated to the Volvo Pantheon.

melmaclifeform · Post by **melmaclifeform** » 24 Aug 2025, 16:31

Why wouldn’t he go for S60 seats which would likely be closer in size?

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 24 Aug 2025, 21:35

Well, i understand people putting different seat in their uaz 469, but volvo 850?
Esthetically I like the look of new seats. Sure they look more comfortable. Massage and cooling...hmmm...cooling is easy it is just fans which can be set to a 2-3 position switch(aftermarket seat heater controller might be easy adaptation). Massage...tough one in my opinion. I am not familiar with aftermarket options, but sure they should be there. You may not have a nice display with ability to adjust all options through touch screen, but some extra controller from those massaging 12v seat cushion might be of help.
Airbag..doubt much changed in trigger system or resistance feedback, so could possibly be simple wire splice and play. Another alternative is to use original airbags and put them in.

Seat mounting...I hope he welded all proper reinforcements to make this a success story and not another DAF Turbo Twin "flying" story.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 24 Aug 2025, 21:50

Interesting. I recently did find out that I could not adjust my 850 seats quite like I could my Cadillac. I hadn't driven the 850 in a while, so it felt strange, and I was trying to make it feel not strange.

It looks like he's got a really nice wagon.

Post by **DragosGD** » 25 Aug 2025, 08:30

Keep in mind that all car brands no longer want us to remove components from damaged cars and install them on other cars. Even a simple window switch contains a PROM chip which communicates in the Lin-Bus network with the main computer and cannot be reprogrammed on another car, if your window switch is broken... you buy a new one that needs to be reprogrammed based on VIN number. You can't even add accessories after the car has been configured and the VIN written.
I'm probably not as handy as Juan, but.. I installed electrically retractable mirrors in my S70, and I also changed their viewing angle for LHD, but at the same time I couldn't install a new refrigerator (factory option) in my Cadillac because the Lin-Bus network!