The best interior mods for your S13
When modifying cars, we usually start at the exterior. After all, we want our whip to look cool. But there is more to modifying cars than slapping on a body kit, some paint, and cool wheels. If you ever get to the part where you get to drive your car you will spend more time inside than outside the car. The interior is a place we spend a lot of time in and it is worthy of some cool aftermarket modifications.
The S13, just like most 90s Japanese cars has a pretty bland and boring interior. Let’s take a look at some of the best S13 interior mods that you can do.
Changing out your S13 seats
The first place to start is probably the seats of your S13. The OEM seats are ok, but that’s it. Just ok. They are most likely worn out, and even if the fabric is still in one piece, it won’t give you a lot of support. One of the most common mods people do to their S13 interior is changing out the seats. If you go for aftermarket seats you will most likely need seat rails that are specific to the S13 chassis. I recommend going for low profile seat rails as there is not a lot of headroom in an S13. There are three options when upgrading your seats.
Aftermarket bucket seats.
This is the option that a lot of people choose. If you don’t mind a fixed seating position and want that race car feel then a bucket seat is a great choice for you. Some of the most popular Aftermarket seats used in an S13 are the Recaro SP1 and Bride ZETA. Both these seats are on the higher end of the price range but are made to a very high quality standard.
Aftermarket reclinable seats
When you want a seat that is more practical and comfortable, an aftermarket reclinable seat is a great option for an S13. The option to recline the seats ensures that you can still use the back seats. Our favorite reclinable seats for an S13 are The Bride Euroster or Recaro Expert. You basically want something that is comfortable but adds a bit more support than the standard seats. There are way more seat manufacturers but Recaro and Bride make some fo the highest quality seats. If you are on a tighter budget then take a look at Sparco, NRG, Corbeau, etc.
Bride seats in an S13
You can also source older models and get them reupholstered. I got a set of old 90s Recaro’s and had them reupholstered. This way you get new seats that are 100% period correct!
OEM seats
The last option is to get OEM seat from a different model. Seats from a Nissan Skyline fit into the S13 without too much struggle (3 out of 4 bolts should line up). Seats from later S-chassis models like the s14 or s15 are a direct bolt-in and can be a nice upgrade. The OEM route has recently been gaining favor because of the easy fitment and OEM style.
Changing the steering wheel
The steering wheel is one of the points where you are connected to the car. How it feels in your hands and its positioning makes a huge difference in your driving experience.
I recommend a round wheel from a reputable manufacturer such as Nardi, Personal or Sparco. In terms of materials, you can choose whatever you want. Black leather fits well into the interior of an S13 and so does black suede. The downside with suede is that it will wear very quickly without the use of driving gloves.
S13 with an aftermarket steering wheel
The positioning of a wheel and its size is largely based on personal preference. If you want the most control over your car is recommended to position your steering wheel in such a way that if you extend your arm and lay it on top of the steering wheel, the wheel should touch where your wrist bends. This is the position that most professional drivers will use. To achieve this position you can use a combination of steering wheel adaptors and different steering wheel dishes.
Room for gauges in your S13 interior
No Japanese car is complete without a set of gauges. Some people like their gauges to be a center point of their S13 interior, other’s prefer a more subtle approach.
Gauges are most often mounted on the A-pillar, on the dashboard, or integrated into the mid-console. Mounting your gauges on the dashboard will require drilling or an aftermarket gauge holder. This is usually not reversible since you will need to drill holes in your dashboard. If that is the look you are going for then by all means go for it but there are more reversible options. If you like your gauges up high you can also replace your center vent with a gauge holder. This is a subtle way to mount your gauges that is completely reversible.
3D printed gauge holder for the center vent
Another popular method for installing gauges is to get a gauge holder for your A-pillar. This is a bit more subtle than mounting them on the dash and is often reversible depending on your method of mounting them.
The final popular option is to integrate them into the middle console. This is the most subtle way (besides mounting them in the glove box) and the one I personally used. It is usually not reversible since you will need to modify some trim pieces but it looks good.
S13 with gauges in the center console
OEM+ S13 interior mods
The final interior mods that I want to talk about are what I like to call the OEM+ S13 interior mods. This means that you will modify your interior in such a way that it could have come like that from the factory. How do you do that you ask? Let’s look at some cool options.
Reupholstering your existing seats in an OEM-type fabric will give a whole new life to your seats. If you have an experienced upholsterer you can even get extra side bolstering added for more side support. The benefit of this is that is often much cheaper than aftermarket seats and never looks out of place.
Reupholstered S15 seats in an S13
The same goes for your steering wheel. The OEM steering wheel of an S13 is actually quite unique and fits the car well. Why not reupholster it in leather or suede?
Other OEM+ S13 interior mods that you could consider are reupholstering your dashboard (because it’s most likely cracked) or reupholstering your roof liner.
The best thing about going this route is that you get to choose all the materials and stitching. You could restore everything back to OEM or give it your own personal touch with custom materials and colored stitching. The OEM+ route is getting more and more popular.
S13 interior mods roundup
We have talked about seats, steering wheels, and a bunch of OEM+ options. Modifying the interior of your S13 largely comes down to personal preference. Even though you don’t see much of the interior from the outside, it’s one of those things that complete a build. In the S13 buyers guide I recommend being cautious of half assed interiors.
You will need to decide whether you want performance or comfort from your interior. The best route is often one in the middle. Settling for some high-quality reclinable sport seats and a nice steering wheel in a proper position ensures that your S13 interior will be a joy to be in. Whether you want an OEM+ interior or want to go wild. It all comes down to personal preference so there are no wrong answers when it comes to S13 interior mods.
