[rebelfocus]

I am finding it very difficult to get a totally comfortable position in my sports seats?

I am 5'8", 150 pounds (very average)

I came from an Audi A4 and I loved the seats on that car so maybe I am just finding it hard to adjust to the E90.

Here are some of the things that I notice in the E90

- I find the seat cushions a tad too long and catch me at the back of the knees at some heights/angles when I depress the clutch
- If I put the seat at medium height I feel there is very little headroom (I have a sunroof)
- if I put the seat down low, it feels like I am sitting in a hole
- I can't tolerate the seat angle being anything other than flat
- I find the seat back very straight and it just doesn't give much lower back support. This makes me want to put the seat back back at an angle causing different problems
- the headrests are quite far back, there is little shoulder or head support
- I don't have any back problems to speak of and haven't had problems with other cars.

I know we are all different shapes and sizes and what is right for one person is a disaster for the next. However, since I bought the car, I have been fidgeting with the seat and still haven't found the right setting. It's been 6 weeks now and it still doesn't feel good.

Apart from the general rule for just feeling comfortable are there are techniques for getting a good seat position. Is there an order in which you should adjust, distance from pedals, angle etc. that would make it easier.

Anyone got any tips???

[steverequiem]

I was about to post on this very topic. I just got my new 325i, and have been playing around with the seat position. I've developed a little system learned after my previous BMW.

First I lower the seat as low as it can go, and back far enough that I can't reach any of the pedals (doesn't take much, I'm 5'5). I move the seat forward again until i can comfortably depress the clutch. I then raise the seat until the top of the steering wheel is at the same level of the gauge hood when I stare straight ahead. Since this brings my feet closer to the pedals, I move the seat back again. I raise the backrest until it feels comfortable and supportive, and then save all the settings to Memory 1 and 2. As I'm driving more and more, I continue to play around with the seat position, fine tuning it and such, because it seems you always want to make an adjustment everytime you sit in the car after a break. Any adjustment gets saved to Memory 2, so I have a reference starting point in Memory 1 in case I really screw it up. After I last a couple weeks without having to mess around with the seat more, I'll save the final setting to Memory 1. I'm probably way more anal about my seat position than most, but it the process works pretty well for me. Good luck, hope this helps.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by tonyobrien

I am finding it very difficult to get a totally comfortable position in my sports seats?

I am 5'8", 150 pounds (very average)

I came from an Audi A4 and I loved the seats on that car so maybe I am just finding it hard to adjust to the E90.

Here are some of the things that I notice in the E90

- I find the seat cushions a tad too long and catch me at the back of the knees at some heights/angles when I depress the clutch
- If I put the seat at medium height I feel there is very little headroom (I have a sunroof)
- if I put the seat down low, it feels like I am sitting in a hole
- I can't tolerate the seat angle being anything other than flat
- I find the seat back very straight and it just doesn't give much lower back support. This makes me want to put the seat back back at an angle causing different problems
- the headrests are quite far back, there is little shoulder or head support
- I don't have any back problems to speak of and haven't had problems with other cars.

I know we are all different shapes and sizes and what is right for one person is a disaster for the next. However, since I bought the car, I have been fidgeting with the seat and still haven't found the right setting. It's been 6 weeks now and it still doesn't feel good.

Apart from the general rule for just feeling comfortable are there are techniques for getting a good seat position. Is there an order in which you should adjust, distance from pedals, angle etc. that would make it easier.

Anyone got any tips???

This is where both the lumbar and the width adjustment features come in handy. After much tinkering, much being 20 minutes, I was able to adjust the seat perfectly.

[ska///235i]

I'm a small dude myself (5'7) and it took me around 4 weeks to get use to the seats...try adjusting the steering wheel also and not just the seats.

[barrett9699]

Originally Posted by tonyobrien

- I find the seat cushions a tad too long and catch me at the back of the knees at some heights/angles when I depress the clutch
-

Yeah, I noticed this for a while when I bought my E46 (I'm 5'7"). That's on of the reasons the sport seats don't appeal to me - the thigh extension would be worthless to me. I'm assuming you have it all the way closed??

My previous ride was a Saab 9-3, and the seating position is fairly tall and upright (a bit like a van or pick-up truck). I had to get used to sitting down a little lower to the ground (in the "hole" you described). After a while I grew accustom to it, and now I prefer it.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by ska

try adjusting the steering wheel also and not just the seats.

That is an excellent point.

I always adjust the steering wheel in a car as part of adjusting the seat.

[Damage Inc]

This is my 3rd BMW w\sport seats and find myself constantly fidgeting as well. The bottom line is there isnt enough settings for pitch, etc like in the 5 series. If there were a couple more settings for height, etc then they would be awesome.

[mc68386]

Something else to keep in mind is that I find that there isn't any ONE setting that is always ideal for me. There are lots of variables. The biggest is probably the type of shoes. When I wear my Timberlands (big boots), I have to move the seat up and back a bit. If I'm wearing a coat, seat goes back a bit. On the way to work, I sit upright. On the way home, more reclined. etc, etc. That to me is the real beauty of power seats - easy to adjust to my exact needs while I'm driving.

[Nikki]

I played around with it for a few minutes and it's pretty comfortable for me. I'm 4'11" lol.

[ksfrogman]

The car fits me perfectly, and I'm 5'9", 163 lbs. You'll probably just need to adjust your seat angle, steering wheel reach and rake, and get used to it. I'm used to driving many other vehicles, so going from one to another doesn't bother me too much.

Don't forget that the sport seats also have lumbar and bolster support.

[DTM]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I played around with it for a few minutes and it's pretty comfortable for me. I'm 4'11" lol.

So I'm assuming you use a periscope to see over the dash/gauges?

Sorry I just couldn't resist saying that.

[David328M-Sport]

It took me a few adjustments over a week or so to become totally comfortable with my seating position. It is in memory.

Before the e90, my e36 and e46 were manual adjustments but it wasn't hard to reposition the seat in those cars either. Very comfortable.

[JamieA]

Your seat should allow you to be able to comfortable depress the clutch. And you should also be able to touch the top of the steering wheel with your wrists if you put your arms out in front of you - so adjust the steering wheel in and out. This will give you a comfortable angle to your arms, and allow a sufficient range of movement.

I got these instructions from an advanced driving course I did, and I feel much more comfortable in my car since following them. Using the steering wheel height and reach adjustment is the key in my book to comfort...

[rebelfocus]

Thanks for the useful tips. I have tried a few of them.

I still find the very straight seat back quite unusual compared to other cars. I have noticed this unusual seat design in previous BMWs as well but thought the E90 would be better.

My girlfriend comments that even the passenger seat isn't that comfortable either. She feels that she is either perched too high or sitting down in a hole and that the seat cushion is too long.

I just hope I can get used to this... eventually.
I just wish I could transplant an Audi or Mercedes seat into this car.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by DTM

So I'm assuming you use a periscope to see over the dash/gauges?

Sorry I just couldn't resist saying that.

Ha. I just raise my seat as high as it can go. I couldn't ever own an E46 because I couldn't see out of it, so I'm happy BMW finally decided to make a car fit for a midget.

[wongmb]

Originally Posted by JamieA

Your seat should allow you to be able to comfortable depress the clutch. And you should also be able to touch the top of the steering wheel with your wrists if you put your arms out in front of you - so adjust the steering wheel in and out. This will give you a comfortable angle to your arms, and allow a sufficient range of movement.

I got these instructions from an advanced driving course I did, and I feel much more comfortable in my car since following them. Using the steering wheel height and reach adjustment is the key in my book to comfort...

I second that as well. Touching the top of the steering wheel with your wrist is very important to set proper distance between you and the steering wheel.
Also ur left foot should be able to touch the carpet behind the clutch pedal (i.e where clutch sits when fully depressed.)
Both are taught at performance driving school. 95% of the drivers out there failed in at least one of the two requirement for proper seating position.

[Steve P.]

I found the Audi seats much more comfortable as well, Iam 6'1" and I found to be comfortable I have to have the Seat way back, and then my visiibilty out the side window is very poor.

[MB330]

Originally Posted by DTM

So I'm assuming you use a periscope to see over the dash/gauges?

.

Sorry I just couldn't resist saying that

[shark330i]

I'm 6'5" and there are literally hundreds of positions to adjust to. No problem with my getting an 'exact fit'.

[noflash]

6'3"

Loved my e46 sport seats. Hated my e90's. The side bolsters were too much for my kidneys (even all the way out) and the top of the seat curved forward causing me to roll my sholders forward. Driving became very painful.

After trying exactly one million lumbar cushions. I added a piece of foam to the inside of the seat approx 1.5" x 12" x 18". This in effect filled the curve of the seat -- pushing me out a bit from the top-curve and side-bolsters.

Now my seats are 90% perfect.

Also, FWIW even at my height, the seat-bottom-extender is useless.

I miss my e46 seats.

[ashecnc]

Originally Posted by shark330i

I'm 6'5" and there are literally hundreds of positions to adjust to. No problem with my getting an 'exact fit'.

Well I am 6' and have no problem either, but when you are 4 feet tall it makes a difference

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Nikki

I played around with it for a few minutes and it's pretty comfortable for me. I'm 4'11" lol.

OMG Nikki - you are tiny!