[MostlyHarmless]

On the BMW USA website's configurator it seems I cannot get ventilated seats with the Black Vernasca Leather w/blue contrast stitching/piping upholstery selected. I can only get ventilated seats with plain Canberra Beige/Black Vernasca Leather w/contrast stitching/piping or Black Vernasca Leather w/contrast stitching/piping.

Wondering why BMW does this....I really like the blue piping as it will go well with the Phytonic Blue paint, but I also want ventilated seats!

[Keweenawbee]

Originally Posted by MostlyHarmless

On the BMW USA website's configurator it seems I cannot get ventilated seats with the Black Vernasca Leather w/blue contrast stitching/piping upholstery selected. I can only get ventilated seats with plain Canberra Beige/Black Vernasca Leather w/contrast stitching/piping or Black Vernasca Leather w/contrast stitching/piping.

Wondering why BMW does this....I really like the blue piping as it will go well with the Phytonic Blue paint, but I also want ventilated seats!

Vented is only available on the seats w/o power side bolsters.

[ed4]

Ventilated seats are also available with the Mocha Vernasca seats too.

They do this to limit the number of parts needed to build cars and to keep the number of different configurations low (just like what Honda and Acura does, for example).

[MostlyHarmless]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

Vented is only available on the seats w/o power side bolsters.

Actually, it appears that the power side bolsters are standard, according to the build configurator.

"14-way power front sport seats including 2-way power side bolsters and 4-way lumbar support, with 2-way manual headrests and memory system for driver's seat"

[MostlyHarmless]

Originally Posted by ed4

Ventilated seats are also available with the Mocha Vernasca seats too.

They do this to limit the number of parts needed to build cars and to keep the number of different configurations low (just like what Honda and Acura does, for example).

Yes, ventilated is available on Mocha, Canberra Beige/Black, and Black, but NOT with Black/Blue contrast, Oyster, or Cognac. Oh well.

[sor]

On one hand it would seem logical that they'd have every color in both varieties, but it's not like they just punch holes in the colors they have. Every ventilated version is its own new part/variant, it's not any easier to add a cognac or oyster ventilated seat than an entirely new color. They must have just run out of variations they could (or were willing to) stock.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by MostlyHarmless

Actually, it appears that the power side bolsters are standard, according to the build configurator.

"14-way power front sport seats including 2-way power side bolsters and 4-way lumbar support, with 2-way manual headrests and memory system for driver's seat"

In the US (and probably everywhere), if you're getting ventilated seats, you are not getting powered side bolsters. Probably a typo on the build configurator.

[woodchuck1]

Originally Posted by SamS

In the US (and probably everywhere), if you're getting ventilated seats, you are not getting powered side bolsters. Probably a typo on the build configurator.

Right. My salesman said if you check seat ventilation, you get an entirely different seat, and in his opinion it is inferior.

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by woodchuck1

Right. My salesman said if you check seat ventilation, you get an entirely different seat, and in his opinion it is inferior.

Subjective. We prefer our X3 M40i's ventilated seats over our 2015 LCI X3 35i's M Sport package-Sports seats without ventilation. We plan on ordering the same again for our 2019 X3 M40i. Depends on where you live (temperate vs tropical climate) and your body habitus, so just like a mattress, you need to check it out for yourself before you buy. Lots of folks here prefer the Sport seats, some of us prefer the ventilated. No right or wrong if you like/need what you have.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by woodchuck1

Right. My salesman said if you check seat ventilation, you get an entirely different seat, and in his opinion it is inferior.

I sat in G01s with both ventilated and the sport seats. Even though I live in Texas (HOT), the non-ventilated seats felt better, to me.

[Keweenawbee]

We specified that we wanted them because they were always such an esoteric feature on other luxury vehicles so we wanted to try them out. Hope they perform as advertised this summer, as we would have preferred the power side bolsters.

[MostlyHarmless]

Originally Posted by SamS

I sat in G01s with both ventilated and the sport seats. Even though I live in Texas (HOT), the non-ventilated seats felt better, to me.

I know "felt better" is subjective, but can you elaborate? Is it just the fact that you can have those side bolsters "hug" you better, or do the seats have an overall different feel to them, such as firmness?

Edit: I'm coming from a 2017 F-Pace that has both ventilation and power side bolsters, so I'm afraid I'm used to having both available in the same seat.

[SWOT1]

I'm in FL where the temps have been in the mid 80's this week, and I can tell you the ventilated seats are a must for keeping cool (i.e. no sweaty, sticky backside)... BUT they are inferior to the non-ventilated seats in terms of side support, and when driving hard in the turns I do miss the larger, firmer bolsters. If you're buying the M40i more for the amazing athletic driving characteristics vs. a high-tech luxury utility vehicle, you'll most likely prefer the non-ventilated seats. If, like me, you're going to use this vehicle as a daily driver AND you live in a warm climate, the ventilated seats are a really useful option! (Luckily, I can jump into the M3 whenever I need to take full advantage of superior side bolstered seats!)

[MostlyHarmless]

Originally Posted by SWOT1

I'm in FL where the temps have been in the mid 80's this week, and I can tell you the ventilated seats are a must for keeping cool (i.e. no sweaty, sticky backside)... BUT they are inferior to the non-ventilated seats in terms of side support, and when driving hard in the turns I do miss the larger, firmer bolsters. If you're buying the M40i more for the amazing athletic driving characteristics vs. a high-tech luxury utility vehicle, you'll most likely prefer the non-ventilated seats. If, like me, you're going to use this vehicle as a daily driver AND you live in a warm climate, the ventilated seats are a really useful option! (Luckily, I can jump into the M3 whenever I need to take full advantage of superior side bolstered seats!)

Thanks for the feedback. I am starting to lean towards the better bolsters as I do love spirited driving. TBH, my F-Pace has both powered side bolsters and ventilation, and the ventilation does come in handy sometimes but it's not used on a regular basis.

[MostlyHarmless]

Just changed my order from ventilated seats to power bolsters (black Vernasca with contrast blue piping). I feel I would benefit more from this option than ventilation. Thanks for the input everybody!

[voyagergab]

Perhaps a light coloured leather seat can help keeping the seats cooler without ventilation.

[nxa]

Originally Posted by voyagergab

Perhaps a light coloured leather seat can help keeping the seats cooler without ventilation.

That’s very much what I am hoping with my Canberra beige! That and as much smaller n protection on glass as I can get away with...ignoring that I went for the sunroof and carbon black regardless

[SWOT1]

In FL, the beige seats only marginally help, even with dark tinted windows...

[Max Well]

Originally Posted by voyagergab

Perhaps a light coloured leather seat can help keeping the seats cooler without ventilation.

Originally Posted by SWOT1

In FL, the beige seats only marginally help, even with dark tinted windows...

After some decades of driving in the warm climates of SE USA, it doesn't seem that upholstery color matters. Regardless of the color leather, from a normal cold start from inside a garage to a destination hours away (with A/C set on 72 degrees 'Auto' with fan speed at 3), invariably one's backside develops perspiration. That has yet to happen with our G01's flow through air current.

Quite remarkable the difference it makes at the end of a long trip, as we've been surprised how much more refreshed and relaxed we feel at our destination.

Since one's body blocks the infrared/light transfer to the leather where sitting, color it seems may not be as much of a factor (from a cold shaded start) as we might have expected.

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by SamS

In the US (and probably everywhere), if you're getting ventilated seats, you are not getting powered side bolsters. Probably a typo on the build configurator.

So are the bolsters manually operated or fixed?

[SamS]

Originally Posted by MostlyHarmless

I know "felt better" is subjective, but can you elaborate? Is it just the fact that you can have those side bolsters "hug" you better, or do the seats have an overall different feel to them, such as firmness?

Edit: I'm coming from a 2017 F-Pace that has both ventilation and power side bolsters, so I'm afraid I'm used to having both available in the same seat.

Mostly the fact that the side bolsters hug you. But it did seem that the ventilated seats were a bit flatter overall.

Originally Posted by X4guy

So are the bolsters manually operated or fixed?

They're powered, and you adjust them with a button on the seat.

[titomi]

I think that X4guy was asking, when you have ventilated seats, if the side bolsters are powered, manually adjustable or fixed. Maybe Max Well will know the answer, as he have ventilated seats. But afaik, powered adjustable side bolster are only on sports seats. Not sure if there is a option of manual adjustment in any configuration.