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      10-20-2011, 04:29 PM   #1
jbinbi
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seat comfort

I was hoping some members could comment on seat comfort on the X3, especially for long hwy drives.

I have a 128i with the sport package. I am middle aged, in pretty good shape, but I find these seats very uncomfortable for long hwy drives. Mind you, if you are whipping around a turn at .8g, they are fantastic for holding you in, but for long drives, my back hurts.

I have sat in the X3, and the seats are different, but what I need to do is really take a 2 hr drive on the hwy and see if i can find a good position. I don't think the dealer is up for me putting 120mi on the car, so the next best thing I can do is ask others. thanks.
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      10-20-2011, 04:37 PM   #2
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I got the sport seats because I was concerned about the comfort of the standard seats. I am extremely pleased with the sport seats, drove 8 hours last Thursday from TN to DC, and had very little seat fatigue. That same trip in my E53 standard seats, my lower back would have been quite tired.
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      10-20-2011, 05:57 PM   #3
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I am older as well, and in reasonable good shape, health-wise. I have sport seats in my X3 and love them. Very comfortable. Longest drive to date is about 4 hours and absolutely no problems. I am sensitive to uncomfortable seats, and have had bad experiences in the past (not in BMWs tho).
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      10-20-2011, 06:14 PM   #4
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Took a 6 hour trip with the sport seats and they are ok. Not the most comfortable, but not the least either. They do offer a lot of support and adjustments which is nice. I would call them more "firm" than comfortable.
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      10-20-2011, 07:04 PM   #5
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I wouldn't have bought the car without sports seats. 4-5 hour drives don't even begin to cause soreness or stiffness.
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      10-20-2011, 07:13 PM   #6
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The sport seats I find a bit firm and small. I am not a big guy, 180, 5'8 but my 93 Pathfinder's seats are softer and bigger. Of course it has not much in term of contour. The X3 seats wouldn't work for a bigger person.
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      10-20-2011, 10:21 PM   #7
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Actually, being a bigger person, I find that the Sport Seats work quite well. I've adjusted them to the right comfort point for me. I've taken multiple 2-3 hour trips and been very comfortable. I have a 2.5 hour trip planned for tomorrow, followed by two hours of sitting in less comfortable seats, and then another 1.5 hours of driving. The driving portion will be the most comfortable part.
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      10-20-2011, 10:24 PM   #8
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I'm 5'10", athletic build. I like the support the sports seats give but the seams with the contrasting stitching are hard and get painful. No one else has reported this so I guess it's just me.

The adjustable thigh support is great and most importantly, the sports seats look cool.
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      10-20-2011, 11:41 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jbinbi View Post
I was hoping some members could comment on seat comfort on the X3, especially for long hwy drives.

I have a 128i with the sport package. I am middle aged, in pretty good shape, but I find these seats very uncomfortable for long hwy drives. Mind you, if you are whipping around a turn at .8g, they are fantastic for holding you in, but for long drives, my back hurts.

I have sat in the X3, and the seats are different, but what I need to do is really take a 2 hr drive on the hwy and see if i can find a good position. I don't think the dealer is up for me putting 120mi on the car, so the next best thing I can do is ask others. thanks.
I personally never had any problem with my 1er but I sit relatively upright compare to most (which is the correct sitting position ). The X3 Sport Seats feels more plush, but probably marginally. I still yet to really set the seat up properly, but so far so good.

I never had any problems putting miles here in Aus on demos, but all you have to do is ask?
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      10-21-2011, 12:44 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dukat View Post
I'm 5'10", athletic build.
Sounds like a dating site!

Sports seats in the x3 are more comfortable than my previous 5 series standard seats. By the way I'm 5'11" dark hair, green eyes and enjoy films, meals out and sports

I did find a colleagues x5 msport with sports seats and sport suspension + 20" rims uncomfortable on a 600 mile roundtrip.
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      10-21-2011, 12:48 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
I did find a colleague('s lap) comfortable on a trip.
Yeah I'll bet you did.
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      10-21-2011, 12:49 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
Sounds like a dating site!

Sports seats in the x3 are more comfortable than my previous 5 series standard seats. By the way I'm 5'11" dark hair, green eyes and enjoy films, meals out and sports


Go for sports seats BTW. 6'3", 220 pounds and no issues - but they do take some time to adjust to find the best position and even then I still don't like the pedal positions and the position of the foot rest
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      10-21-2011, 12:51 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post


Go for sports seats BTW. 6'3", 220 pounds and no issues - but they do take some time to adjust to find the best position and even then I still don't like the pedal positions and the position of the foot rest
The pedal positions troubled me for days after I first took delivery. It was a bit unnerving.
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      10-21-2011, 06:58 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76 View Post
Sounds like a dating site!
lol.
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      10-21-2011, 07:12 AM   #15
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Recently took a10 hr trip with standard seats and did not have a problem, I am 5'8" and weigh 112kg.
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      10-21-2011, 07:55 AM   #16
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If you're new to BMW, and especially if you're new to German cars - the seats will feel much firmer than what you're used to. American and Japanese cars go for the "comfy chair" feel, which feels nice at first but does not provide much support over time. Like an overstuffed chair or soft mattress. That "ahh, this feels nice" comfort fades once you're back starts killing you from lack of support.

I prefer the firm support of the BMW seats, but I do draw a big distinction between the 'regular' seats and the sports seats. The extra bolsters and adjustments of the sports seats provide more support and comfort, and if you combine them with power option you can adjust them for a custom fit.

The very best are the X5 multi-contour seats... but the X3 seats are pretty good. I find as I get older I need a higher position - coupes and sedans tend to make you keep your legs too extended which is fatiguing over time. The SAV gives you more of a chair-like position and more comfort options for your legs. This also takes pressure off your lower back.

The X3 seats are really the same as the 3 Series, but set higher.
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      10-21-2011, 07:58 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by durbana View Post
Recently took a10 hr trip with standard seats and did not have a problem, I am 5'8" and weigh 112kg.
Here 191 cm and 125 kg, with sport seats I feel a bit "squeezed", we took a 4 hour journey with test car. Hence I ordered std seats with electric lumbar adjustment.

Sport seats were ok for aggressive driving but too tight for me for long hauls...
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      10-21-2011, 09:25 AM   #18
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I have the standard leather seats. At 6'3", 215 lbs., 55+ I found the seats comfortable, in the German sense of the word. After 4 months I developed piriformis syndrome in my right cheek. Wife claims it's from the seat. I don't know if it was from the seat, biking riding or other things. For a month after 10 mins in the X3 I had what felt like a hot poker sticking my right cheek. After weeks of rolling on a baseball and stretching finally some relief.
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      10-21-2011, 12:54 PM   #19
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thanks for the all comments. i have a 2004 pilot, I love those seats. One issue is that i am wide at the shoulders, and the 128 sports seats are not wide at the top of the seat.

Also, since the 128 is manual adjust, i can't micro tune the position well. If i had to do this again, I would get elec adjustment.

My concern is when i got the 128, (it was cpo at dealer), i took it for a reasonable test drive. Went down a 5mi strectch of rd with lights that you can get to about 50mph, had some exit cloverleafs that I could really throw it into, went onto the highway for an exit and back, etc. Seats felt, OK, nothing great, nothing bad. Car drove great!

After I got it, went on a 2hr trip and my lower back was killing me. Again, this is a sports car, with sports seat, so I am low, at a bit of angle, etc.

I remember my roomate at college getting his dads almost new TR7 because his 55 yr old dad couldn't get in and out of the car in his suit. My 20 yr old kids tell me there is nothing wrong with the seats of my 128i, just hand over the keys if you don't like driving it;-)
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      10-21-2011, 09:06 PM   #20
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I am 60 years old average size and in good health. Went on two different 12 hour trips. I have the regular seats and I did just fine. I had the sports seats in my 328i and like them to but just alittle snug.
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      10-22-2011, 02:23 PM   #21
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I stuck with the standard seats but added lumbar support. Super comfy and absolutely zero regrets about not getting the sport seats.

My oyster seats seem to have dark contrast stitching which I didn't expect but I do like. A little added bonus.
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      10-22-2011, 04:50 PM   #22
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+1 on sport seats on the X3. I just drove about 400 miles the other week going between seattle and portland. the height of the seat and the thigh supports are what I'm attributing the extra comfort to (vs my non-sport e93 seats).
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