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      10-15-2012, 09:01 PM   #1
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Seat comfort.

My wife just got a x3 with the sport activity package. We came from a 2009 X5 which was very comfortable but not very reliable. The sport seats look good but are hard as a rock in my opinion and not to comfortable. I am wishing we got the regular seats. Will these things get better as they break in and does anyone else feel the same as me. I'm 5-10 200 lbs. I have a 2008 m3 and the seats are way better in comparison.
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      10-15-2012, 10:00 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F1 fan View Post
My wife just got a x3 with the sport activity package. We came from a 2009 X5 which was very comfortable but not very reliable. The sport seats look good but are hard as a rock in my opinion and not to comfortable. I am wishing we got the regular seats. Will these things get better as they break in and does anyone else feel the same as me. I'm 5-10 200 lbs. I have a 2008 m3 and the seats are way better in comparison.
I have the sport seats in my 2013 x3 28i and I think they are fine...I have a bad lower back too...This is coming from E92 M3 owner and someone who's owned x5, x6 and 5 series sedans with what I think are the best seats bmw makes - the multicontour seat.

My first question to the sales advisor was when I was spec'ing my x3 was could I get multicontour seats...
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      10-15-2012, 10:30 PM   #3
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I have had many BMWs, and I think I like the sport seats on our X3 the least. Seat comfort is so subjective and varies greatly by individual...my fiance loves them, and it's her DD, so I can't complain. For me, I just can't seem to get in a comfortable position or modify the bolsters enough to feel natural...they feel almost too narrow and firm. Per your question, at 15k miles, I can't say I've felt much break-in. On the plus side, maybe that means they will preserve their aesthetics well over time.

Amen to the multicounter seat...loved them in my '05 X5 4.8is.
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      10-15-2012, 10:43 PM   #4
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Thats how I feel. I can't seem to get comfortable either.
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      10-16-2012, 07:38 AM   #5
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On longer drives (2 hours or more) I actually think the standard seats in my 06 X3 were better than the sport seats in my F25... I find myself trying different positions trying to get comfortable after about an hour of driving. In the old X3 with standard seats I never seemed to have that problem. Maybe I still have to get used to these.
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      10-16-2012, 10:34 AM   #6
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I drove across country this spring in a 2010 328 xi with M sport manual 6 tranny. This car was a US spec car bought in Germany. Sport seats were great and one of the biggest reasons I bought an M sport X3.
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      10-16-2012, 11:02 AM   #7
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I haven't even made through my first tank of gas on my M-Sport X3 but I do really like the seats... I added lumbar support option as well. My E90 had sport seats and I like the ones in the X3 better, probably because of the lumbar support.
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      10-16-2012, 07:25 PM   #8
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It might take a while to find the ideal setting because of the myriad adjustments. But for people with especially wide backs, the side bolsters, even at their widest setting, could feel constricting. I think the Sport seats are generally most comfortable for people with relatively slim builds. I'm only 150lbs so I find them supportive and comfortable.
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      10-17-2012, 06:05 AM   #9
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My wife has a long term back problem, so she is very sensitive to poor car seats. She finds it most comfortable to have the seat squabs almost tipping forward (Can't stand that myself, I have the squabs in a much more normal mode).

I put 1 inch blocks under the rear of the seat runners. My wife now finds the X3 Msport with Sports Seats to be the most comfortable car we have had for many years. Whilst there is sufficient squab tilt range that I am also very happy

PS. I also had to block up the previous Toyota, Honda Accord and BMW 320D by about the same amounts: So this is her problem, not a BMW problem, but the solution might help others.
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      10-17-2012, 09:45 AM   #10
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The sport seats in the X3 are a ton better than the regular seats, the leather and plushness is the same but the regular seats have no support, its like sitting on a bench.

Having said that, the sport seats in my new 335i are better than the X3, same leather but they seem to have more cushion and are just more comfortable to sit in, maybe its part of the reason a 335 costs more than a X3 35i!

If you are coming from Nappa Leather or Novillo leather (I had nappa in my C63) then nothing will be as soft and nice, and if you had the multi contour seats, the same issue, nothing compares to it. Hopefully BMW starts to offer both options on the X3 and 3 series in the future as they are no longer the "entry level" models, the 1 series and X1 are...
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      10-17-2012, 04:01 PM   #11
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It takes time to get the sports seats adjusted, once you work through the height, the tilt the width and everything else you can get a great position.

My only regret is I don't have memory electric seats, I get it nice for me then the wife gets in and messes it up (I'm sure she thinks the same when I drive the car!!!!)
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      10-17-2012, 04:47 PM   #12
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We took it back and got a 35i with no sport and I love it. Way more comfortable in my opinion. The motor is so much better also. Thanks for the advice.
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      10-17-2012, 05:19 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F1 fan View Post
We took it back and got a 35i with no sport and I love it. Way more comfortable in my opinion. The motor is so much better also. Thanks for the advice.
You had to have taken a big hit when you traded it back in How long did you have the first one?
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      10-17-2012, 06:46 PM   #14
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A week and a day. No hit at all. The first one had 10000 miles on it and the second one had 13000 miles on it. The payment actually went down. Awesome dealer that took care of us.
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      10-17-2012, 08:43 PM   #15
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A week and a day. No hit at all. The first one had 10000 miles on it and the second one had 13000 miles on it. The payment actually went down. Awesome dealer that took care of us.
Thought you traded it in for another new one! You'll love the 35i. Good choice
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      01-26-2013, 11:11 PM   #16
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I have really liked the sport seats in my X3. My '06 325i had them as well and, once I got them set perfectly, they were pretty comfortable. I have lot back problems so I find the lumbar to be really helpful to give me that extra support that I need. The only weird thing that I have found is that when I set the lumbar in my 325i, the setting would stay in memory...much like the seat position. My 2013's lumbar resets every time that I shut the car off. I called my service guy and he said that was normal on the X3...which I thought was really odd. It didn't really make sense. Has anyone else had this problem?
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      01-27-2013, 07:37 AM   #17
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Other car seats I've had with big side bolsters like BMW's sport seats wound up with premature wear on the outside bolster because it's difficult not to rub up against it when getting in and out. Maybe it's my portly physique! I got the standard seats with lumbar support on my 35i. I find them comfortable, but not exceptional. Both the sport and standard seats felt equally hard to me. My only complaint is with the headrests, which hold my head too far forward for comfort and have no front to back adjustment. The headrests on the sport seats felt the same.
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      01-27-2013, 09:44 AM   #18
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I have the sports seats and find them very comfortable. I have done a few long journeys and been happy with the seats. Having said that, it took me a while to adjust my driving position (seat etc) until I was really comfortable.

Also, I prefer the grip that comes with the sports seats.
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