[bimmeroy]

I have ordered Sensatec seats and this is sad to know feature is missing. What are the options to add back support to seats other than buying plastic lumbar add on from Amazon and wrap it to seats?

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by bimmeroy

I have ordered Sensatec seats and this is sad to know feature is missing. What are the options to add back support to seats other than buying plastic lumbar add on from Amazon and wrap it to seats?

It's a quagmire and a quandary. I ordered the ventilated seats knowing I was giving up the adjustable side bolsters, but the regular bolsters are good enough for me. The lumbar adjustment in my case is a deal breaker as I do have a very bad back and the only way I can tolerate a longer drive ( > 1 hour) is to be able to initially adjust and then readjust the lumbar during the trip.

Any external solution won't cut it as it blocks the ventilation. Which is what drove me to leather in the first place. Beginning to feel really good that I didn't CarMax my 2019 yet.

There's also something irritating about dropping 70k on a car and not getting what should be a minimum level comfort feature. I'm sure I could replace the seat but I'm not going to toss retrofit money at a car at that level.

As to the Audi's, they were "de-contenting" safety features right and left and taking off approx. $1300 as the "Semiconductor Delete" package, yes that was really listed as an option on the sticker. That's somewhat mitigated if you go to their prestige package. I'm certain of that as I spent about 6 weeks doing little else besides locating a new Audi Q5 w/Prestige for my spouse.

[lfdal54]

I can confirm that at least for option 488 on my m40i, which has leather with ventilated seats there are driver and passenger lumbar adjustments. I had the CA send me pictures to confirm. No width adjusts but that was a trade-off for the ventilated option.

[Errolsguvnor]

One question we should ask is whether BMW is deliberately removing standard parts such as power lumbar from the X3 M40i (without telling consumers or dealers) in order to help their profit margins, or on the other hand, if the missing lumbar is simply a function of supply shortages at their manufacturing partner (I believe the seats are coming from Magna International). If it’s just a supply problem, then presumably the driver side lumbar will start to reappear in new deliveries fairly soon after the supply issues are resolved.

Magna International (publicly traded and based out of Toronto) has manufacturing facilities in Spartanburg and supplies seats for BMW. I doubt they are the only seat supplier, although they appear to have a close relationship with BMW (hence the multiple facilities in Spartanburg).

According to comments from a July earnings call, Magna expects $575 million in unrecoverable costs in 2022 (from inflation, production shutdowns at suppliers, etc), and they are trying to pass on the higher costs to OEMs like BMW. Magna specifically mentioned a “disproportionate impact” to their seating division in the most recent quarter.

It would be great if someone with press credentials from Bimmerpost could reach out to BMW, Magna, or dealers to get more details on the situation and at the very least, help us understand when it might be resolved.

[TBURKE555]

Just went do dealer to check out my 2023 X3 M40 i. I have Tacora red sensitec and no lumbar support on either side. Just like the picture above in this thread. I am ringing up no sale.

[OciWan]

Seems like all the Tacora Reds seem to be missing the lumbar support

[jrsarchy]

Originally Posted by OciWan

Seems like all the Tacora Reds seem to be missing the lumbar support

There is also a black sensatec without it in the week 32 thread.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by jrsarchy

There is also a black sensatec without it in the week 32 thread.

Here I am. Yep, none for my on my black sensatec. It's not a dealbreaker for me though. But maybe check with me after my 8h drive home tomorrow

[ASAP]

we need a leather and lumbar point of reference...

did no one order leather lol?

[ASAP]

more pictured listing popped up on autotrader... not a single 23 m40i w sensatec has lumbar... sorry guys... i am unable to find one w leather

[borderwave2]

Originally Posted by snareman

Here I am. Yep, none for my on my black sensatec. It's not a dealbreaker for me though. But maybe check with me after my 8h drive home tomorrow

I'm surprised so many people find the lumbar delete acceptable. When lumbar is deleted, they do not include any fixed lumbar in its place. You just get a big hole where the lumbar should be. It's really inexcusable.

Also, here is a link to a very affordable lumbar fix for anyone interested.
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1944555

[Flippco]

Originally Posted by ASAP

we need a leather and lumbar point of reference...

did no one order leather lol?

I ordered leather and was bumped from week 36 to 39. I wonder if maybe there are supply issues with leather.

In another thread I mentioned there were some constraints on merino for the X5. At one point they turned off the option. I'm not sure if it's back on now or not.

Also I do not have 487 or 488 on my options list.

[Errolsguvnor]

In case anyone wants to ask their dealer parts department about a complimentary retrofit, here are the necessary parts for lumbar and width adjustment for Sensatec sport seats:

613 192 31269 (lumbar power switch)
613 192 27853 (width adjustment power switch)
521 074 18340 (lumbar and width adjustment for driver's side)

I used Realoem & CarID:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=52_4316
https://www.carid.com/2022-bmw-x3-oem-seats/

[bimmeroy]

Originally Posted by Errolsguvnor

In case anyone wants to ask their dealer parts department about a complimentary retrofit, here are the necessary parts for lumbar and width adjustment for Sensatec sport seats:

613 192 31269 (lumbar power switch)
613 192 27853 (width adjustment power switch)
521 074 18340 (lumbar and width adjustment for driver's side)

I used Realoem & CarID:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=52_4316
https://www.carid.com/2022-bmw-x3-oem-seats/

That's good info. Thanks for looking this up. Is it possible to retrofit lumbar power switch in the seat if there is no cutout for it?

[moonshine]

Just for clarification, when you are talking of "missing lumbar", are you referring to what I would refer to as seat bolster width adjustment , or inflatable lumbar support inside the backrest?
The reason I ask is the OP photo is missing both the adjustable backrest width control (marked 1 on the manual figure) and the round switch that controls the backrest lumbar bellows

FWIW, My 2018 X3 M40d has seat bolster adjustment, but no lumbar support

[bimmeroy]

Originally Posted by moonshine

Just for clarification, when you are talking of "missing lumbar", are you referring to what I would refer to as seat bolster width adjustment , or inflatable lumbar support inside the backrest?
The reason I ask is the OP photo is missing both the adjustable backrest width control (marked 1 on the manual figure) and the round switch that controls the backrest lumbar bellows

FWIW, My 2018 X3 M40d has seat bolster adjustment, but no lumbar support

This thread is referring to the inflatable backrest (i.e. the round button you mentioned)

[moonshine]

Originally Posted by bimmeroy

This thread is referring to the inflatable backrest (i.e. the round button you mentioned)

Thanks for clarification. That is what I suspected, but the OP photo about halfway down pg 1 is missing both the side bolster width adjustment and circular lumbar adjustment button, hence the question

[alex101]

I guess no one paid for leather non ventilated? Mine isnt due for another week so hopefully someone has pictures soon.

[Errolsguvnor]

Originally Posted by alex101

I guess no one paid for leather non ventilated? Mine isnt due for another week so hopefully someone has pictures soon.

pcai has leather non-ventilated, but I don't think he clarified whether he has lumbar. He is missing the width adjustment.

[bimmeroy]

Originally Posted by Errolsguvnor

pcai has leather non-ventilated, but I don't think he clarified whether he has lumbar. He is missing the width adjustment.

pcai has 2022 model, which would have 488 code (driver and passenger lumbar) with 48Z (passenger lumbar delete) if those are Sensatec.

[bimmeroy]

Based on the posts in other thread, I guess its starting to become clear BMW is removing driver/passenger lumbar from all Sensatec and non ventilated Vernasca seats in X3 as of right now. If problem is confirmed, I think its time we shift discussion to possible solutions.

Given that BMW failed to update
a) their website
b) ordering guide
c) Genius team, dealerships and other channels that customers usually interface with to get this information
d) Monroney sticker (only first person to report missing lumbar has confirmed this but assuming it's true for others)

Maybe BMW is planning to give us free retrofit, but that has not been communicated and we have so far no way to confirm this. We all suspected this since few weeks ago based on missing codes from F12 and vin decoders. If BMW had done their job, and notified customers thru any channel, some of us could have decided to upgrade seats before car going into production. The responsibility of this is squarely on BMW and why should we accept something less than what was promised on paper (and still being promised). Given all this, how do we know if BMW is planning to retrofit this on our cars? Or how can we "ask" dealers or BMW to provide us (free or not) retrofit to lumbar seats when that becomes available? Can we get it in written somehow while picking up the car? Do our own custom retrofits (I have seen the one solution shared on this forum, but am I the only one who doesnt want to have an inflation bulb hanging from the seat)? Any other recourses?

[Geek4Sneaks]

Doesn’t help the 23 folks but my 22 with black vernasca and ventilated has lumbar on both sides. Was a pleasant surprise. I was bummed to see the 23 had the cognac vernasca option but then in the build ventilated wasn’t an option so I’m less bummed. Still sucks how hit or miss the builds are.