[bpuncher]

Hello,

I just picked up my first ever BMW about three months ago. 2020 BMW X3 M40i. Love everything about the car, except the seats. I’m not sure what about them but they are killing my back. I didn’t notice it at all until the past few weeks after have spending some hours in the car. I’ve been messing around with the seat adjustments trying to find a more comfortable position but nothing seems to help. I am 20 years old and consider myself to be in very good physical health, and coming from a 3rd gen 4Runner as my previous vehicle I never experienced this back pain issue with that car or any other car honestly. With it being a luxury vehicle im really disappointed that this is an issue. It’s really hard to enjoy my new purchase when the seats are causing pain. I’m curious if anyone else is experiencing this problem and if anyone has any fixes or suggestions for this.

Thank you.

[BMWbiker]

Do planks.

…

No, seriously, here are a few thoughts, based on my ‘24 M40i with ventilated seats. Your seat is probably not the same, so your mileage may vary.

Which seat does it have? Is it fully adjustable? Depending on when it was built, it may have had features deleted due to COVID supply issues. Does it have adjustable lumbar support?

I’ve been gradually adjusting my seat, trying to make it better for my lower back.

In my most recent adjustment, I tilted the whole seat setup just a little bit: the thighs just a tiny bit higher, the butt just a bit lower, the whole seat slightly closer to the steering wheel, with the seat not reclined too far. I’m trying to sit in the seat, rather than on it, if that makes sense. That is to say, I’m trying to make the seating position a bit closer to my previous car, a ‘15 328xi wagon MSport. I want it to be less like sitting in, say, a full-size van.

In the short term I have found this position to be promising. Next time I travel any significant distance, I’ll get a better idea if I am on the right track. I did take a lengthy trip before making this adjustment, and I did find that my lower back was a bit uncomfortable.

My seat’s lumbar support is adjustable up and down as well as more and less. Is yours?

Have you tried adjusting the side bolsters, assuming that they’re adjustable? My wagon had them, but my current car doesn’t.

I hope this helps.

Oh, also, congrats on the new car. I hope you get the seat dialed in.

[alex2364]

Which seats do you have? SensaTec, leather, or ventilated with leather? Most comfortable is SensaTec and least comfortable is ventilated.

[MADBMWX5MC]

^So true, I had ventilated seat on my 2019 X3 M40i and they we painful, mainly on long drives. Lots of shifting on the seat, just to get a "comfortable" posture.

[sempy]

I also had a bit of back pain when i first picked up my X3, but what i realized is that the lumbar was set up weird. I held the back button for way longer than i thought i would have needed to before trying to adjust it again and it finally went completely flat. Then I only used the down arrow for a couple quick presses to get it where it felt good.

So my advice is to try holding the back button on the lumbar for some time before making further adjustments.

[gphin]

Yep, would be good to know what seats are in the OPs vehicle. My recently purchased '21 has the regular non-ventilated Vernasca. Just drove it back to Philly from South FL last week. 1206 miles in 18 hours and no issues....seats very comfortable. Bought the CPO vehicle last month and probably took about a week to fine tune the seat position. Fortunately, both passenger and driver are fully adjustable.....no controls deleted. Curious if OP's vehicle has full adjustability and what material.

[TXGrey]

One of our (sort of?) former members just sold his car because the seats were just too bad for him. Many have complained. I came from three different 4Runners, to a Macan GTS with 14-way seats, to the non-ventilated vernasca leather in the M40i. 4Runner seats, tho basic, were always comfortable for me. The 14-way Porsche seats were freakin heaven. The M40i vernasca seats suck… Having said that, I adjusted the crap out of mine until I’ve got them mostly dialed in. I still move around while driving so I don’t stay in one position… but I took a 3 hour (each way) biz trip last fall, and was totally fine in the M40i. No fatigue or pain. Which surprised the hell out of me. Go figure.

All I can say is, definitely keep trying different positions to see if something helps. I use very little to basically zero lumbar support. But everyone is different.

I’m medium build… 5’11” at around 170.

[bpuncher]

It looks like I have Vernasca leather, non-ventilated. I have tried playing with the adjustable lumbar support and side bolsters with no luck of improving the comfort. I will try moving closer to the steering wheel though. And thank you.

[BMWbiker]

You’re welcome. See what works for you. Others have given good advice. All the seat setting changes are reversible, of course. I hope you find a comfortable seating position.

[bpuncher]

Yes, mine have all of the seat control options. They are the Vernasca leather seats.

[bpuncher]

I noticed this too. I was attempting to adjust the lumbar support lower by pushing the forward button, then down button. But I tried as you said and resetting it back to no lumbar then only clicking the down button does work better but still feels like I can’t get it low enough to where it would help.

[bpuncher]

I have the regular non ventilated Vernasca leather. Interesting how a supposedly more premium option is less comfortable…

[BMWbiker]

Originally Posted by bpuncher

I noticed this too. I was attempting to adjust the lumbar support lower by pushing the forward button, then down button. But I tried as you said and resetting it back to no lumbar then only clicking the down button does work better but still feels like I can’t get it low enough to where it would help.

Yes, I’d also like the lumbar adjustment to go a bit lower.

Any luck yet with finding a comfortable seating position?

In other threads, I’ve seen mention of cushions used to help with lower back support. I’d rather not go that route, but I guess it’s a possibility.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by bpuncher

I’m curious if anyone else is experiencing this problem and if anyone has any fixes or suggestions for this.

Thank you.

Yes, see this thread, from just yesterday. See my post for a suggestion.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1763655

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=36

[BMWbiker]

I’m finding that the closer I get to having my lower back in full contact with the seat (without slouching), the more comfortable it is. Moving the seat forward (in small increments), along with small adjustments in the tilt, has helped.

This seat seems to be more sensitive to minute adjustments than others.

Then again, I have memories of traveling as a passenger and occasional relief driver in a friend’s 2012 Subaru Impreza. That seat was agony after about half an hour. Mine is comfy in comparison.

[Lady Jane]

1. If you're older, you lose butt muscle mass and therefore natural cushioning.

2. If the pain is only on long drives, take more breaks and stretch your legs.

3. Wear padded cycling shorts. Compression socks also help on long drives.

[BMWbiker]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

1. If you're older, you lose butt muscle mass and therefore natural cushioning.

2. If the pain is only on long drives, take more breaks and stretched your legs.

3. Wear padded cycling shorts. Compression socks also help on long drives.


Attachment 3416010

All good points.

That notwithstanding, the change in seat comfort from my 2015 328xi M-Sport wagon (leather sport seats) to my X3 M40i with ventilated leather seats is noticeable.

I was the better part of 1,000 miles into a trip with good seat comfort earlier this year, when the wagon was totaled.

I found myself squirming in the first several-hour trip I took in the X3.

The more I dial in the X3 seat, the better it’s getting. Plus, it’s presumably breaking in. But, it’s more of a process than with past cars that I’ve owned or spent a lot of time in.

I still remember one day about ten years ago, when I was in a Prius and in a Golf in the same day. The minute I sat down in the Prius, my first thought was: “I would never buy one of these. The seat doesn’t fit me.” On the other hand, when I sat in the Golf, I immediately felt comfortable and at home.

[hyde]

Picked up and drove 300 miles first day. Into my 2nd hour, I noticed lower back pain. I adjusted the seat for lower seating position it helped a little and I made sure to sit back, but in 3rd hour pain returned and lasted into night. I had exact same issue when I first picked up my x5 but x5 had stiffer seats than my X3 m40i. Eventually either my body adjusted to it or my seats molded to my shape but backpain was gone. Bmw does not make the most comfortable seats in the world by I found X3 m40i to be an upgrade over x5 and I believe it'd about finding the right position.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by hyde

Picked up and drove 300 miles first day. Into my 2nd hour, I noticed lower back pain. I adjusted the seat for lower seating position it helped a little and I made sure to sit back, but in 3rd hour pain returned and lasted into night. I had exact same issue when I first picked up my x5 but x5 had stiffer seats than my X3 m40i. Eventually either my body adjusted to it or my seats molded to my shape but backpain was gone. Bmw does not make the most comfortable seats in the world by I found X3 m40i to be an upgrade over x5 and I believe it'd about finding the right position.

I agree that finding the correct position is key, and even small seat adjustments can make a big difference to lower back comfort. It’s not just the lumbar adjustment, and I found a combination of seat height, tilt angle, and back rest position also made a big difference. It’s an iterative process.

The other thing I found, is using Driving Assistant Pro on long journeys means I can reposition my legs to a more normal sitting position, which also increases comfort over longer distances.

[GDEvans]

Everybody is a different shape. I find the seats firm, but comfortable and supportive. I'm 6'3" tall.

My partner is 5'6". She finds the seats too hard and very uncomfortable. On the first long journey we took, she made me stop at Ikea to buy some thin chair cushions that she now uses on every trip.

[Wgosma]

Proper seat position is very important, watch this video - moving in close to the steering wheel you may feel like an old Grandma at first but it's what you want to do- give it a go, good luck!

[hyde]

Does anyone think the steering wheel doesn't go down enough. I push my seat as low as possible, I like to seat deep into my driving position, back mostly straight, thigh support extended and ample space for 2nd row. I am 6' and I find myself wishing steering wheel could go lower. Maybe I need to push it forward a bit more but then I have to pull my seat forward. I usually sit with my left leg resting closer to seat, not extended to dead pedal.