[sandmanspeaking]

Originally Posted by SteveX3M40i

Hi,
I think the issue you need to look at more is seat comfort - rather than ride comfort.
I find our adaptive suspension is soft enough in comfort and sporty enough in sport settings but the seats in an X5 are far more comfortable than those in the X3 (especially if the X3 has ventilated seats - they are awful)
Cheers
Steve

I disagree, I have the ventilated front seats on a 2020 X3 M40i and they’re incredibly comfortable.

[sandmanspeaking]

Originally Posted by Bam226

I love the ride quality and don't get the hate on ventilated seats. I like em.

Agree, same here. Super comfy.

[dkreidel]

Hi rmorin, nice to see you over here; I'm dkreidel at the 'fest.

Went from a '18 440xi vert with adaptive on 18" with non-runflats, to the '20 X3 M40i with adaptive on 19's with non-runflats. The suspension on the X3 is comparable to our '13 X5M and '13 X5 30 - it's fine in comfort.

The non-ventilated seats however, are awful and easily the worst of any of the 20+ BMW's we've owned. Try to go on a long test drive - the seats are fine for about 2 hours, but on a long trip they are abysmal. The seats in the M-sport version of our 440 vert were great; we could easily do 8-9 hours of driving and be ready for more.

[clivem2]

I wonder whether Merino leather makes the seats softer. I don’t find the G01 seats with Merino that different to the Dakota leather ones in my F25...though the F25 seats had more lateral support and bolsters which probably wear more.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by sandmanspeaking

Agree, same here. Super comfy.

We did 20 hours in our ventilated seats and had no complaints. Other than driving 20 hours straight is a general PITA.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by dkreidel

Hi rmorin, nice to see you over here; I'm dkreidel at the 'fest.

Went from a '18 440xi vert with adaptive on 18" with non-runflats, to the '20 X3 M40i with adaptive on 19's with non-runflats. The suspension on the X3 is comparable to our '13 X5M and '13 X5 30 - it's fine in comfort.

The non-ventilated seats however, are awful and easily the worst of any of the 20+ BMW's we've owned. Try to go on a long test drive - the seats are fine for about 2 hours, but on a long trip they are abysmal. The seats in the M-sport version of our 440 vert were great; we could easily do 8-9 hours of driving and be ready for more.

A lot of the comfort of the non-ventilated seats depends on correct posturing of the seats. I know from experience as I have driven from midwest to washington dc, three times and the shipped to Europe and driving around Europe.

In my long stretches of driving, I have driven 11+ hours straight super comfortable, and a few time's extremely uncomfortable. The reason why it can be uncomfortable I have found is the fact that the seat lumbar settings have to go with proper support of the butt and the thighs. If there is barely any support on the thighs, within an hour mark, you end up straining your lower back and hence people having negative experience.

The beauty of bolstered seats is more beneficial for those who throw the car around, i.e. taking a curve at high speed, overtaking cars like a maniac and swerving etc. If you drive like a normal person, then bolstering seats are a bit pointless and non-ventilated seats can be comfortable too. Up to your driving style. Comfort though is mostly depends on your seat setting.

[IslandDriver]

I'm personally a big fan of the '20 non-ventilated seats in Merino. Have done some 12hr+ driving days and was totally happy with the comfort once I had the seat tuned in. Didn't like the lack of bolster on the ventilated seats myself - too much feeling of sliding around on the seat when cornering. I'm a fairly tall and large guy (>6ft, 250lb).

I drive in adaptive almost always (ofc coded as default mode), and find both the suspension comfort and stability excellent. A definite improvement over my old '17 X3 IMO.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by dkreidel

The non-ventilated seats however, are awful and easily the worst of any of the 20+ BMW's we've owned. Try to go on a long test drive - the seats are fine for about 2 hours, but on a long trip they are abysmal. The seats in the M-sport version of our 440 vert were great; we could easily do 8-9 hours of driving and be ready for more.

I agree about the non-ventilated sport seats in the X3. They are pure garbage for any longer ride. BMW should be ashamed for putting a couple of milk boxes with some backrests and padding as front seats.
They need to take some lessons from Volvo in proper seat design.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

I agree about the non-ventilated sport seats in the X3. They are pure garbage for any longer ride. BMW should be ashamed for putting a couple of milk boxes with some backrests and padding as front seats.
They need to take some lessons from Volvo in proper seat design.

I guess I am interest to know what are the specific of being so uncomfortable and which part of the body aches when doing a long-trip on non-ventilated seats? I guess it matters also your age and physical level. Again, there are many factors in choosing the right seatings imho.