Seat position question

crl8474 · 09-29-2012, 05:32 PM

I've been experiencing severe lower back pain after driving more than 20-30 minutes in my 535i m-sport with comfort seats. A prior discussion on another forum suggested that anyone having this issue should flatten the bottom seat cushion, raise the seat and have the seat back angle at approximately 90 degrees to the bottom seat cushion. I have tried every way possible but can't get the bottom seat cushion to anywhere near a flat position. My wife's Buick Enclave will allow the front of the seat bottom to tilt well beyond flat (front lower than the rear) but the BMW won't even allow for a flat position. I can immediately feel some relief when flattening the bottom cushion as much as possible so I'm confident that an even flatter position would do the trick if allowed. Anyone else have this issue or is there something wrong with my seat?

AP · 09-30-2012, 01:15 AM

I have the msport seats and I found the same issue as you where after half an hour or so of driving , I was developing a back ache.
I like to sit high in a car as opposed to feeling like I'm siTting on the floor so I have a good view out.
For me I have the seat base both front and back at their highest. Now the trick for to solve the issue was to have the seat back very upright. It felt a little odd at first feeling like I was being pushed towards the steering wheel. Once I had adjusted the steering wheel distand and the seat distance , that sorted it for mwith my seats it felt like there was something about halfway up the seatback digging into my back. That seems to have gone , whether that's gone with use I'm not sure.
I'm 5'10" and have full electric seats without lumbar support for info.

dbs600 · 09-30-2012, 11:03 AM

Electromagnetic field sensitivity?

athomps1 · 09-30-2012, 11:59 AM

I think seat position is a matter of trial and error with different seat positions

LiveLarger · 09-30-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by athomps1

I think seat position is a matter of trial and error with different seat positions

+1

I even find that I keep changing the position I prefere. But this whole thing makes me wonder, didn't you guys try the car? I had several drives in a demo-cars. One drive was almost three hours long.

AP · 09-30-2012, 01:05 PM

I tried my car for a whole day and didn't experience any issues.

cordoor · 09-30-2012, 01:40 PM

All of the suggestions mentioned here are good ones. I would like to add that the thing that helped most for me was to be sure the lumbar support was fully deflated. I find that any lumbar support at all hurts my lower back. This is also true of my office chair, so I think it is just a general issue with my lower back: it does not like lumbar support.

Hope this helps.

cordoor · 09-30-2012, 01:40 PM

All of the suggestions mentioned here are good ones. I would like to add that the thing that helped most for me was to be sure the lumbar support was fully deflated. I find that any lumbar support at all hurts my lower back. This is also true of my office chair, so I think it is just a general issue with my lower back: it does not like lumbar support.

Hope this helps.

crl8474 · 09-30-2012, 06:13 PM

Yes, I drove the car before buying it 2 different times and didn't have any issues but the longest drive was around 30 minutes. I came out of a e90 335 and never had issues. I believe that something in my seating position is off slightly and over time it has resulted in my current issue. I've tried high/low, forward/back, more seat angle/less seat angle and nothing seems to help. The pain has now started to radiate into my hips if the trip is longer than an hour. It's really bumming me out.

raleedy · 09-30-2012, 06:30 PM

I don't own an F10 and I have no back pain.

rhinosaur · 10-01-2012, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crl8474

Yes, I drove the car before buying it 2 different times and didn't have any issues but the longest drive was around 30 minutes. I came out of a e90 335 and never had issues. I believe that something in my seating position is off slightly and over time it has resulted in my current issue. I've tried high/low, forward/back, more seat angle/less seat angle and nothing seems to help. The pain has now started to radiate into my hips if the trip is longer than an hour. It's really bumming me out.

Sorry to ask but do you regularly work out?
I've suffered from back pain in the lumbar area in the past and had to do physiotherapy to overcome it. No comfort seats, however good they are, will solve that for you…

LiveLarger · 10-01-2012, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinosaur

Sorry to ask but do you regularly work out?
I've suffered from back pain in the lumbar area in the past and had to do physiotherapy to overcome it. No comfort seats, however good they are, will solve that for you…

+1 on this.

I will go as far as saying that if you can't run 10 kilometers at a decent pace (eg in 60 min) you are in fact in a lousy shape and are to be expected to have cardiovascular and all sorts of skeleton problems. And there is no sorry for the lazy bastards when they get these problems either.

crl8474 · 10-01-2012, 04:24 PM

Wow...I'm speechless. Thanks for being so helpful.

As for being in "lousy shape", I road cycle approximately 200 miles per week and run when I need to change things up. Been doing this for 10+ years and never had any lower back issues before getting the new car.

HighlandPete · 10-01-2012, 04:42 PM

Surely this issue is either a case of not having a good driving posture, or the drivers who find a problem have underlying back issues.

I've driven BMW for years and no sport seat has given back ache, how ever long the trips. I've driven 500 a day and no issues whatsoever. Current 535i has sport seats (no lumbar) and the longest trip, so far, is over 300 miles in an evening, got out as fresh as I got into the seat.

I'm 5' 9", sit quite high, ensure good thigh support, tilt seat cushion until the front of seat supports the leg, totally comfortable for the whole trip.

There's a good YouTube video on how to set up a BMW seat for good driving control and therefore good posture for driving, if you are having issues. Many sit too low, too far back and recline too much to allow a relaxed but good driving position. Get it wrong and you are tensed up in driving mode, even if you feel comfortable when stationary.

HighlandPete

LastFrontierBimmer · 10-01-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Surely this issue is either a case of not having a good driving posture, or the drivers who find a problem have underlying back issues.

...

There's a good YouTube video on how to set up a BMW seat for good driving control and therefore good posture for driving, if you are having issues. Many sit too low, too far back and recline too much to allow a relaxed but good driving position. Get it wrong and you are tensed up in driving mode, even if you feel comfortable when stationary.

HighlandPete

Would you happen to have a link to that YouTube clip? Might be helpful to many of us. Thanks.

HighlandPete · 10-01-2012, 05:17 PM

Here's a good place to start.

HighlandPete

crl8474 · 10-01-2012, 06:08 PM

Good video. I'll see if this helps. My last 3 cars have been BMWs, all with sport packages and this is the first time I've had issues. Seems like the optimal driving position in this car is much higher than what I experienced with the others. Maybe I'm too low. Thanks.

LastFrontierBimmer · 10-01-2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Here's a good place to start.

HighlandPete

Excellent. Thanks much!

rhinosaur · 10-02-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveLarger

I will go as far as saying that if you can't run 10 kilometers at a decent pace (eg in 60 min) you are in fact in a lousy shape and are to be expected to have cardiovascular and all sorts of skeleton problems. And there is no sorry for the lazy bastards when they get these problems either.

I think you are exaggerating a little bit, especially when you call those who can't run 10 km in under 60 min as "lazy bastards".

rhinosaur · 10-02-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Here's a good place to start.

HighlandPete

Thanks!

BMWrules7 · 10-05-2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveLarger

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinosaur

Sorry to ask but do you regularly work out?
I've suffered from back pain in the lumbar area in the past and had to do physiotherapy to overcome it. No comfort seats, however good they are, will solve that for youÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â…

+1 on this.

I will go as far as saying that if you can't run 10 kilometers at a decent pace (eg in 60 min) you are in fact in a lousy shape and are to be expected to have cardiovascular and all sorts of skeleton problems. And there is no sorry for the lazy bastards when they get these problems either.

NEW POST

Well, the human body is analogous to a hinge...eventually it will wear out.

A lifetime of walking can be superior to a lifetime of running.

Jim Fix, anyone?

GoGetGriff · 10-05-2012, 12:24 PM

I agree... Any time over 2 hours and I have to start shifting cheek to cheek.

09-29-2012, 05:32 PM	#1
crl8474 Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prosper, Tx iTrader: (1)	Seat position question I've been experiencing severe lower back pain after driving more than 20-30 minutes in my 535i m-sport with comfort seats. A prior discussion on another forum suggested that anyone having this issue should flatten the bottom seat cushion, raise the seat and have the seat back angle at approximately 90 degrees to the bottom seat cushion. I have tried every way possible but can't get the bottom seat cushion to anywhere near a flat position. My wife's Buick Enclave will allow the front of the seat bottom to tilt well beyond flat (front lower than the rear) but the BMW won't even allow for a flat position. I can immediately feel some relief when flattening the bottom cushion as much as possible so I'm confident that an even flatter position would do the trick if allowed. Anyone else have this issue or is there something wrong with my seat?
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09-30-2012, 01:15 AM	#2
AP Major General 2762 Rep 5,083 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I have the msport seats and I found the same issue as you where after half an hour or so of driving , I was developing a back ache. I like to sit high in a car as opposed to feeling like I'm siTting on the floor so I have a good view out. For me I have the seat base both front and back at their highest. Now the trick for to solve the issue was to have the seat back very upright. It felt a little odd at first feeling like I was being pushed towards the steering wheel. Once I had adjusted the steering wheel distand and the seat distance , that sorted it for mwith my seats it felt like there was something about halfway up the seatback digging into my back. That seems to have gone , whether that's gone with use I'm not sure. I'm 5'10" and have full electric seats without lumbar support for info.
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09-30-2012, 11:03 AM	#3
dbs600 Colonel 266 Rep 2,246 Posts Drives: 2011 750LXi Individual Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New York, NY iTrader: (0)	Electromagnetic field sensitivity?
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09-30-2012, 11:59 AM	#4
athomps1 New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 5 Series F10 520d SE Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: West Sussex, UK iTrader: (0)	I think seat position is a matter of trial and error with different seat positions
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09-30-2012, 01:05 PM	#6
AP Major General 2762 Rep 5,083 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I tried my car for a whole day and didn't experience any issues.
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09-30-2012, 01:40 PM	#7
cordoor New Member 3 Rep 28 Posts Drives: 2008 535xi Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Utah iTrader: (1)	All of the suggestions mentioned here are good ones. I would like to add that the thing that helped most for me was to be sure the lumbar support was fully deflated. I find that any lumbar support at all hurts my lower back. This is also true of my office chair, so I think it is just a general issue with my lower back: it does not like lumbar support. Hope this helps.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-30-2012, 06:13 PM	#9
crl8474 Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prosper, Tx iTrader: (1)	Yes, I drove the car before buying it 2 different times and didn't have any issues but the longest drive was around 30 minutes. I came out of a e90 335 and never had issues. I believe that something in my seating position is off slightly and over time it has resulted in my current issue. I've tried high/low, forward/back, more seat angle/less seat angle and nothing seems to help. The pain has now started to radiate into my hips if the trip is longer than an hour. It's really bumming me out.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-30-2012, 06:30 PM	#10
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	I don't own an F10 and I have no back pain.
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10-01-2012, 04:24 PM	#13
crl8474 Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prosper, Tx iTrader: (1)	Wow...I'm speechless. Thanks for being so helpful. As for being in "lousy shape", I road cycle approximately 200 miles per week and run when I need to change things up. Been doing this for 10+ years and never had any lower back issues before getting the new car.
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10-01-2012, 04:42 PM	#14
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	Surely this issue is either a case of not having a good driving posture, or the drivers who find a problem have underlying back issues. I've driven BMW for years and no sport seat has given back ache, how ever long the trips. I've driven 500 a day and no issues whatsoever. Current 535i has sport seats (no lumbar) and the longest trip, so far, is over 300 miles in an evening, got out as fresh as I got into the seat. I'm 5' 9", sit quite high, ensure good thigh support, tilt seat cushion until the front of seat supports the leg, totally comfortable for the whole trip. There's a good YouTube video on how to set up a BMW seat for good driving control and therefore good posture for driving, if you are having issues. Many sit too low, too far back and recline too much to allow a relaxed but good driving position. Get it wrong and you are tensed up in driving mode, even if you feel comfortable when stationary. HighlandPete
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10-01-2012, 05:17 PM	#16
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	Here's a good place to start. HighlandPete
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10-01-2012, 06:08 PM	#17
crl8474 Second Lieutenant 48 Rep 207 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Prosper, Tx iTrader: (1)	Good video. I'll see if this helps. My last 3 cars have been BMWs, all with sport packages and this is the first time I've had issues. Seems like the optimal driving position in this car is much higher than what I experienced with the others. Maybe I'm too low. Thanks.
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10-05-2012, 12:24 PM	#22
GoGetGriff Private First Class 35 Rep 124 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: West Hollywood, CA iTrader: (1)	I agree... Any time over 2 hours and I have to start shifting cheek to cheek.
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