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      09-16-2019, 02:57 PM   #1
andics
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Z4 G29 - Seat uncomfortable for anyone?

Hi All,

I just got a brand new z4 m40i and I love everything about it except for the seat - I have the M sports seats with lumbar support etc. but I can't find a single setup where my back doesn't hurt....

I am 6.1, 200 pounds and previously I had an Audi S5, BMW 435i, BMW Z4 e89 and never had a single issue in my life with any seats.

Basically no matter what I tried to do and even if I deflate the lumbar support to the minimum I always feel the seat "poking" into my back...I keep fiddling with the settings but nothing that makes me wanting to stay in the car (except for the sound, engine and gearshift...especially compared to the ausi S5!)

Does anyone feel the same or have any proposal on how to fix it?

Thanks
A
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      09-16-2019, 03:38 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andics View Post
Hi All,

I just got a brand new z4 m40i and I love everything about it except for the seat - I have the M sports seats with lumbar support etc. but I can't find a single setup where my back doesn't hurt....

I am 6.1, 200 pounds and previously I had an Audi S5, BMW 435i, BMW Z4 e89 and never had a single issue in my life with any seats.

Basically no matter what I tried to do and even if I deflate the lumbar support to the minimum I always feel the seat "poking" into my back...I keep fiddling with the settings but nothing that makes me wanting to stay in the car (except for the sound, engine and gearshift...especially compared to the ausi S5!)

Does anyone feel the same or have any proposal on how to fix it?

Thanks
A
Only time I've noticed anything similar is if the lumbar support is too high up the seat. Did you try moving it down as well as deflating?
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      09-16-2019, 09:12 PM   #3
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Did you try the passenger seat, to see if something is wrong with your seat?

I find these seats very comfortable, especially compared to other BMW seats I've owned.

I don't know if you've adjusted the seat back, but if you roll the seat all the way back, it will adjust/pitch the back upwards. I assumed this was due to clearance issues----- but you can force the seat to tilt back again. Before I realized this, the head rest was pushing into my head and the whole geometry seemed off.. Very uncomfortable. Maybe this is your issue?
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      09-17-2019, 08:23 AM   #4
andics
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I tried both suggestions with no luck.

The most bearable position for me is with the lumbar support brought down & deflated but I still feel the structure of the seat on my back while with other cars I never felt that.

I have to try the passenger seat with someone else driving (!!!..) for 20-30mins to see if it is any different but failing a technical issue I really don't know what to do!

Probably lesson learned is to stop buying cars without test driving them
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      09-17-2019, 09:48 AM   #5
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Nope; we love the seats. Better than my Jaguar F type seats and about the same as our Mercedes.

Dave
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      09-17-2019, 10:53 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andics View Post
I tried both suggestions with no luck.

The most bearable position for me is with the lumbar support brought down & deflated but I still feel the structure of the seat on my back while with other cars I never felt that.

I have to try the passenger seat with someone else driving (!!!..) for 20-30mins to see if it is any different but failing a technical issue I really don't know what to do!

Probably lesson learned is to stop buying cars without test driving them
I drove the car into work today and after this thread, I started noticing what you're experiencing. Near the side bolsters, the seat kind of digs into your back, right? I can see how that could be uncomfortable. Luckily any back pain I have is [currently] limited to my lower back, so this does not bug me! But sorry to hear this.. Hopefully you find a comfortable position, or work the seats (or your back!) in where it no longer bothers you. (There are always aftermarket seats!)
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      09-18-2019, 11:51 AM   #7
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I noticed a bit of a lump in the middle of my back when I took one for a test drive but then again I sometimes get it with my 440 so I'm hoping it won't be an ongoing issue.

Might be worth asking the dealer to check the padding?
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      09-18-2019, 11:51 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andics View Post
I tried both suggestions with no luck.

The most bearable position for me is with the lumbar support brought down & deflated but I still feel the structure of the seat on my back while with other cars I never felt that.

I have to try the passenger seat with someone else driving (!!!..) for 20-30mins to see if it is any different but failing a technical issue I really don't know what to do!

Probably lesson learned is to stop buying cars without test driving them
Did you try to adjust seat height, thigh support and tilt? I know, it doesn’t sound like it would make a difference, but our backs are weird that way.
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      01-08-2021, 10:54 PM   #9
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I get that we are all different but for me, it's one of the most comfortable car seats, I've ever had.
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      01-09-2021, 03:49 AM   #10
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Make regular beach runs 200+miles each way. No issues with the seats.
5'10" 195lb. Sixth BMW, wife thinks the seats are the best we have had.
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      01-09-2021, 07:06 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by climbbike View Post
I get that we are all different but for me, it's one of the most comfortable car seats, I've ever had.
That's good to know. One of the most customizable and comfortable seats is our 2019 X5. I played with each setting back and forth until I got it perfect. I really like that you can pull in the bolsters big time which is a cradling feeling.
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      01-09-2021, 07:58 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andics View Post
Hi All,

I just got a brand new z4 m40i and I love everything about it except for the seat - I have the M sports seats with lumbar support etc. but I can't find a single setup where my back doesn't hurt....

I am 6.1, 200 pounds ...
Sorry to hear that. The only experience with the Z4 was a 15 minute test drive and I didn't notice anything uncomfortable with the lumbar support. I'm always concentrating on the headroom as that is usually my main problem being a 6-footer also.

I owned a 335i a few years back with the BMW Sport seats and I could get very comfortable in that car. I would change the position, hardness and location of the lumbar support throughout a long drive. Maybe that would work for you? Instead of setting it once, vary the hardness and location with minor tweaks as you drive to eliminate pressure points.

Good luck - hope you can work it out.

Last edited by Geradeaus; 01-09-2021 at 11:38 AM..
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      10-14-2021, 07:26 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andics View Post
Hi All,

I just got a brand new z4 m40i and I love everything about it except for the seat - I have the M sports seats with lumbar support etc. but I can't find a single setup where my back doesn't hurt....

I am 6.1, 200 pounds and previously I had an Audi S5, BMW 435i, BMW Z4 e89 and never had a single issue in my life with any seats.

Basically no matter what I tried to do and even if I deflate the lumbar support to the minimum I always feel the seat "poking" into my back...I keep fiddling with the settings but nothing that makes me wanting to stay in the car (except for the sound, engine and gearshift...especially compared to the ausi S5!)

Does anyone feel the same or have any proposal on how to fix it?

Thanks
A
Yes, after two months of trying, I can’t find a comfortable position for the seat. No matter how I adjust it, I find that the side bolsters dig into my back. I have tried deflating the sides entirely and have tried some air in them. Every tilt, every lumbar setting, etc.

It’s driving me insane. Thankfully my commute is only 10 minutes, but I have no idea how I could go on a long trip.

Also 6’ 1” and 190. This should not be an issue. Baffled.
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      10-14-2021, 08:36 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcboatface View Post
Yes, after two months of trying, I can’t find a comfortable position for the seat. No matter how I adjust it, I find that the side bolsters dig into my back. I have tried deflating the sides entirely and have tried some air in them. Every tilt, every lumbar setting, etc.

It’s driving me insane. Thankfully my commute is only 10 minutes, but I have no idea how I could go on a long trip.

Also 6’ 1” and 190. This should not be an issue. Baffled.
I am a little smaller at 5'11" and 180 lbs and have found the Z4's seat to be super comfortable. When I first picked it up my salesman had me seated in the car and he played with the settings until I thought they were perfect and it fits me like a glove.

Have you gone over to your dealer and asked your salesman to assist you on the seat's settings?

The only issue I have had is the placement of the cross strap of the seat belt that digs into my neck. The cross strap in my friend's 911 starts a little lower on the side of the seat and is a non issue.
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      10-14-2021, 09:15 AM   #15
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Made roughly 1200km in a row and I did not have to complain about seats comfort (nor on anything else actually). You tried all the different settings configs?
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      10-14-2021, 08:22 PM   #16
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After some adjustments to the lumbar and other positions, it's good for me now!
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      10-14-2021, 09:05 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Horseman View Post
After some adjustments to the lumbar and other positions, it's good for me now!
I wish I could say the same.
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      10-15-2021, 09:30 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by Westside Guy View Post
I wish I could say the same.
Are you saying the bucket seat is not fitting a barrel bottom?
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      10-15-2021, 09:43 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by Westside Guy View Post
I wish I could say the same.
Since i'm a little heavier, i had to find the button that opened up the area around the love handles.


Hell.. my sales agent had a fun response to me about this too. I had mentioned it was a little tight around the waistline and he said hey you can control that! So I promptly asked.. oh really? that's awesome, where's the button? He just responded with me losing weight. I'm like... oh.. a fat joke. Risky.. but well played.
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      10-15-2021, 09:48 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Horseman View Post
Since i'm a little heavier, i had to find the button that opened up the area around the love handles.


Hell.. my sales agent had a fun response to me about this too. I had mentioned it was a little tight around the waistline and he said hey you can control that! So I promptly asked.. oh really? that's awesome, where's the button? He just responded with me losing weight. I'm like... oh.. a fat joke. Risky.. but well played.
So the bottom line is that your salesperson is pushing your buttons!
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      10-15-2021, 09:49 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAZ007 View Post
Are you saying the bucket seat is not fitting a barrel bottom?
Please don't put words in my skinny mouth!
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      10-15-2021, 12:25 PM   #22
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Please don't put words in my skinny mouth!
LOL
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