Sport Seats

[Jah Rastafari]

Any one wanna trade sports seats for regular?
Black
2008 335
Brand new

[berkeley223]

why, what's wrong with the sports seats? I didn't get the sport package (car has not arrived yet), my only heistency was that I thought the sports seats were better

[Jah Rastafari]

why, what's wrong with the sports seats? I didn't get the sport package (car has not arrived yet), my only heistency was that I thought the sports seats were better

I just dont like them they are not the most comfortable for my back.

I kinda have some back problems. the are just a little too firm for me

Other than that they hug the body perfectly

[jelliotlevy]

I just dont like them they are not the most comfortable for my back.

I kinda have some back problems. the are just a little too firm for me

Other than that they hug the body perfectly
..

I am surprised by the above comment. For the record, I have had four lumbar surgeries, and I have a couple of six inch titanium rods and a half dozen screws in my lower back. I find the sport seats are remarkably comfortable and supportive, and am glad that I selected the Sport package.

[Kenny@JleviSW]

Wow this is the first. I will help spread the words for you as I'm sure there will be people flocking to trade their non-ZSP seats for these.

[desertdriver]

Wow this is the first. I will help spread the words for you as I'm sure there will be people flocking to trade their non-ZSP seats for these.

No kidding, the sport seats, with all their adjustability are some of the best OEM seats out there. I didnt even like the base seats, esp for a 40+K car. They were OK, but not as nice as the upgraded seats on the VW GTI, and that car was almost 20k cheaper. I dont think I would have bought my car if the sports package wasnt available. Fortunately, BMW has recognized the need for sport seats for those drivers that want a supportive, highly adjustable seat for comfort and performance.

[HG132]

..

I am surprised by the above comment. For the record, I have had four lumbar surgeries, and I have a couple of six inch titanium rods and a half dozen screws in my lower back. I find the sport seats are remarkably comfortable and supportive, and am glad that I selected the Sport package.

I'll join you on that. One of the reasons I buy these cars, is because of the seats. I too have serious back problems and have had numerous procedures. In fact, I still go every 4-6 weeks for a set of shots, which range from 10-25, called prolotherapy. The only way I can get home is for someone to drive me in my car.

The standard seats are stiff and I cannot sit in them for any true period of time. The sport seats are supportive, comfortable, and form to the occupant.

When people ask for advice on options, I tell them it's personal preference. However, on this one, I gotta admit, it's is a bit bewildering. :confused:

[SJAPoc]

Too good to be true :dunno:

:) I'm sure you'll find a taker soon!

I love my sport seats! :thumbup:

[jummo]

Too good to be true :dunno:


JahR (if that is your real name),

First you wanted to replace the upholstery. Now you want to trade std seats for sport seats.

Wass'up brah? C'mon lets smoke watcha rollin':dunno:



jummo

[justattheborder]

Does anyone know where can i buy the sport seats? and also does it hard to install it?

[SJK]

Ditto on the back problems and I had the same problem as you at first. it took me about a week to find the right position.

Try tilting the bottom cushion back and extending the thigh supports so that your thighs are actually resting on the supports when you are in a confortable driving position. Then adjust the tilt of the seat back until you find what feels best. Finally adjust the lumbar so that is fills the gap at your lower back without overdoing it. Finally, adjust the steering wheel so your arms are in a comfortable position and you can see al the guages. I pulled mine out quite a ways.

Once I made these changes, back problems went away. These are the best fitting seats I have ever had. The key for me was that I had the seat bottom too flat and it was putting extra pressure on my lower back.

[boothguy]

The Spousal Unit also complained about seat comfort (sport seats) on drives longer than a couple of hours on our recent ED. I kept telling her to adjust the seats and she insisted that she'd tried everything and was still "done with driving" way too soon to suit me (and the schedule). I'm fervently hoping that when the car gets here, I'll be able to work with her to find a position that's good for more than a couple of hours. I think that seat height, cushion tilt and thigh support are key. She's little and has short legs, Recent experiences from anyone else?

[alan93rsa]

For the record, I have had four lumbar surgeries, and I have a couple of six inch titanium rods and a half dozen screws in my lower back. I find the sport seats are remarkably comfortable and supportive, and am glad that I selected the Sport package.

+3 I've got 4 rods, 8 screws and 3 shims in the lumbar with 8 screws and a plate in the cervical. The sport seats work great for me.

[jummo]

The Spousal Unit complained, I kept telling her to adjust, she insisted that she'd tried everything and was done, way too soon to suit me. I'm fervently hoping that I'll be able to work with her to find a position that's good for more than a couple of hours. She's little and has short legs, Recent experiences from anyone else?


:wow:


jummo

[pdxgrease]

i had my x3 with premium seats in for service. The loaner was a 328xi with sport package. The x3 seats are hard on my back and i can never find the sweet spot. The sport seats were by far more comfortable. If you haven't already - might be advisable to spend a few days in regular seats before making a decision.

[Jah Rastafari]

i had my x3 with premium seats in for service. The loaner was a 328xi with sport package. The x3 seats are hard on my back and i can never find the sweet spot. The sport seats were by far more comfortable. If you haven't already - might be advisable to spend a few days in regular seats before making a decision.

Well, I havent tried the regular seats yet.

Thanks for the advice.

[HG132]

i had my x3 with premium seats in for service. The loaner was a 328xi with sport package. The x3 seats are hard on my back and i can never find the sweet spot. The sport seats were by far more comfortable. If you haven't already - might be advisable to spend a few days in regular seats before making a decision.

The X3 sports seats are a joke compared to the 3 series sports. Until I switched into my 335, I didn't know what I was missing. The support, comfort, and "sweet spot," :p are worth every penny plus.


As for boothguy, I suggest starting w/the lumbar support...smaller people struggle w/the location, so I would deflate it. Then work on tilt, seat height, and leg support. It may take some adjustments, but compared to the standard seats, it is a more comfortable ride. Good Luck :thumbup:

[Dave S...]

Lower back sore after long rides, believe it is the sport seat. Hope I can dial the set in. Might be a real problem.

[Bill-SD]

JahR (if that is your real name),

First you wanted to replace the upholstery. Now you want to trade std seats for sport seats.

Wass'up brah? C'mon lets smoke watcha rollin':dunno:

jummo

I didn't realize you (OP) were the same person who wanted to replace your interior. Seems like maybe to bought the wrong car :dunno:

I also have rods, screws, and the kitchen sink in my back. I, for sure, know about back pain, and I love the sport seats. But if you really want to trade yours...I know you will have lots of takers.

[porschefile]

Wait so you want to trade your sport seats for regular seats :confused:? I'll trade. Regular seats in an '06 with 16k miles they are in top shape.

[rjmill]

Well, I havent tried the regular seats yet.

Thanks for the advice.

This is either a hoax or the stupidest post I've ever read. He claims to want to trade sport seats for standards (thus lowering resale value of his car), and then states he hasn't even tried the seats he wants to trade for (so how does he know he'll like them better)?

[jwac]

This is either a hoax or the stupidest post I've ever read. He claims to want to trade sport seats for standards (thus lowering resale value of his car), and then states he hasn't even tried the seats he wants to trade for (so how does he know he'll like them better)?

+1, not to mention making it a frankenstein car. :tsk:

[doug8888]

Does anyone know how to get sport seats, and how much they'd be? I'm interested in a used coupe, but want the sports package and the only difference there AFAIK is the seats.

I'd take the offer if I had the car in hand but... I don't

[berkeley223]

wheels/tires are different too with the sport package on the coupe

[lea69]

I have sports seats on my E90 and i get backaches all the time! I find them the most uncomfortable of all bimmers ive owned. They are hard and funny enough,. dont seem to mould to the shape of my back very well. And I am always moving around. Even with the side lumbars inflated

[desertdriver]

I have sports seats on my E90 and i get backaches all the time! I find them the most uncomfortable of all bimmers ive owned. They are hard and funny enough,. dont seem to mould to the shape of my back very well. And I am always moving around. Even with the side lumbars inflated

A good seat is supposed to help align the back not mold to it. A seat that molds to the back will be very uncomfortable for th elonger drive, though it might feel more comfortable on short trips. What the seat is supposed to do is support the back so the back muscles dont have to do all that work. In my experience, the BMW sport seats do not fit larger widebodies. Seat manufacturers actually sell seats in different waist sizes. the two sizes Ive seen are up to 38" and up to 42". The BMW seats are probably up to a 38" waist. I dont slide around in mine at all, but I havent taken my car to the track.

[lea69]

Im tiny and even with the sides fully inflated, i have room either side and move around, esp when i wear my work pants which are smooth on the leather! hahahhaa!

[BerkleyBMW]

Geez! I feel sorry for some of you guys with all those back problems. You might be better off in traction than in sport seats. Ha Ha Ha... just kidding.
I have my own share of problems, so I know what you are going through.
Interesting about the seat sizes, it makes a lot of sense. If you have a 30" waist, you'll never be comfortable in a size 36" pair of jeans.

[anE934fun]

A good seat is supposed to help align the back not mold to it. A seat that molds to the back will be very uncomfortable for th elonger drive, though it might feel more comfortable on short trips. What the seat is supposed to do is support the back so the back muscles dont have to do all that work. In my experience, the BMW sport seats do not fit larger widebodies. Seat manufacturers actually sell seats in different waist sizes. the two sizes Ive seen are up to 38" and up to 42". The BMW seats are probably up to a 38" waist. I dont slide around in mine at all, but I havent taken my car to the track.
I have had back problems since 1995 when I had a real doozy of an accident. In addition, I have genetic de-generation of lumbar discs (L5, L4, & L3), so back-wise, I am pretty screwed. Prior to the E9X Sport package's seats, the best seats for my back problems were manufactured by Volvo. I would put the sport seats at maybe 90% of what Volvo manufactures. And as desertdriver observes, a good seat is supposed to align the back. By aligning the back, it keeps the back from being shifted out of alignment.

[larryg2124]

I understand your pain and based on some research this is more a widespread problem than you think. I bought a 08 335xi in June and have never found a comfortable position for my seat. I have tried all the suggestions on this site to no success. It is to the point where I am thinking about selling my car at a huge loss because I spend way too much time in my car to have to deal with a problem like this.

The lumbar support is just too proud against my back.

[hoopics]

Count me as another person who likes the standard seats a lot more than the sport seats, and who specifically rejected the sports package because of the seats (and oh how I'd have loved the sport suspension). I also have lower back problems, and have a wide torso (I'm not fat, just big boned!), and can never get the side bolsters into a comfortable position. As a result, it throws my whole back out of alignment, and it starts to cramp up after not much driving at all.

With the standard seats I have, I tilt the front of the base all the way up, the back of the base all the way down, and with the back rest set fairly vertical I move the lumbar as low as it'll go. It forms a nice bucket that keeps my back straight and gets the back heater in exactly the right spot for the worst of my back pain. I love this seat, and have found my back pain significantly reduced as compared to my old e46.

[Majikthese42]

I would put the sport seats at maybe 90% of what Volvo manufactures.

I'd score them even lower compared to the power (cloth) seats in my Volvo. Maybe 80-85%. Volvo seems to do this without needing to make the seats capable of a bazillion different adjustments like the BMW.

The BMW sport seats are still better for my back than the standard seats based on my day with a 328i non-sport service loaner.

I have cloth seats on all our cars except for the BMW and the Porsche. (Not because I don't want to sit on a dead cow, I just find them more comfortable.) I don't even notice the seats on the other cars, so they must be OK.

FWIW, I haven't had much trouble with my back (knock on wood) after using the Volvo as my DD for 10 years.

Back to the OP -- have you looked into adding an aftermarket lumbar support cushion?

[upenndash8100]

I have the regular seats and don't mind them but think the sport seats give better support - i especially like thigh support extender.