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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) Local Forums UK Sport Seats; Too Firm?

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      10-06-2019, 02:26 PM   #1
HighlandPete
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Sport Seats; Too Firm?

Had a chance to get into a couple of new 3-series and the F40 M135i on Saturday.

Both the M340i saloon and G21 M-sport touring seats seemed to be very firm, compared to any 3-series sport seats I've used before. I ran an E91 with sport seats for over six years, never had the feeling the seats were hard. Certainly not uncomfortable.

I'm thinking of an M340i touring as my next car, but I didn't find the seats at all comfortable. I spent a few minutes trying different seating positions, but the base just seemed too hard. Even the M135i seat was more comfortable.

Got back into my Five and thought, what a good sport seat, by comparison. To be honest was disappointed, as I've never found BMW sport seats uncomfortable before. I sat in the rear of the G21 to see what the leg room was like, for passengers sat behind me, the seat felt too firm and all wrong to me. Has something changed with the latest models?

How do you guys find the sport seats, particularly those who have owned previous generation 3-series?
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      10-06-2019, 03:14 PM   #2
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They're firm to start with. I've had my car for a couple of months now. Seats are now no more firm than my previous F30 but more supportive.
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      10-06-2019, 05:50 PM   #3
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I find the seats a lot more supportive than my previous F30.
However, I seem to get backache now after a decent drive, whereas I didn’t before.
Must be getting old ��.
Also the wife thinks the seats are really good.
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      10-07-2019, 03:27 AM   #4
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The seats have amazing support, like a focused sports car. But yes they are too firm.
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      10-07-2019, 04:24 AM   #5
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Thanks for the feedback.

Found the seats very supportive, well shaped, just felt too much like sitting on a thinly covered board. Not at all what I had expected from a 3-series sport seat.
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      10-07-2019, 12:27 PM   #6
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I agree with Highland Pete, the sports seats lack padding and
are not as good as the F30 and G30 sport seats.
Why spoil a good design, I do not know.
Having said that, I don’t have any backache etc after a long journey.
I have had my G20 six months now and I am surprised that the subject hasn’t been raised before.

Last edited by Isow; 10-07-2019 at 01:48 PM..
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      10-07-2019, 06:12 PM   #7
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Could it be vernasca vs merino?
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      10-08-2019, 05:11 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommytexter View Post
Could it be vernasca vs merino?
No, I never had merino in my F30.
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      10-08-2019, 06:07 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Isow View Post
No, I never had merino in my F30.
My experience is the standard leather in each generation.

I remember trying the F30 while driving my E91 (and other E9x models) and thought the sports seats were slightly better than the E9x models.

In fact these are my exact words, back in March 2012, testing an F30 328i, with sport seats.

Quote:
… on with the drive. The sport seat is a familiar place, in fact the seat feels a bit better to my butt, slightly more refined and comfy, but same support and adjustments for position, as the E90/1.
Plus my experience with the F30 over the years, the key reason I was so disappointed in the G20/G21 sport seat examples I sat in.
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      11-14-2019, 05:45 PM   #10
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To be honest I've had a variety of new 3,4,5 and 6 series. The 5 and 6 series f10 and the latest 6 series had great seats. Like the e9x series did. The 4 series (my 2017 430d GC M-Sport) were rubbish. Very poor. Like you say sitting on a board. I thought the car was rubbish and viewing from afar Highland Pete you would hate it. It's not well built, now feels old and to be honest is crap. The f10 is a far superior car in terms of NVH. The 340 has a great engine but the car itself is not comfortable in comparison and is now really rather dated.
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      11-15-2019, 11:45 AM   #11
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Only had mine for a few days and the first day I did think it felt a bit firmer, but today I didn't feel that at all.... longest drive so far has been 70 miles so maybe need a longer trip and some more time to be sure.
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      11-15-2019, 12:15 PM   #12
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At first they are a little firm and you need to find the correct position. But after a few drives you will be fine.

Did a 16 hour drive this summer. I think the seats did very well! Only complain I had was some soreness in my left food caused by not using it
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      01-28-2020, 01:57 PM   #13
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I concur with above - they do seem firm at first - certainly firmer than the equivalents seats in my F34 - but I'm fine with mine a month in.

I would prefer the seat base to tip further back and the extension on the seat base to provide more support though.

The adjustable bolster function on the electric memory seat option is great...just wish it had a memory!!
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      03-19-2020, 07:07 AM   #14
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Picked my 330d xdrive M sport up a couple of weeks ago. Having come from a B9 A4. Can honestly say that the seats in this are awful! I've adjusted them every way I can and I can never find a comfortable position. I end up with back ache/neck ache. I have manual seats with the lumbar, no matter what I try I can't get comfy. The seat also feels like it slopes toward the centre console. Never had this in my A4, they were supple, supportive and never caused me any aches. They are also rock hard in my opinion. Whoever designed these seats clearly didn't spend much time testing them for comfort. I had 3, 3 series coupes from 02-08 and never found those seats to be an issue. These however, are horrendous. I've informed BMW along with a couple of other things. Anyone know what can be done? £45k car and the seats are like sitting on two planks of wood connected at a bizarre angle.
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      03-19-2020, 08:47 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy-1878 View Post
Picked my 330d xdrive M sport up a couple of weeks ago. Having come from a B9 A4. Can honestly say that the seats in this are awful! I've adjusted them every way I can and I can never find a comfortable position. I end up with back ache/neck ache. I have manual seats with the lumbar, no matter what I try I can't get comfy. The seat also feels like it slopes toward the centre console. Never had this in my A4, they were supple, supportive and never caused me any aches. They are also rock hard in my opinion. Whoever designed these seats clearly didn't spend much time testing them for comfort. I had 3, 3 series coupes from 02-08 and never found those seats to be an issue. These however, are horrendous. I've informed BMW along with a couple of other things. Anyone know what can be done? £45k car and the seats are like sitting on two planks of wood connected at a bizarre angle.
Sorry for your experience. I’ve had my 330e M Sport since November and have found the seats to be fine over 200 mile journeys and more. It must be like buying a road bike saddle.Someones super comfy lightly padded saddle can be a real PITA to someone else
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      03-19-2020, 04:28 PM   #16
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Just driven 380 miles over two days in 130 and 245 mile run

No issue tbh, I do have merino, but seat is fine
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      03-20-2020, 05:49 PM   #17
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I'm over 70, and my glutes aren't as chubby as they once were, so I found that the firm seat pan in my G20 was giving me an aching bum during longer drives. Never had the problem with my earlier E39. Tried all combinations of adjustments to no avail (although I agree with another poster that it would be good if the seat pan could be tilted even further than it can be currently).

So I purchased a memory foam seat cushion from my local auto parts store - problem solved for about $30 (NZ). A recent four-hour trip was completed in perfect comfort.

UPDATE : Now I've had my M340i for nearly 18 months, the seats are no longer an issue. They seem to have softened (or my derriere has adapted to them !) and I no longer need the extra cushion. Other posters' comments seem to bear out my experience : you need to give these seats time to "wear in".
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Last edited by kiwirick; 07-04-2021 at 12:14 AM.. Reason: Update
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      03-23-2020, 06:25 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwirick View Post
I'm over 70, and my glutes aren't as chubby as they once were, so I found that the firm seat pan in my G20 was giving me an aching bum during longer drives. Never had the problem with my earlier E39. Tried all combinations of adjustments to no avail (although I agree with another poster that it would be good if the seat pan could be tilted even further than it can be currently).

So I purchased a memory foam seat cushion from my local auto parts store - problem solved for about $30 (NZ). A recent four-hour trip was completed in perfect comfort.
Over £40k for a car in the UK, I don't expect to have to stick a cushion on it so that it's comfortable though
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      03-23-2020, 09:19 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy-1878 View Post
Over £40k for a car in the UK, I don't expect to have to stick a cushion on it so that it's comfortable though
I completely agree with you, but the car is SO good in most other respects that I was prepared to accept this 'solution'. It's possible that the seat may soften in time .... I'll try it again without the cushion in a month or so. I tried running the seat heating to see whether that would help to soften it but you can only sit for a short time with that switched on in summer !
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      03-24-2020, 07:33 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwirick View Post
I completely agree with you, but the car is SO good in most other respects that I was prepared to accept this 'solution'. It's possible that the seat may soften in time .... I'll try it again without the cushion in a month or so. I tried running the seat heating to see whether that would help to soften it but you can only sit for a short time with that switched on in summer !
Haha, yes I tried that too but like you say, only so long you can take with that on. Even for me in the UK!
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      03-24-2020, 11:32 AM   #21
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In the showroom I had a sit in the new X1 . Now ! that was hard . The leather was as stiff as blacksmiths apron and hard on the rrrs as the old school cane used to be. Mentioned it to the salesperson who said hmmm yes but you can go for the sports seats but some people find they strangle them in the small of the back
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      03-24-2020, 11:35 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumble View Post
In the showroom I had a sit in the new X1 . Now ! that was hard . The leather was as stiff as blacksmiths apron and hard on the rrrs as the old school cane used to be. Mentioned it to the salesperson who said hmmm yes but you can go for the sports seats but some people find they strangle them in the small of the back
They certainly do! I'm amazed any modern car would go through R&D then testing and still come into production with uncomfortable seats.
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