Back problems?

L

luckyboy1228

Member
My only complaint about the Z4 is the back problems I've been experiencing after driving it. I've got tubeless tires. Is there anything else that can be done?


2003 BMW Z4, 3.0i
 
See a physio? Seriously though, try it with different degrees of rake in the back- I found a very slight adjustment in the vertical made all the difference
 
I had this problem - it was very depressing to have bought the car i'd wanted for years only to find out it was killing my back. Mine is fine now - you just have to play with the position a lot, and memory seats help. Your legs are flatter than in a 'normal' car, putting different stresses on your back muscles. Try raising the seat a bit, at the front only if you can, and as said above, play with the rake of the back - sit up straighter than you feel like you should. Also, I found that making sure I am close enough that my left foot can sit on the foot rest (just) helps - I even change the position slightly depending on whether I am wearing boots or trainers. After a couple of weeks my back just stopped hurting - perhaps it just adapts to the new driving position over time. Just drove 1,000 miles in 3 days last weekend, and didn't have any problems, so my advice would be to persist :thumbsup: Which of course requires driving it a lot :driving: :evil:
 
Bing said:
...Try raising the seat a bit, at the front only if you can...

...sit up straighter than you feel like ou should...
Click to expand...

These are the keys to resolving the problem. For me it was neck rather than back pain, but this worked a treat. Also, I find when I'm pressing on a bit, I tend to crane my neck forward (must be the excitement) so I consciously avoid this now (the position not having fun) :thumbsup:
 
Memory seats definitely help. I'm the only driver do have 3 positions

- every day driving. Low slung, but upright, slight rake in the seat.
- alert, for difficult driving conditions, more upright and raised position
- motorway - seat back low down, relaxed, no seat rake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Adamski said:
Memory seats definitely help. I'm the only driver do have 3 positions

- every day driving. Low slung, but upright, slight rake in the seat.
- alert, for difficult driving conditions, more upright and raised position
- motorway - seat back low down, relaxed, no seat rake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Bloody hell Adamski - 10/10 for preparedness and full use of motor vehicle functionality :thumbsup:

I can just see you unfolding your decision tree as you get in the car - what do you do for difficult motorway driving conditions if having to travel every day ? :? :P
 
Just realised a typo.... :headbang:

I'm the only driver of my car SO have three driving positions....

EDIT - yeah sometimes chop and change mid journey :lol:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thank you for the suggestions! I was thinking it was the roughness of the ride, the seating position didn't even cross my mind.

-Lucky
 
Some good advice.

Lucky - FYI just about every car on the road uses tubeless Tyres, or we're you referring to run flat Tyres?
 
Adamski said:
Just realised a typo.... :headbang:

I'm the only driver of my car SO have three driving positions....
Click to expand...
I thought you meant "I'm the only driver to have three driving positions," which I'm guessing is pretty accurate.
So far I've used the "set and forget" approach, which has worked fine, but now that I've been exposed to the "Adamski Method" I'm feeling a little inadequate, and will have to give it some serious thought. 8)
 
Adamski said:
Memory seats definitely help. I'm the only driver do have 3 positions

- every day driving. Low slung, but upright, slight rake in the seat.
- alert, for difficult driving conditions, more upright and raised position
- motorway - seat back low down, relaxed, no seat rake


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Each to their own and all that - but that seems a bit odd..

Shouldn't you just have 1 driving position that is safe, comfortable, and useful in all conditions? :poke:

Then again, what would I know, I use the other 2 memory positions for cleaning.. One makes the seat go full forward and up as high as it goes so i can get the vacuum cleaner in, and the other one lays the seat back so I can get the leather cleaner etc in... :lol: :lol:

Cheers,

Nelson.
 
I have sufferd with a bad back for years , but find the Z4 seating position once its fiddled with very comfortable . Heated seats help of course. My only critism is the very hard and bumpy suspension , when I test drove the car on the Wirral it was not half as bad as when I got it home to Liverpool .... here we have terrible roads potholes everywhere.
 
On the making of the Z4 programme the pro driver gave a really detailed explanation of setting the seat correctly.

It's roughly this:

Set the seat base so that if you press the brake pedal as hard as you can your knee has a slight bend

Adjust the back to a fairly vertical position, so that forces push you back into it. Not too steeply raked back and overly relaxed

Final adjustment is so that while seated firmly your wrists just break over the top of the wheel.


Did that procedure and I can do 4 hour runs to the south coast without the slightest issue in what really are very comfortble seats.
 
nfc said:
Then again, what would I know, I use the other 2 memory positions for cleaning.. One makes the seat go full forward and up as high as it goes so i can get the vacuum cleaner in, and the other one lays the seat back so I can get the leather cleaner etc in... :lol: :lol:
Click to expand...
I like it! Great idea :thumbsup:
 
I suffered more in the mini...not sure if anyone recalls Hugh Grant's " golf balls" story on top gear? Very similar complaint :oops: I had part of a disc in the lower back (common one L5S1) done and suffer periodically from sciatica.

Did the big London to Gladgow run in the zed at Christmas, thought at 6'2" I needed the seat extension thing on the front but that flat very weird. A little play and it's fine, better than fine! More of a problem with the rake on the steering wheel :o
 
Adamski said:
Memory seats definitely help. I'm the only driver do have 3 positions

- every day driving. Low slung, but upright, slight rake in the seat.
- alert, for difficult driving conditions, more upright and raised position
- motorway - seat back low down, relaxed, no seat rake
Click to expand...

Same here, works nicely for a change in roads/driving conditions. Obviously it's never exact, but you can always then tweak it.
S
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom