M seat ideas.

[john-e89]

Looking to change the standard seats for something with more side bolster support especially, and generally a better seat than standard. Budget is not really an issue, just want something....well, better in every respect I guess... :lol: The standard seats are pretty poor imho, especially when BMW did adjustable side bolsters in the E46 M3 and are soooo much more comfortable.

Any suggestions..?

 

[mmm-five]

Depends how far you want to go, and what you’re actually looking for in a seat.

The standard Z4M seats were crap in my opinion…a huge quality & comfort downgrade from what I had in my e34 M5, with no support for hips or thighs.

Of course, you can put E46 M3 seats in…or CSL Recaro seats (if you can find them)…Recaro Speed, or go all the way to bucket seats like Pole Positions, or full carbon Tilletts.

However, I would highly recommend trying the bucket seats before buying/fitting to make sure your body shape fits the seat shape…unlike standard car seats that are made to a wider body shape tolerance.

 

[john-e89]

Depends how far you want to go, and what you’re actually looking for in a seat.

The standard Z4M seats were crap in my opinion…a huge quality & comfort downgrade from what I had in my e34 M5, with no support for hips or thighs.

Of course, you can put E46 M3 seats in…or CSL Recaro seats (if you can find them)…Recaro Speed, or go all the way to bucket seats like Pole Positions, or full carbon Tilletts.

However, I would highly recommend trying the bucket seats before buying/fitting to make sure your body shape fits the seat shape…unlike standard car seats that are made to a wider body shape tolerance.

Agree 100% on the standard seats, utter rubbish and poor show from BMW. I've had M3 seats in it but they sit so high you feel like Noddy driving a toy car, a shame as they're very comfy. I'm after a supportive but comfy chair , i think Tillets would be far too hardcore, I don't want anything track focused.

 

[mmm-five]

I think part of the issue is the narrow space to fit other seats in. If you lower the seat by removing rails or mounts, then they won’t sit in the space properly, and if you put them at the correct height they win’s adjust down enough…although I thought the manual M3 seats went lower than the electric ones…I know I can’t see over the steering wheel in my 320d if I have the seats (heated, manual M-Sport seats with electric bolsters) at their lowest setting

Of course, unless someone else has tried, you won’t know what seats from other BMWs (like later M2/3/4/5s) are likely to physically fit

 

[Beedub]

i really love the way the stock seats look and the leather quality was nice imo..... thats where it ends, zero support and WAYYYY heavier than i ever could have imagined.

The carbon tillet is no where near as uncomfortable as they appear ( they are properly contoured to the body) and have literally transformed this car as much as any mod ive done. The seating position is so awesome, the way your legs now just push out in front of you with the slightly reclined seat that sits you LOW into the cabin. The relationship with pedals and gear lever has never been better in this car. Th biggest plus is the way they fit the cabin, its like they were always meant for the z4. Even as slim as they are , you can really see how space limited the z4 is. Probably the best bucket ive ever sat in and the way they hold you in place is poetry, they are also extremely comfortable hard to believe but NO less than stock and in some areas more comfortable. If these are too extreme for you, id look towards the Pole position ( supremely comfortable ) but they foul the door card ( or every z4 that has come to work with them in has )

m5 is correct definitely go to a shop and try them, i went through 3 sets and lost a fortune and very nearly gave up.... i took a rather pricey gamble on the tillet B5 carbon shells. Lastly this is a costly route , expect to more than you think making this happen.

Edit ; one thing i dont about the tillet is how difficult it is to now enter and exit the car

Any excuse to post a pic of these

 

[john-e89]

I think part of the issue is the narrow space to fit other seats in. If you lower the seat by removing rails or mounts, then they won’t sit in the space properly, and if you put them at the correct height they win’s adjust down enough…although I thought the manual M3 seats went lower than the electric ones…I know I can’t see over the steering wheel in my 320d if I have the seats (heated, manual M-Sport seats with electric bolsters) at their lowest setting

Of course, unless someone else has tried, you won’t know what seats from other BMWs (like later M2/3/4/5s) are likely to physically fit

Aahhhh I didnt know manual M3 seats sat lower than lekky, although having said that you'd lose the adjustable side bolster option I'm thinking..? Recaro ergomed look pretty much perfect, same kind of seat but hopefully lower.

 

[john-e89]

i really love the way the stock seats look and the leather quality was nice imo..... thats where it ends, zero support and WAYYYY heavier than i ever could have imagined.

The carbon tillet is no where near as uncomfortable as they appear ( they are properly contoured to the body) and have literally transformed this car as much as any mod ive done. The seating position is so awesome, the way your legs now just push out in front of you with the slightly reclined seat that sits you LOW into the cabin. The relationship with pedals and gear lever has never been better in this car. Th biggest plus is the way they fit the cabin, its like they were always meant for the z4. Even as slim as they are , you can really see how space limited the z4 is. Probably the best bucket ive ever sat in and the way they hold you in place is poetry, they are also extremely comfortable hard to believe but NO less than stock and in some areas more comfortable. If these are too extreme for you, id look towards the Pole position ( supremely comfortable ) but they foul the door card ( or every z4 that has come to work with them in has )

m5 is correct definitely go to a shop and try them, i went through 3 sets and lost a fortune and very nearly gave up.... i took a rather pricey gamble on the tillet B5 carbon shells. Lastly this is a costly route , expect to more than you think making this happen.

Edit ; one thing i dont about the tillet is how difficult it is to now enter and exit the car

Any excuse to post a pic of these

But realistically how much time could you spend in those Tillets Byron...?

 

[abar121]

Agree about the stock seats, they are awful in terms of support and were very poorly rated from new.

For me, lower back support is awful. Both myself and my partner suffer on long journeys, the only car to give us any grief.

I like the S2000 seat swap, might give that a go one day.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I must be strange as I really like the M-Sport seats. :roll:

Although the Nappa leather in my M is much nicer than the Oregon leather my previous cars had.

I did sit in a carbon Tillet in a Z4 once and it was more comfortable than I expected, but I'm not sure how long I'd want to spend in one!

 

[Beedub]

i really love the way the stock seats look and the leather quality was nice imo..... thats where it ends, zero support and WAYYYY heavier than i ever could have imagined.

The carbon tillet is no where near as uncomfortable as they appear ( they are properly contoured to the body) and have literally transformed this car as much as any mod ive done. The seating position is so awesome, the way your legs now just push out in front of you with the slightly reclined seat that sits you LOW into the cabin. The relationship with pedals and gear lever has never been better in this car. Th biggest plus is the way they fit the cabin, its like they were always meant for the z4. Even as slim as they are , you can really see how space limited the z4 is. Probably the best bucket ive ever sat in and the way they hold you in place is poetry, they are also extremely comfortable hard to believe but NO less than stock and in some areas more comfortable. If these are too extreme for you, id look towards the Pole position ( supremely comfortable ) but they foul the door card ( or every z4 that has come to work with them in has )

m5 is correct definitely go to a shop and try them, i went through 3 sets and lost a fortune and very nearly gave up.... i took a rather pricey gamble on the tillet B5 carbon shells. Lastly this is a costly route , expect to more than you think making this happen.

Edit ; one thing i dont about the tillet is how difficult it is to now enter and exit the car

Any excuse to post a pic of these

But realistically how much time could you spend in those Tillets Byron...?

Probably far longer than one would think..... The extreme appearance is very decieving.. but I also understand they aren't for everyone. Any ideas or links for some ideas your thinking ?? The leather pole position are porn.

 

[mmm-five]

Don't know about the Tilletts, but I've done thousands of miles in my Pole Position ABE seats...including some National runs and plenty of Germany trips...much less tiring than standard seats as I no longer have to support/brace my body weight on one knee or the other when I'm going through fast corners.

 

[beanie]

The only complaint I had with Pole positions was a lack of lumbar support. This was in an old golf so may not be such an issue in the Z.

For longer drives I think some kind of adjustment would be a benefit unless you’re lucky and the seat you choose turns out to be a tailor made fit. When I drive back to the uk I really appreciate being able to move the seat around to vary the angle and support on my back. I’ve done the same journey in the pole positions and whilst it was ok, I ended up stuffing a small cushion by my lower back after a few hours. All very personal though so as mentioned, try and sit in some and see what you think.

One option might be the recaro CS, every single one I’ve tried in whatever car has been excellent.

 

[mmm-five]

The only complaint I had with Pole positions was a lack of lumbar support. This was in an old golf so may not be such an issue in the Z.

For longer drives I think some kind of adjustment would be a benefit unless you’re lucky and the seat you choose turns out to be a tailor made fit. When I drive back to the uk I really appreciate being able to move the seat around to vary the angle and support on my back. I’ve done the same journey in the pole positions and whilst it was ok, I ended up stuffing a small cushion by my lower back after a few hours. All very personal though so as mentioned, try and sit in some and see what you think.

One option might be the recaro CS, every single one I’ve tried in whatever car has been excellent.

Mine is set up perfectly for me, but you can buy manual/electric inflatable lumbar pads and cushions

 

[beanie]

If and when I ever get it back on the road, a couple of those would be ideal

 

[abar121]

I must be strange as I really like the M-Sport seats. :roll:

Although the Nappa leather in my M is much nicer than the Oregon leather my previous cars had.

I did sit in a carbon Tillet in a Z4 once and it was more comfortable than I expected, but I'm not sure how long I'd want to spend in one!

Everyone's different If you love them, that's great! I really do wish I could say the same

I agree that the Nappa leather is lovely.

 

[SonnyA85]

I use a Herman Miller at home and I find the fully electric and heated standard seat to be fine. The only thing I don't like is the seat belt it cuts into my neck. So I bought one of those cover/padded things you normally find in baby seat straps. Except this has M stitching on it just because I thought that looked nicer than BMW stitched onto it.

Whilst the seat probably isn't the best it's not the worst either. I don't have any issues with it. I think it's the seating position and being so low and shape of the car which makes it worse than it is.

The Lexus seats I do find are slightly more comfortable but then that car is a decade younger, again they are also fully electric and heated.

I would need to do a side by side test of m sport seats to see if they would be worthwhile looking into but a lot that come up for sale aren't electric and heated which would mean a compromise that I don't think is worthwhile paying money for.

 

[john-e89]

Agree about the stock seats, they are awful in terms of support and were very poorly rated from new.

For me, lower back support is awful. Both myself and my partner suffer on long journeys, the only car to give us any grief.

I like the S2000 seat swap, might give that a go one day.

The 2000 seat is a good thought Abar.....I have seen some in a Zed. Only issue is they don't raise or lower so would need to be perfect out if the box but worth looking into.

 

[john-e89]

The only complaint I had with Pole positions was a lack of lumbar support. This was in an old golf so may not be such an issue in the Z.

For longer drives I think some kind of adjustment would be a benefit unless you’re lucky and the seat you choose turns out to be a tailor made fit. When I drive back to the uk I really appreciate being able to move the seat around to vary the angle and support on my back. I’ve done the same journey in the pole positions and whilst it was ok, I ended up stuffing a small cushion by my lower back after a few hours. All very personal though so as mentioned, try and sit in some and see what you think.

One option might be the recaro CS, every single one I’ve tried in whatever car has been excellent.

The CS does look good Beanie, on the shortlist.

 

[markplant]

The recaro from Corsa vxr look nice

 

[craig3.2]

I must be strange as I really like the M-Sport seats. :roll:

Although the Nappa leather in my M is much nicer than the Oregon leather my previous cars had.

I did sit in a carbon Tillet in a Z4 once and it was more comfortable than I expected, but I'm not sure how long I'd want to spend in one!

I really like the Standard M seats too,never had an issue with them,on Many many spirited drives.
If nitpicking,some more "holding in" in very fast corners wouldn't hurt,but that's nitpicking.
I think they are great for a standard fit sports seat.

Each to their own though.
Personally,I like mine just fine