Sports Seats

D

DR-Z

Member
 Ashbourne (Derbyshire) and Aberdovey
Yesterday I had to visit one of our sites down in Gloucestershire, a 240 mile round trip. Weather forecast looked OK, so I took the zed. A glorious drive, even if most of it was motorway. Roof down all the way, both directions, despite a brief period of rain and it getting dark. Heated seats and air blower in use, of course!

I saw a couple of Z4s, a couple of MX5s, An SLK and a Boxster – all of which were ‘roof-up’. Their loss, I’d say.

Ave mpg went up to 33, keeping up a good pace but driving sedately - not quite sure how anyone can get high 30s in a six cylinder Z4.

But, and here’s the point of this post, my (sports) seats are not comfortable. I’m not particularly tall (5’11”), but can’t find a really comfortable position for my legs. How do taller drivers cope? I like to support my thighs, but even with the front part of the seat extended I still have to bend my knees, which is tiring after a couple of hours. If only I could move the seats back by another couple of inches. I will now look to see if I can modify the seat extensions to ‘bolster’ them up a bit.

Using my newly-fitted cruise control revealed a limitation – obviously part of the aim is to be able to take my right foot off the pedal, but with nowhere to put it, this bends my leg even more. So I found myself knocking the cruise off so I you bend my foot down again!

And then there’s the back-rest. Nor am I particularly wide (I’m 12st), but those ‘wings’ push my shoulders forwards – quite uncomfortable after a while. How do ‘more substantial’ drivers cope?

Today I am in the office, which meant my usual 45 minute drive to Macclesfield, including going over the Cat & Fiddle road. Another glorious top-down drive. Just hope it's not throwing it down later when it's home time! :D
 
I'd say your seat may not be positioned correctly.

In a low slung car people have the tendency to have the back tilted too much - reducing the tilt could prob get the base further back.

I think the thigh extension on mine is only one click out - so hardly used.

Maybe raise your seat up, so the thighs support has more contact with your legs?

While cruising on the motorway i use my memory seat 2 which is my seat further back so my shoulders are not pushed against the back wings.
 
At 6'3" I've never driven a car with straight legs, never mind the Zed. This said, I find the driving position really comfortable on long journeys. Far better than the last 'executive car' I owned.
 
5 11 and one of my fav thing about the Z is the sports seats find them incredibly comfortable!
 
The Z4 sports seats are okay, but not as supportive, soft, or comfortable as the sports seats in my e34. Partly down to less padding, partly down to slippy leather vs grippy cloth & alcantara.

In the Z4, I have mine so that the front (of the seat bottom) is as high as it will go, and the back as low as it will go - so that I get a 'bucket' effect which holds me in the seat.

I don't have the back tilted too much as I like to have a fair amount of angle in my elbows to allow me to keep my hands on the wheel in most situations.

I leave the thigh support in its closed position as I find it gives me an ache if I have it too close to the back of my knees - something to do with pressure on that part of the leg.

Still probably only have about 1" between the back of the seat and the cabin division.

33mpg in an M is possible if you sit at an indicated 60-70mph (55-65mph) for long periods, with little throttle input (I sit at an indicated 85mph between London & Liverpool) and average 27mpg, which includes the slow bits in London/Liverpool), so I assume doing the same in a 2.5/3.0, then you'll get high 30s.

e34 M5 seats in silvergrey:
bmw-5-series-m5-601074-9.jpg


e34 M5 seats in anthracite:
Silver-BMW--27172_9.jpg
 
I'm 6 "2 and 14 stone and found both the standard and M sport seats (recently fitted) fine in regards to positioning and comfort.

Although saying that the sport seats dont sit as low as the standard seats :thumbsdown:

Straight leg driving? not seen or tried that before

You must be holding onto the steering wheel with your fingernails?
 
Adamski said:
Straight back and seat to the lowest position should help....
Click to expand...

Tried but no go / no biggie as I'm loving the new sports seats - makes the car feel much more solid to drive


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Opposite for me and I'm about same weight and height I find the sports seats really comfortable. Often drive Midlands to Brighton. That's a 200 mile each way trip and fresh as a daisy when I arrive.

As someone else said you clearly have them wrongly adjusted.

There's was a video around somewhere of the US Z4 test driver setting them. Those who followed I iirc were happy with the results.
 
Everybody has a different criteria for what's comfortable and what it takes to achieve it. The video CJ mentions is intended to give one optimal control of the car, so it's a good start. Many will need to tweak from there to achieve optimal comfort. Some will need supplemental padding, such as extra lumbar support. Unfortunately for some, total comfort is not attainable, you'll have to settle for the most optimal, even if not totally comfortable.

In extreme cases, people have resorted to altering the internal padding and cover, or even different seats. It's a matter of how bad it is and how much you're willing to pay to get more comfortable.

I often get around 38 mpg (adjusted to Imperial Gallons). Once got 42. But I'm at 2000m elevation, so the ECU delivers less fuel due to less atmospheric oxygen. On a recent extended trip of mixed motorway and mountain driving along with some congested city, at a range of elevations, I averaged 35 overall.
 
being 6ft 5in and weighing at around the 20stone mark the sports seats are a no go when tried a couple of other Zed's plus tried a Z4M but no auto so no room for leg as a bloody pedal is in the way, so it has to be the comfort seats ones and then the driving position is pretty good :thumbsup:
 
I tried all the combinations - seat up/down, backrest upright/tilted, etc. Best position (seat down, rake up, backrest fairly upright, seat as far back as it wil go) still has leg unsupported, which with my dodgy knees is not ideal. Will live with it, unless I can modify seat without ruining it.
 
TBH i'm not impressed with the sport seats . they look great but possibly the biggest let down on my zed :o
you just don't nestle into them & think "ok, 300 miles to go , lets get at it "
maybe ive got just used to better seats in previous cars ?
i can tolerate them as i do minimal miles in the car but my first jaunt over the channel will be the decider :thumbsup: or :thumbsdown:
mrs w's GT golf has much better sports seats :wink:
 
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