[noflash]

It's come up here a couple times before and I think I am the first to do this.

I absolutely loved the sport seats in my e46. They were perfect and because of that I paid little attention to e90 seat comfort in my two test drives... how different could they be?

Turns out, excruciatingly so. I am 6'3", 240 lbs, waist size 40 (some muscle, some fat). You wouldn't call me fat to my face, but I am definitely big boned.

The side bolstering of the e90 sport seats is far more pronounced than the e46 and was pinching my kidneys. The bolsters also go high enough to cause my shoulders to roll forward.

Also, bimmer seat middles used to always be flat, they now slightly curve forward near the top. Only the comfort seats of the 5 and 7 can bend this curve back to flat (in newer models).

All together this seat had a concave effect on my back I found to be VERY uncomfortable after a short while. I tried many different seat cushions, positions, memory foam, etc. Nothing seemed to work. I then began a relationship with a local seat upholstery shop. I told them what I needed and they added foam to "fill the cave" best they could from my description ($177). It was better, but I needed to fine tune it.

They showed me how to remove the back of the seat and I was able to add differing sizes of foam to the seat. I didn't get it right until today (knock on wood). Basically, I added two sheets of foam the width of the seat back (b/t the bolsters), from the bottom of the back of the seat, to where the seat starts to tilt forward. The foam I added totaled about an inch and a half thick.

Here's the seatback removed:

The material was added to the back of the foam to keep it from mushing through the grate.
Also, note the six springs. You can use a screwdriver to pry them of the grill and then push some foam in from the side. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK A SPRING OR ANY OF THE GRILL!!!

Here is a pic of the final product from the front.

You can really see how the driver seat has lost it's concave-ness and the effect of adding the foam pushes you forward and AWAY from the side bolsters.

I have only just finished this today. I hope the love lasts.

Enjoy, critique, whatever.

noflash

P.S. If there is interest I can give better directions of how I got into the seat.

[SPoNGeBoB]

uhhhh... pictures?

[noflash]

They're linked from Cardomain. I can see 'em. Anyone else?

[Ghunger]

I can see em fine. Glad you got your seat to your liking. I need to sit in em for a while to be sure they fit me alright on my next test drive. I am a bit smaller than you (6'0" 170lb) and my first testdrive felt fine so I'm expecting they'll be ok. It's too bad you can't do like 3 hr test drives to really feel what they'd be like on long trips.

[noflash]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

I can see em fine. Glad you got your seat to your liking. I need to sit in em for a while to be sure they fit me alright on my next test drive. I am a bit smaller than you (6'0" 170lb) and my first testdrive felt fine so I'm expecting they'll be ok. It's too bad you can't do like 3 hr test drives to really feel what they'd be like on long trips.

Thanks.

Maybe Sponge got banned from Cardomain or something.

I'm sure you'll love the seats as is. They seem to be perfect for the average sized.

[Chesmu]

how much would it have been to be a olser seat into the new car? And the dog seems to like it!

[noflash]

Originally Posted by moocow

how much would it have been to be a olser seat into the new car? And the dog seems to like it!

I didn't want to lose my heated seats, side airbags, ability to turn the car in after lease, etc.

Anyway, I'm sure over a grand? Not familiar with Osler.

EDIT: Googled it; got nothin'. Is that a typo?

[noflash]

In cases you missed it from this weekend. Bump.

[Kimo]

Stupid question:
You had/have the side bolsters adjusted ALL the way out, right (rocker switch in front of the lumbar adjuster)?

[noflash]

Originally Posted by Kimo

Stupid question:
You had/have the side bolsters adjusted ALL the way out, right (rocker switch in front of the lumbar adjuster)?

Not a stupid question -- Yes, I did.

It is the answer that is stupid. BMW set the widest side bolster setting for a 36 waist for the NA market. DER!

The skiniest setting must be for supermodel track junkies. What were they thinking?

When I had the seat apart, I did find the metal fin attached to the seatback that is the frame of the sidebolster. I'd love to bend that sucker back, but at the moment I am leaning toward giving the car back at lease end.