Raising front passenger seat height for elderly Mom

[JoeKixxon]

This is a pretty niche topic but I've tried Pep Boys, Amazon, Target, and Wally World so far with no luck...

Every Saturday I take my Mom for errands and lunch. It's difficult for her to get out of the front seat, and I do raise it as high as possible with the controls. I'm looking for a seat cushion to raise the height that's also comfortable. Something better than a folded towel. Bit of a stretch here, but if anyone has a suggestion please post.

As a side note, Mom loves the M3 and she gets all giddy riding in it. She loves cars, car shows, etc but she cant drive anymore. Point being another car is an option but she likes this one.

[RickFLM4]

There is lots of stuff like this if you google "car seat pillow":

https://www.bulbhead.com/car-seat-ri...FcVDhgodoP0MbA

[DL3]

Tempurpedic.com This is their seat cushion 4 like $85.00. Soft yet supportive, she'll like it.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by JoeKixxon

This is a pretty niche topic but I've tried Pep Boys, Amazon, Target, and Wally World so far with no luck...

Every Saturday I take my Mom for errands and lunch. It's difficult for her to get out of the front seat, and I do raise it as high as possible with the controls. I'm looking for a seat cushion to raise the height that's also comfortable. Something better than a folded towel. Bit of a stretch here, but if anyone has a suggestion please post.

As a side note, Mom loves the M3 and she gets all giddy riding in it. She loves cars, car shows, etc but she cant drive anymore. Point being another car is an option but she likes this one.

Wouldn't it be easier to get out if the seat was lower? Swing her legs out, put her feet on the ground and stand up.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Wouldn't it be easier to get out if the seat was lower? Swing her legs out, put her feet on the ground and stand up.

That's what I was thinking. I'm also wondering why raising the seat up using the seat controls isn't sufficient.

[JoeKixxon]

Thanks DL3! I'll give it a go

[robbo mcs]

When my mother was frail and elderly she had one of these (not this exact one, but similar)

http://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/4359

It made it much easier to lift herself in and out of a lowish seat.

[2000cs]

My wife is short and has trouble seeing out and around the a-pillar. On her dd, X3, we had a piece fabricated to raise the entire seat (goes between the floor and seat rails). She doesn't drive the M3 much but can barely make it work without modification. I think a pillow is a bit unsafe since it isn't anchored firmly, plus she would lose the benefit of the side bolsters. She is 4-11.

[Biorin]

I'm 5'0, and when I drove a 458, I had to sit on a legit chair cushion. This was spirited street driving, not track, but I had zero issues with security/sliding around. I'd imagine a cushion designed for the task would do the trick perfectly.

[Biorin]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

That's what I was thinking. I'm also wondering why raising the seat up using the seat controls isn't sufficient.

I know for me at least, I've got long legs but a very short torso. For similar builds, even raising the seat all the way doesn't always give you the visibility you need.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Biorin

I know for me at least, I've got long legs but a very short torso. For similar builds, even raising the seat all the way doesn't always give you the visibility you need.

OP wasn't talking about visibility - he was talking about getting in and out of the car.

[JoeKixxon]

Originally Posted by robbo mcs

When my mother was frail and elderly she had one of these (not this exact one, but similar)

http://ilcaustralia.org.au/products/4359

It made it much easier to lift herself in and out of a lowish seat.

Thanks so much! This would have never occurred to me, since I didn't know such a thing existed. I found this one on Amazon and based on the reviews it's pretty good. I'm ordering it today. http://a.co/bPjXSSL

BIMMERPOST and M3 Forum for the win once again. The info from this forum raises my ownership experience from a 10 to an 11!

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Wouldn't it be easier to get out if the seat was lower? Swing her legs out, put her feet on the ground and stand up.

It's all about the knees and the back and the ability to bend, and to raise/lower oneself. That's why they sell raised toilet seats and even higher toilet bases for those who have difficulty with a standard height seat.

My MIL has no problem getting in and out of her Camry but there's no way she would ever be able to get in or out of my Z4 M Roadster with H&R Sport Springs.

[WestBankM4]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Wouldn't it be easier to get out if the seat was lower? Swing her legs out, put her feet on the ground and stand up.

The bolster will be screaming in pain, every.single.time.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by WestBankM4

The bolster will be screaming in pain, every.single.time.

Maybe for you. I get in and out by swinging my legs in or out and it is much easier on the bolsters - I barely touch them. Much better than sliding across them into the seat.

[WestBankM4]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Maybe for you. I get in and out by swinging my legs in or out and it is much easier on the bolsters - I barely touch them. Much better than sliding across them into the seat.

That video is of a woman and she's getting in and out of what appears to be a 4dr Prius of sorts with seats that don't look like my F82 seats.

Anyway, might be the elegant way but I use the lower portion of the door sill to give myself a heave. I'm 6'2, 200lbs so there's no elegant way for me unfortunately.