M3 Seats Uncomfortable?

hey guys,

Just got back from my first road trip in my M3 and I have to say that the seats are really uncomfortable. I had them adjusted when I went to a BMWCCA driving school event so they should be in the correct position. Also, my seats have no lumbar or side bolster support.

Just wondering if you guys have the same experience with your seats and if there are any tips or trick to stop your ass from falling asleep lol

Thanks

A lot of people think the non-M sport seats are more comfortable than the M seats, and note this change in comfort when upgrading to an M, or M interior.

Yeah my side support isn't very good either. If you have patience and good with DIY, you can open up the seats and insert some material.

I wish I could transplant the seats from my previous car (7-series) into my M. Are racing seats (Bride, Recaro, etc) more comfortable?

My E9X ///M seats are comfortable to me, but every physique is different. I've never considered any ///M car uncomfortable, and I've owned 3 E46 M3's and 2 E9X M3's.

The E46 seats are NOT comfortable on long drives. Period. They always give my legs cramps after 2-300 miles of driving, even with shifting seat positions. Over several thousand miles of roadtripping I have yet to find a seat position that doesn't cause discomfort after 2-300 miles. Breaks are a must of long trips in this car. BUT, the seats are awesome on short drives and great in corners, but just too stiff for real long distances.

As for tips, I've got my presets all on different seating positions so I just change the seat when I start feeling discomfort; that'll usually stave off discomfort for an hour.

Maybe its me... but I love the seats in the m3. Drove over 300 miles no problems. It is very snug and comfortable. Drove my friends 330i and just felt my body go side to side on turns.

The seats in my non m have never really tickled my fancy. I wouldn't say they're uncomfortable. But just about every other car we have has better seats including the e90 sport seats and the e30.
I feel like the e46 seats were designed for fat people. I have a good 3 inches on either side of me at all times if not more. The side bolsters are so wide. Way too wide to offer much usable support.
If I could swap in the e90 seats with adjustable side bolsters in I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Originally Posted by AlpinTXiX

The E46 seats are NOT comfortable on long drives. Period. They always give my legs cramps after 2-300 miles of driving, even with shifting seat positions. Over several thousand miles of roadtripping I have yet to find a seat position that doesn't cause discomfort after 2-300 miles. Breaks are a must of long trips in this car. BUT, the seats are awesome on short drives and great in corners, but just too stiff for real long distances.

As for tips, I've got my presets all on different seating positions so I just change the seat when I start feeling discomfort; that'll usually stave off discomfort for an hour.

Definitive statements don't apply in qualitative circumstances. What isn't comfortable to you may be comfortable to others.


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I havent taken a long trip but everytime i drive it it feels perfect.. The seats are one of my fav parts of this M vs my previous 335i.

Like someone said above, it will be different depending on how big/small you are in certain areas.

I recently had an '08 STI and find the stock ///M seats to be amazing. I've also had an .:R VW and B6 A4....for me the ///M seats are the best so far. Not to say I wouldn't jump all over a set of Recaro Sportser CS.

I have an E46 M3 and recently drove a new 328i loaner car... anybody who thinks those seats are better is crazy. I couldn't wait to get back in my M3. The 328i was complete crap on the interior. Everything in it looks all cheap and plasticy. Would not buy.

Originally Posted by SledgeHammer!

I have an E46 M3 and recently drove a new 328i loaner car... anybody who thinks those seats are better is crazy. I couldn't wait to get back in my M3. The 328i was complete crap on the interior. Everything in it looks all cheap and plasticy. Would not buy.

Anyone who thinks the stock comfort seats are nice needs their head checked. Anyone talking about e90 seats being better are talking about the sport seats

Originally Posted by SledgeHammer!

I have an E46 M3 and recently drove a new 328i loaner car... anybody who thinks those seats are better is crazy. I couldn't wait to get back in my M3. The 328i was complete crap on the interior. Everything in it looks all cheap and plasticy. Would not buy.

I agree with this, I really disliked almost everything about the loaner 3series I have had (although you are comparing them to an ///M, albeit an older ///M).

I have yet to take my M3 on a trip longer than 4-5 hours or so, but in that time frame I do not get any more uncomfortable that I do in any car sitting for that long.

Originally Posted by theOSUbob

I agree with this, I really disliked almost everything about the loaner 3series I have had (although you are comparing them to an ///M, albeit an older ///M).

I have yet to take my M3 on a trip longer than 4-5 hours or so, but in that time frame I do not get any more uncomfortable that I do in any car sitting for that long.

I've always thought the E46 M3 was the best looking car on the road (not counting exotics which look too tiny-penis'ish to me ), so nothing can touch it on the exterior IMO.

As for the interior... I dunno... the E46 just blows away the E9x's in every regard. I had an E46 325i before I got my M3 and with the exception of the seat leather, the 325 interior was pretty much the same as the M3 (minus the styling cues which are minimal). The first year the E9x's came out, they went to 2 stacked guages (vs. 4 normal ones) and that made the car look like a budget Honda... thank god they fixed that. I dunno... just everything from the dash to the door handles to the seats to the center console to the trunk hinges just looks all cheezy IMO.

If I was forced to buy a car today, would definitely NOT buy it cuz of the crappy interior.

Originally Posted by M3Inline6

My E9X ///M seats are comfortable to me, but every physique is different. I've never considered any ///M car uncomfortable, and I've owned 3 E46 M3's and 2 E9X M3's.

Very true. I find them to be quite comfortable, the E9X more than others.

Non lumbar adjustable M seats are uncomfortable.
Adjustable lumber M seats are comfortable.

My first e46 M3 didn't have adjustable lumber and I was uncomfortable after a half hour in the car. The current one does and I've ridden in it for 20 hours non stop (literally) and got out without discomfort.

So... depends how you optioned the car.

In my humble opinion Non-M Sport Seats > Non-M-Non-Sport-Seats > My racing buckets > M3 seats.

I guess there is no way to add lumbar except getting new seats eh?

Originally Posted by badass1g

I havent taken a long trip but everytime i drive it it feels perfect.. The seats are one of my fav parts of this M vs my previous 335i.

I have done a couple of long trips and I find the seats excellent.

Though mine do have all the adjustable lumbar/bolster settings..