Our long-term 2009 BMW M3 sedan has very supportive and comfortable front seats.
And a lot of available adjustments.
Let's run them down, from left to right in the top pic:
1. Adjusts seat back side bolster width, so both supermodels and those aspiring to be on "The Biggest Loser" can be comfortable.
2. 4-way adjustable lumbar support: In/Out & Up/Down. I have never found the Up/Down feature useful in any vehicle -- but that's just me.
3. Seat bottom fore/aft and height
4. Seat back rake
5. 2-setting memory control
6. (Bottom pic shows manual thigh support extension)
The first few times I drove the M3, I was confused by all the seat controls. You see, when the controls are in this position, we use blind operation to control them -- you just reach down without looking. There is a low limit as to the amount of information we can process without visual cues. (I suppose you could conduct trial & error -- what a pain.)
Benz and others have previously gotten around this by placing the seat adjust switches on the door panel -- it's a better user interface. However, this is undesirable from a styling standpoint.
After a short time, I was able to discern our M3's different seat switches with blind operation because they are well-spaced. But I had to first get out and look at them from outside.
All of these seat adjustments could befuddle a Camry driver.
But on a driver's car like the M3, once you understand them, they're quite useful.
Albert Austria, Sr Vehicle Evaluation Engineer @ 5600 miles
redwoodaggie says:
03:01 PM, 07/ 8/09
I don't qualify to be on The Biggest Loser, but at 6'7" and 254lbs, the widest M3 side bolster adjustment is a LITTLE bit too snug for a road trip. I definitely noticed relief when I got out after half an hour on the M Power tour. I am eating better to get down to my just out of college weight of 220-225 though. That way when I can afford a used E90 M3 (Le Mans Blue, like I saw on the road yesterday), it won't be an issue!
clarkma5 says:
03:12 PM, 07/ 8/09
Trial and error, set it once, and forget it. I actually think power seats are a huge waste of time for most cars that only see one primary driver. And even if you do switch drivers, I know it takes me just a few seconds to get my manually adjustable seat back into my preferred position.
PDXLager says:
04:20 PM, 07/ 8/09
As someone who shares a family car between 3 drivers (including myself) I give power seats with memory +1
...and comfort access tied to my key fob another +1. My seat and mirrors are adjusted to my settings before I even sit down. It's actually pretty nice. The only thing i have to adjust is the rear view mirror.
Mad_Science says:
05:00 PM, 07/ 8/09
Can you adjust the tilt of the bottom cushion?
(my dad's '04 A6 has it...)
I like to get the front edge up so it actually supports my thighs and holds me back into the seat.
Normally, I'd lean luddite when it comes to power seats/mirrors/whatever, but the prospect of having all the different settings I have to mess with tied to my key is pretty attractive.
bimmerjay says:
06:26 PM, 07/ 8/09
"Can you adjust the tilt of the bottom cushion?"
Yes, the cushion can tilt independently in the front and the back. Though the extendable thigh support is nice, it means you don't have to tilt the front of the seat up so much to support your legs. It goes out pretty far.
stovt001 says:
07:51 PM, 07/ 8/09
"As someone who shares a family car between 3 drivers (including myself) I give power seats with memory +1
...and comfort access tied to my key fob another +1. My seat and mirrors are adjusted to my settings before I even sit down. It's actually pretty nice. The only thing i have to adjust is the rear view mirror." I'm usually the type of guy who likes things simple, but memory seats and mirrors, especially when tied to the key fob, is one luxury feature I would love to be pampered by. My wife and I aren't even that far off for seating positions and mirror adjustments, but I really want that feature.
trentor says:
08:31 PM, 07/ 8/09
clarkma5 -
I disagree. I have two very different seating positions depending on whether I'm commuting or attacking some twisties/at the track.
I wish cars had 3 memory presets. Unfortunately my wife drives my car occasionally and gets the 2nd preset. So I have to find that sweet spot for my seat each time I want to really enjoy the car and be supported well.
trentor says:
08:33 PM, 07/ 8/09
I also absolutely love the setting being tied to the key fob. I just wish my G35 included the side mirrors in the presets.
jaguar36 says:
04:18 AM, 07/ 9/09
+1 for Manual seats. I sit all the way down, and all the way back, and much perfer the quick easy operation of a manual seat to a power seat. I also don't see the problem with tucking away the switches like this. Sure it might be a minor irritation the first time you get in the car, but then for the next 5 years you never have to look at it. This is one of the things that bothers car testers, but has no real relevance to an owner.
1487 says:
06:26 AM, 07/ 9/09
trent:
I always assumed all luxury cars had mirrors, seats, radio presets, etc. tied to each key fob if the car has memory. You could do all that on the Lesabre and Bonneville back in 2000. I believe climate control settings were tied in as well.
majin_ssj_eric says:
07:35 AM, 07/ 9/09
My G37 has most of these adjustments as well as inflatable upper and lower side bolsters...
pyo_s65 says:
10:20 AM, 07/ 9/09
I have 2 main settings and they differ depending on the shoes and outfit I wear. Since it only has settings, it helps that I am the only driver for the car :)
SnakeDoctor says:
11:29 AM, 07/ 9/09
All:
Thanks for you comments.
I spoke with BMW guy in Jersey this morning and he told me that not only does each key fob recall the memory seat position, but anything that can be programmed in the vehicle!
For example: radio presets, Navi, M button on the steer wheel which includes suspension, throttle, and steering settings, DCT transmission program), what lights flash for the alarm, and shift lights on the tach.
Amazing!
bimmerjay says:
12:21 PM, 07/ 9/09
SnakeDoc-
Correct, basically anything and everything in iDrive gets backed up and recalled on the key - all vehicle preferences, programmed shortcuts, even recent nav destinations besides the obvious address book. In fact, the car's service history, current mileage, and a bunch of other data is also stored on the key. If you have a software update performed on your car, inserting the key restores all of your settings.
But I'm sure a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville also does all those things.
roadburner says:
12:22 PM, 07/ 9/09
SnakeDoctor;
The key fob also retains vehicle information that your service writer can download at his desk.
roadburner says:
06:23 PM, 07/ 9/09
bimmerjay,
I've quit searching for a nice E46 M3; all I can think of is cruising around town at the wheel of a 2000 Bonneville. Now THAT is automotive Nirvana. I sure hope that I find one soon. Can't wait!!!
dkhm3 says:
11:58 PM, 07/ 9/09
roadburner:
funny, i was just thinking about a 2000 Bonneville. Man, those cars sure hold up their value.
trentor says:
09:39 PM, 07/10/09
1487 -
Yeah, I guess Infiniti skimped a little on the G35s. I guess it does include the steering wheel adjustment too, but no mirror or climate settings.
majin_ssj_eric - upper and lower bolster adjustments?! that would be great.
drmillerM3 says:
11:04 AM, 08/ 3/09
- Trentor: "I disagree. I have two very different seating positions depending on whether I'm commuting or attacking some twisties/at the track."
+1. I find this very helpful indeed. Especially with my Schroth quick fit 4pt harnesses. I connect the harness, hit the memory button, and I go from a daily driver position to strapped in for the track in 30 seconds flat. Can't say enough about that.
- Trentor: "I wish cars had 3 memory presets. Unfortunately my wife drives my car occasionally and gets the 2nd preset. So I have to find that sweet spot for my seat each time I want to really enjoy the car and be supported well."
Kind of odd that they skimped on this for the e90 M3. My e46 has 3 settings, so I have my normal one which is preset, my track setting, and then my spirited setting for when I don't feel like going all out and strapping in my harnesses.
drmillerM3 says:
11:04 AM, 08/ 3/09
- Trentor: "I disagree. I have two very different seating positions depending on whether I'm commuting or attacking some twisties/at the track."
+1. I find this very helpful indeed. Especially with my Schroth quick fit 4pt harnesses. I connect the harness, hit the memory button, and I go from a daily driver position to strapped in for the track in 30 seconds flat. Can't say enough about that.
- Trentor: "I wish cars had 3 memory presets. Unfortunately my wife drives my car occasionally and gets the 2nd preset. So I have to find that sweet spot for my seat each time I want to really enjoy the car and be supported well."
Kind of odd that they skimped on this for the e90 M3. My e46 has 3 settings, so I have my normal one which is preset, my track setting, and then my spirited setting for when I don't feel like going all out and strapping in my harnesses.
drmillerM3 says:
11:05 AM, 08/ 3/09
- Trentor: "I disagree. I have two very different seating positions depending on whether I'm commuting or attacking some twisties/at the track."
+1. I find this very helpful indeed. Especially with my Schroth quick fit 4pt harnesses. I connect the harness, hit the memory button, and I go from a daily driver position to strapped in for the track in 30 seconds flat. Can't say enough about that.
- Trentor: "I wish cars had 3 memory presets. Unfortunately my wife drives my car occasionally and gets the 2nd preset. So I have to find that sweet spot for my seat each time I want to really enjoy the car and be supported well."
Kind of odd that they skimped on this for the e90 M3. My e46 has 3 settings, so I have my normal one which is preset, my track setting, and then my spirited setting for when I don't feel like going all out and strapping in my harnesses.