i'd like to start a thread to see how many people can come up with ideas to extend the bottom seat (R53S example) to support your legs on long trips. this would be a fix similar to what the adjustable sport seats are in bmw's which are very comfortable. i find the backs of my legs ache like hell after an hour in the seat due to the bottom of the seat hitting me halfway to the knees. the seats aren't long enough to support. how about it, guys (and gals), any ideas? i would like to keep the stock leatherette seats for the airbags.

 

Have you tried lifting or lowering the seats during long rides? I know mine aren't all that comfortable, but if I crank the seat up or down I can usually find a decent compromise...

 

just buy the BMW seats.

 

What is you built a little ottoman (spelling?) type thing that could fold up when you wanted it.

I'll try and do a bad drawing of what I mean in photoshop.

 

Like this.


And this would be it down.


Sorry again for the crappy pictures I drew.

 

Maybe have the brace come straight down instead like this

 

that's one possibility i guess. i haven't had time to check out the framework under the seat yet but was hoping there was a way to connect a slider to it similar to the bmw sport seats. i need to get off my A and do that. may be that most people don't have the problem i do with pain in my leg after driving for awhile, and i have a 7 hour drive coming up soon to road atlanta. seats are comfortable otherwise.

 

I can take a pic for you tomorrow sine my seats are in the garage.

 

Of course you know, xnotfunkylex, this means war.
I'm the master of crudely drawn MS paint diagrams.

On my resent trip, I put folded clothes on the front half of the seat to help releave pressure on my boney bottom. Due to the length of my legs and seat possition, my legs do not touch the seat at all - not even my thighs. So all my weight is on two small points.

If I wasn't late for class, I'd draw what I mean.

 

You might find that an easier solution is to tilt the seat-bottom more toward the back, thus distributing the pressure better.

I added spacers (and longer Grade-8 bolts) under the front end of the seat tracks. The result is that you feel more down into the seat instead of perching on it. I experimented with 3/8", but settled on 1/4" spacers.

I keep the seat at it's lowest position, but at any given height, you will be better supported along the thighs with the spacers there, and the mod is easily reversed if you don't like it.

 

Just grab a set of front seats out of an X3 and install them with a detailed write up so I can make the conversion i have wanted for a while now...... When I have the time....

 

Does adding spacers like that flex the seat brackets at all?

Something like this:


This is an example of adding a spacer under one end of a metal plate and bolting it down. The yellow thing is the spacer, the red is compression forces, and the blue is tension.

 

Strap supports to your thighs, just above your knees.

Kidding. LOL

 

The seat rails are about 18" long, and the spacers raise them 1/4" - not enough bend to notice, particularly if you use nylon spacers, which will accommodate any minuscule mis-alignment.

If the track were to bend measurably, it would be at the very ends, where the bolts are, and the seat does not pass over that part. Not a problem, IMHO.

 

I do NOT have this problem. I recommend M&M's. Lots of 'em. Worked wonders for me.

 

I'll have to try this out.

My diagram was only to show an extreme case of this concept.


I eat to live, not live to eat.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=140927

 

I did the front tilt mod on my M Roadster seats, a couple years ago; it's a fairly common mod in the Z3 world.
I went so far as to raise the front of the seat nearly a full inch; with my long legs, the extra tilt increased my comfort level considerably.

 

I released the bottom wire stay behind the seat back vinyl in my '06 sport seat - there are hooks on both sides but I only had to release one to relieve the pressure, This allows the material to 'give' more and has gradually extended the seating position. also this allows a better seat back curvature - for me, anyways - as my tailbone can relax a little - finally got the right comfort . Was able to access this wire by tilting the seatback forward and unzipping the bottom of the seatback.

 

Never liked the sport seats on my BMW:(