I bought a new R57 with cloth sports seats and had persistent back pain from them. It turns out the sports seats, when they don't have the adjustable lumbar support of the leather versions, have a gaping hole inside where the lumbar support should be.

A little research shows that it's really simple to retrofit the adjustable lumbar support using OEM parts - just about the hardest bit is cutting a neat hole in the backrest cover for the adjuster ****. It's about the same level as replacing spark plugs.

So I photographed my install and there are full instructions on the PDF below.

Once the lumbar support is fitted, the level of support seems pretty high even adjusted to minimum, but my back is so much happier.

If anyone's got comments or corrections, please let me know.

The attached PDF has been revised in October 2012 to account for some part number changes.

 

Thanks, Great write up, this is now on my mod list.

 

Thanks! Looks like a lot of work, but it sounds like it's worth it!

 

there's a great how-to !
thanks for taking the plunge for us

 

This is going on my wouldlovetomodthatwhenIgetmycar list . Thanks for the great write up.

 

Very nice work there Andrew. This is sure to a favorite for people who end up with a MINI without lumbar support.

This will be the first mod to our '09 JCW with cloth seats.

Got to be a bit irked at BMW for not putting this part in the car!

Cheers,
Tom

 

Yes, you've got to believe that the seats were designed to always have the adjustable mechanism and that someone did some cost-cutting to leave it out. But then the engineers at BMW have frequently had their work ruined by the marketing department.

Andrew

 

Angib, Thanks very much for the PDF!

 

Your guide is for cloth seats. Do you think it'd be much different for leatherette seats?

 

I've never even seen leatherette seats as we don't have them over in Britain. But I would be surprised if there was any difference at all - the only thing is that you might have to do a little bit more pulling and pushing to get the backrest cover off, as I presume the leatherette won't stretch as much as the cloth cover.

Andrew

 

I got my new lumbar parts today. I'll be doing the installation tomorrow. Once again thank you for the DIY.

one thing, I ordered my parts from pelicanparts and the salesman said that there is only 1 part number so as long as you order via that part number it will have lumbar support. the option code isn't needed or used.

 

Just finished. Start to finish about 45mins for both sides thanks to Andrews DIY instructions!

 

Thanks for that info - I had wondered why there was only one part number!

It's now three weeks since I did mine and they no longer feel like the exaggerated level of lumbar support when I did them - I don't mean they've sunk, just that I've grown used to them. And, man, my back is so much more flexible now than it was.

However I still notice that it's essential to spend five seconds after getting in to centre myself in the seat - I think the seat base is rather U-shaped (to give lateral support to narrow-hipped drivers, I presume) and so if I sit off-centre, my pelvis is at an angle and that becomes uncomfortable after a while.

Andrew

 

how much do the parts cost?

 

my R57 w/cloth sport seats (but with cream leather inserts/bolsters) has the lumbar support wheel, but i can barely feel a difference...are they the same parts as what you're putting in?

 

Has anybody tried this on leatherette seats? My back could use some extra support.

 

From the instructions, it looks like it should be easy for someone with leatherette to open a seat and at least take a look (steps 3-4) .

 

i ordered all my parts from pelicanparts and the total including shipping and tax came out to just under $200.

 

as far as we know there is only 1 part. I did notice that I have to turn the wheel several times to notice a difference. i think the full range is 3 or 4 full turns.

 

These photos may help. In the foreground is the standard 'spring mat' without adjustable lumbar support. In the background is the spring mat with adjustable lumbar support, with the support turned to the minimum.



And here is the lumbar support adjusted to the maximum.



And, hellfire, yes this is just converting the base cloth seats to match yours. I'm amazed that you can't feel much difference, as it seems like chalk and cheese to me. Any chance your adjuster cable is broken? Do you get any difference between min and max?

Andrew

 

Do you guys think that this is something that I can have the dealer install? I don't want to do anything to make them void my warranty. My back has suddenly flared up after driving my new mini around and I was considering getting a lumbar pillow, but if I can do this, it will be a much cleaner option.

 

it wont hurt to ask the dealer. however, the cost benefit will not be there.

 

The inside of my Leatherette seats looks the same so i ordered the parts today.

Classic MINI quoted the following
52102752613 = 58.06
52102752614 = 58.06
52102751387 = 9.84 each.

My local MINI dealer matched the price so I am buying there. I should have the parts by the end of the week. If I do I will install on the weekend and let everyone know how it goes.

 

It's certainly well within their capabilities and, as it's all stock Mini parts, I don't see they would be concerned.

The only problems would be if they are nervous about cutting the seat cover - I guess they might worry that it could tear and they end up owing you a new cover.

They won't have a BMW procedure for this job, so you might want to print out the instructions and take them with you so they can see how simple it is. Anything more than 1/2 hour labour per seat and they are trying to take you for a ride.

Andrew

 

Thanks for that info. I will talk to them about it tomorrow when I stop by the dealer.