Any strong opinions on the sports seats for a non-S? Besides some additional side/lateral support - do they offer any other advantages or features other than being the only seats available if you order a cloth interior?

 

The cloth is why I got them. The extra support is not that much, and they can be a little inconvenient getting in and out over the lower and side bolster. But I wanted cloth seats, and the sport seats were the only choice.

 

The standard seats in my 08 Cooper compare favorably to the sport seats in my former E46 3 series. They aren't quite as bolstered as the BMW sport seats, but they're worlds better than the standard BMW seats. If I would have purchased new, I probably would have opted for cloth sport seats.

 

I have an R50 so I'm not too familiar with the non-sport seats in the R56, but I do really wish I had the bigger side bolsters. I slide around a bit under hard cornering. I'm considering a retrofit down the road, or just going full-out race seats.

I'd go for it.

 

You can get the sport seats trimmed in different colors.

 

A couple of things...

Why do R50 owners keep adding to R56 parts discussions, unless they also own a R56? They are really different cars.

I got the sports seats in cloth and don't regret it. You can add lumbar support to each seat (with MINI parts for about $125 a seat, and an hours worth of DIY time)

I really dislike leather seats, They are hot, they are slippery, they don't wear very well. I regret not getting the cloth seat, no cost option, when I bought my E36 M3 17 years ago... Yes I still have it...lol

 

I found the standard seats to be flat and uncomfortable after I'd gotten used to sport seats.

 

Oh, me?

yes they are different cars but the difference in seats still applies.

 

I found the sport seats in the '08 335i I just sold to be a little confining and uncomfortable on long trips. I'm 6', 200 lbs so not terribly overweight, but my thighs would sort of sit on the bolsters. When I ordered my MINI I made it a point to try different seats in different fabrics. I chose the lounge leather because, even though they're sport seats, they seemed to be a little more generous and had a more comfortable feel than the other seats, including the punch leather sport seat. Maybe it was all in my head, but the shape of the seat is different in the lounge leather.

 

I have sport seats and still require a CGlock when autocrossing in order to keep my butt in the center of the seat. Otherwise, I like them.