I'd like to toss out a question to those of you who have Minis and back problems. How have you found the seats in your Minis? The car I presently drive, a Subaru Outback, has the most miserably uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. I have to use an extra seat and lumbar cushion to support my 49-going-on-90 year old back. I ordered sports seats in my Mini but am very curious to hear how others have found these. Thanks in advance!

 

The sports seats should fit most med-large framed adults comfortably. The 3-way adjustments give many options of seating position. The lumbar support is fairly adequate and actually eases my lower backache when I turn on the heated seats. My only complaint is that in order to have my arms in a relaxed 2&10 position, I need to have the seat height all the way up. But that also tilts the seat bottom backwards. This brings my knees a little higher than my hips so that I am reclining slightly backwards. Then, in order to compensate for the tilt, I end up lifting my head away from the headrest, putting undo strain on my neck.

 

Not having any major back problems, but after driving for a while get lower muscle backaches. After moving recently, I don't drive as much now, but for 4 years was driving 120 miles a day to and from work 5 days a week.

My MCS sport seats have never given me a problem. I will still go out and drive 100 to 150 miles on a weekend just to be in my MCS and have never had a problem yet.

 

I have sports seats and they have neoprene seat covers. They are the most comfortable seats I've had in a car. At nearly 70, I've sat in a lot of seats in my time.

 

I had back surgery a few years ago, and HATED the seats in my Jeep Cherokee. So far, the MINI seats have been good. The lumbar pump helps and my heated seats are downright cozy!

 

I too have severe back problems. I also drive on average 1 hour each way. I have found that once I got my sports seat adjusted correctly it becomes tolerable. What has provided me the most comfort was the seat covers that I now sell. I am one of the founders of Diamond Racing. So, not to sound like an ad to buy our seat covers. This is just a fact. These helped my back. This was one of the reasons why we sell them.

I really wanted to get the seats that had the adjustable lumbar support. But, I missed out as I did not custom order my Mini.

The sport seats are far more gentler on my back then the standard. In fact I had an option to purchase a MINI that was already lowered with cat back and some other mods that the dealer had added. But, elected not to because it did not come with the sport seats. Which have lumbar support built in.

Also keep in mind not all sport seats have the adjustable lumbar. Only certain ones do.

Also, try out different seat covers as well. I happened to find a set that have helped me.

Hope this helps.

_________________
Diamond Mini

 

I also have a bad back and (after the first 2-hours of driving my MCS) I haven't had any problems with my MINI. I even driven from the SF Bay area to LA (two 600 mile round trips) without any discomfort.

 

Not to be an alarmist, but there used to be a fellow on this site who had a very bad back and found that he couldn't live at all with the leatherette sport seats. It got bad enough for him that I think he ultimately traded in the car (after he found that replacing the seats was too costly). Do a search of old threads on seats to read his story.

But I do think his problem was confined to the leatherette sports seats. He didn't have similar problems with the real leather seats...which apparently are more adjustable???

 

I don't have a great back...and I find the sport seats in my MCS to be less than adequate. Some trips have been down-right painful.

Fine adjustment is the key, but I lose that everytime I move the driver seat to put something in the back. The lumbar support seems too low(at the hips almost) and doesn't really hit the right spot - nor does it adjust very much at all. My 99 Passat had great seats and a great lumbar support. Also , the Passat seats let you angle the headrest. The MINI's don't.

In short for what I paid for the sport and leather package combined, these seat are crap! I'm looking at some Sparco seats as I love the car.

I'd look for BMW to do something about this in 2004 or late 2003 as they are not known for crummy seats in their cars.

 

"Not to be an alarmist, but there used to be a fellow on this site who had a very bad back and found that he couldn't live at all with the leatherette sport seats. It got bad enough for him that I think he ultimately traded in the car (after he found that replacing the seats was too costly). Do a search of old threads on seats to read his story.

But I do think his problem was confined to the leatherette sports seats. He didn't have similar problems with the real leather seats...which apparently are more adjustable???"

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Good memory!! That's me. Yes I have found the standard seats to be really uncomfortable. They probably would work for someone in the 5'4" to 5'7" range, but if you are taller, the lumbar catches you too low and digs into the middle of your back, and the top of the seat is curved forward at the top and pushes your shoulders and neck forward. I must say they haven't stopped me from putting on 9500 miles in 4 months....

I have found that the sports seats, and in particular the cloth sports seats are much better shaped and more supportive. There was a thread where no one with the sports seats found them unacceptable-- so I would go with either the leather or the cloth, but definately the sports seats.

If things work out, I am in the process of selling my mc and ordering an 03 mcs with sports cloth, as soon as I hear a HK stereo and decide whether to include this in my order. I have tested the sports cloth a number of times and they are much more comfortable.

It will be better one day when autos (and office chairs) have self adjusting seat lengths and heights so people can sit without spines and hips being compressed and contracted. I think many of us have good backs that are complaining about the bad things we are asking them to do-- we were not designed to sit for extended periods of time. Countries with less sitting activities have much lower incidence of back disorders-- the US is one of the highest for back problems. For me, I do Aikido 6-8 times a week and my body feels great-- two hours in a car and I have a back ache-- maybe our backs are fine, and our bodies are being honest-- we were designed to move, not sit.... unless of course it's in our minis...
my 2 cents

 

I got the cordova leather seats, and they have a great lumbar adjustment. I grew up on old Mini seats, so ANY seat is an improvement. That being said, I have driven Brooksie from San Diego to Seattle, with a fair amount of twisties, and I was never uncomfortable. In addition, my wife has a bad back, and the MINI leather seats are her favorites, of all our many vehicles. She also can read a book while in the passenger seat without motion sickness, something she can't do in any other car!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

Many thanks to all for your thoughtful responses. I think, though, that even if you all had said the seat was like sitting on a bed of nails, I would buy the car anyway!!

 

>>Many thanks to all for your thoughtful responses. I think, though, that even if you all had said the seat was like sitting on a bed of nails, I would buy the car anyway!!
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Our first ride in our MCS with sport seats inspired us to re-name it from LITTLE RED to BUSTER (short for GUTBUSTER) and we had only traveled about 125 miles or so. Both of our backs hurt for a couple of days. We think the seats have a little bit to be desired but still go threw the pain and have 7000miles on BUSTER now and still think it's the greatest. Still Grinin too! We seem to be getting used to the pain, or I guess we're just havin so much fun motoring that we just don't give a rats patuti. We've been told a lot of the problem is the 17in. run flats causing the harsh ride, so intend to go with 16's and different tires when these are worn out. (which won't be long, the way I drive---Been having a blast burning off with traction control off lately) You'd think I was some little young punk wouldn't you?? NOT! --I'm a 57year old big kid---(255pounds worth)

 

I have leather sport seats and I'm sorry to say, very dissappointing and poor design....the seat bottom is too short and the angle of seat back to seat bottom is hard to adjust....also have had two broken seat frames replaced on both the driver and passenger seat....looks like BMW was a little short sighted in seat design compared to the great seats they use on the 3 series bimmers...couldn't have cost that much more for better designed seats.....mini tech told me they would probably address it for 2005 on next design change...oh well, I don't drive on long trips, just around town...the one long trip I did make, just had to take breaks every hour or so....

 

my back was bothering me the other day, i cranked up the lumbar support and turned on the heated seats (cold weather package) and motored (175 miles) and it felt great (till i had to get out of the car)

 

There was another thread awhile ago where we discussed the seats.

I was vocal about my constant figetting from the lousy design of the leather sport seats. However, there are a lot of MCO members who have no complaints at all.

Go figure!

 

No matter what seat you get, how tall and how wide you are is going to affect the way the seats feel to you. I had a 99 Miata and with a bad back 3 hours was as long as I could go in the car. I've taken my S on a 7 hour drive and had no problems what so ever, but then again I'm 5'10" and 158 lbs.

 

We are replacing a Miata with an MCS and my back didn't survive long drives in the Miata either.

I did one smart thing. I drove the Miata to the MINI dealership the day we took our first test drive, so I already know the MINI will be more comfortable and a lot easier for me to get in and out of.

So, bring on the MINI. (Plus the heated seats will help. As an aging weekend warrior I think I use the heated seats as much in the summer as I do in the cold weather).

 

And not to worry, you won't miss the Miata at all. I know I haven't and I really liked that car. :smile:

 

I am the "bad back" authority I had spinal surgery last June with a 13 week no work recovery period. My MCS seats are absolutely fantastic. I can drive for endless hours and get out without having to do the bent over 50 yard "recovery shuffle". I really am amazed at how well the lumbar support functions.

 

I too suffer with a bad back. I'd have to blame the unbeliveably high G-forces during cornering not the seats for aggravating my back.

retroom

 

The only two cars I've found as comfortable or more so is our '66 E-type and the '98 Jeep Wrangler I used to own. My dad is nearly 51, so his bones are gettin' a bit old, and he LOVES the Mini's seats. Not a small guy, either.... 6'1, 270ish lbs.

 

Ive been adjusting the seats constantly for superior comfort I think ive finally found a position that is comfortable. You just have to play around with it.



http://hometown.aol.com/joseh1076/JOSEART.html

 

I have the leatherette sport seats, have a minor back problem form an old war injury, and I don't have any problems with the seats.

I do have a customer who has the same seats, has more serious back issues, and hates the seats. We are waiting for a bracket from Italy, and then I will be doing a How-to on the Sparco seat install.

Randy

 

>>I have the leatherette sport seats, have a minor back problem form an old war injury, and I don't have any problems with the seats.


Randy....buddy.... OLD war injury? I only have that little, bitty pic in you sig to go by, but you don't look that old!