Leather sport seats vs half leather trim

[JBell]

Keep changing the seat position, it can take a while to get it right

I'm off to a MB dealer, maybe I should ask them?

Ask them about the rust by the sunroof as well and the 30 year anti corrosion warranty

 

[Capra]

Keep changing the seat position, it can take a while to get it right



Ask them about the rust by the sunroof as well and the 30 year anti corrosion warranty

I'm not sure if it makes much difference but, like other cars I usually have the seat as low as possible.

 

[JBell]

I'm not sure if it makes much difference but, like other cars I usually have the seat as low as possible.

Have you adjusted the seat front up or down using the large knob?? I have mine tilted up and it is considerably comfier

 

[keefysher]

I'm not sure if it makes much difference but, like other cars I usually have the seat as low as possible.

As I said earlier, raise the squab (the bit you sit on) and straighten the seat back. In all the cars over the years Ive had with 'sports' seats including pukka recaro connelly hide ones, Ive been more upright, than an F1 driver laying down, or slovenly as with a comfort type seat.

 

[Capra]

Have you adjusted the seat front up or down using the large knob?? I have mine tilted up and it is considerably comfier

No not yet, I'll give this a try. The chap I bought the car from had no idea what it was for amongst other things.

 

[Capra]

I will try this along with the big knob thing and see how it feels, many thanks.

 

[Headhurts]

Oh well, I don't drive everyday and so it's not as if I need to commute. I also drive the wife's car so I will park up for a couple of days. I really don't know what I can do if the pain stays every time I drive. I will be gutted if there is no solution but to sell. Can I ask a favour, do you know if your measurement are similar to mine? I'm 46-47" around chest and around 41-42 at the top of my stomach. I need to lose this extra mass so maybe that is key?

48 inch chest, 36 inch waist.

The seats do take a bit of getting used to although they should not cause pain.

Could it be you need to adjust the seat properly?

There is a ‘YouTube video made by I believe Recaro on proper seat adjustment.

Robin

 

[Capra]

48 inch chest, 36 inch waist.

The seats do take a bit of getting used to although they should not cause pain.

Could it be you need to adjust the seat properly?

There is a ‘YouTube video made by I believe Recaro on proper seat adjustment.

Robin

Nice v taper lol. Sorry, reference to a years ago in the gym. I'll have a look for that cheers. It was terrible with the 1 series, it was like my sides were supported by tight fists.

 

[Cleck]

I saw a physio last year with upper back pain, and she advised my how to set up the seat and how to sit in the car! First of all, she stood behind me and had me perform a number of movements with my head and shoulders then proceeded to tell me that I drove an automatic with a low central console and with only my right hand on the steering wheel, resting on the door.

She basically described the car and how I sit in it just from the way my back muscles reacted to movement.

She suggested the seat back almost upright, but comfortably so, not to 90 degrees and squab adjusted so that the front of it was as low as possible, reducing pressure on the back of the thigh. I now drive with two hands on the wheel at 'ten-to-two' and I've not suffered with my back since (along with a couple of stretching exercises).

I'm 6', 48" & 38", for what it's worth.

 

[Capra]

I saw a physio last year with upper back pain, and she advised my how to set up the seat and how to sit in the car! First of all, she stood behind me and had me perform a number of movements with my head and shoulders then proceeded to tell me that I drove an automatic with a low central console and with only my right hand on the steering wheel, resting on the door.

She basically described the car and how I sit in it just from the way my back muscles reacted to movement.

She suggested the seat back almost upright, but comfortably so, not to 90 degrees and squab adjusted so that the front of it was as low as possible, reducing pressure on the back of the thigh. I now drive with two hands on the wheel at 'ten-to-two' and I've not suffered with my back since (along with a couple of stretching exercises).

I'm 6', 48" & 38", for what it's worth.

Thanks Cleck, and you have the same seats? Do the bolsters naturally get a little wider with someone sitting in them for a while, or will they always maintain the same fit no matter who drives?

 

[Cleck]

Thanks Cleck, and you have the same seats? Do the bolsters naturally get a little wider with someone sitting in them for a while, or will they always maintain the same fit no matter who drives?

At the time, I had the W212 AMG line with Artico sport seats. Sorting out the seat position helped enormously, but a combination of the narrow searts and 19" wheels made of papier mache drove me to chance to a W212 SE a couple of months back and as I said earlier, these seats are much more comfortable for my 'ample' frame. In the 18 months or so I have the AMG line, I wouldn't say my 17st softened the bolsters at all, but the fact I had back pain during my ownership will almost certainly cloud my opinion of the seats too.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Changing the seats would be cheaper than changing the car look at what’s available on eBay there will be 12 reg cars on there that have been written off. The other alternative is to talk to vehicle seat upholsterers they should be able to retrim in leather and alter the bolsters for you

 

[Capra]

Changing the seats would be cheaper than changing the car look at what’s available on eBay there will be 12 reg cars on there that have been written off. The other alternative is to talk to vehicle seat upholsterers they should be able to retrim in leather and alter the bolsters for you

Good shout Malcolm, didn't think of that.

 

[Capra]

I've been playing with seat adjustment, and test driving. The issues with my sides has gotten worse I'm going to park up for a few days, let my sides recover and go from there. Anyone want to swap nice grey leather interior and trip for cloth .
Might have to sell and start again, I'm so depressed .

 

[Capra]

I just popped into Halfords and pick up this lumber/back support and it has made such a difference to the feel, it has pushed my slightly out of the seat so I am not so squished into the seat. It does add an old persons look but when I am sat in it you cannot see it. Really chuffed, as I was thinking the last stage was to sell. My wife was sceptical about me getting the car, but she loves everything about it, which made looking to get rid of even worse.
Thanks everyone for their help with this boring matter.

 

[Adamki83]

Is it me or are the leather seats firmer around the bolsters than the half fake leather trim. I test drove another car last week and the seats generally felt a lot softer?

If I remeber right back in the 80’s 90’s and early 00’s I was under the impression that the fabric seats were more comfortable, I find the seats on W211 very comfy (half leather)

 

[Capra]

If I remeber right back in the 80’s 90’s and early 00’s I was under the impression that the fabric seats were more comfortable, I find the seats on W211 very comfy (half leather)

Apparently the leather trim bolsters were firmer to help with the look and care for the leather.

 

[Adamki83]

Apparently the leather trim bolsters were firmer to help with the look and care for the leather.

Yeah I can see that, the only gripe I have with leather seats is after a certain age or use they can sag (not saying they all do) but if you neglect them they can look so poor drove a Volvo once with cream leather and the seats looked awful! Just got the feeling someone didn’t really care for the seats

 

[Capra]

I contacted the company "d:class" as they were a MB specialist and the response was below. I've done some investigation and there are few people over the years have also had a comfort problem with this seat design. The seat just pinches me on the sides so I am now using a a lower back support, so I am just going to see if this helps, and maybe I will be able to remove it.

I was surprised that no one is able to remove some of the material within the side bolsters of the seat??

Just to add, the cloth seats feel difference, and the newer seats have been re-designed.

With certain seats we are able to shave the foam back and then adjust the seat covers accordingly. Of course this is a labour intensive job which can be expensive due to the man hours involved. It can also be at risk of further discomfort as removing foam allows more of the seat frame to be felt through the material, which in turn can be more uncomfortable. We rarely get involved in such procedures due to cost and the risk of the seat still being uncomfortable after the modifications. On top of this if your seat has heated elements the procedure is not possible.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Something like this might be a possibility

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES...882118?hash=item1ca60be6c6:g:d9sAAOSw301aakOt