My E-Class is the most uncomfortable car I've driven in ages

[JBell]

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[Craiglxviii]

Crumbs!

You were dished.

 

[John Laidlaw]

You were dished.

Feeling a bit flaky

 

[DoctorMesmer]

Hi All

I can't help but think I'm over reacting to this but I'm putting off standing up because my back's so painful after 4 hours driving my 2008 E-Class yesterday. I haven't had it long and have done about 3,000 miles in it over about 6 months. My previous car was a Volvo V70, before that a Saab 9-5. I've always had a slightly iffy back and I remember once a trip in the Volvo actually cured it! It astonishes me that my passengers sit in the back saying how lovely this Merc is and how comfortable it is but I just can't get comfortable in it and after two hours start seizing up, getting cramp and twinges of sciatica. I'm not even old!

It's got electrically adjustable memory seats which are funky but the seat base seems too short and doesn't support my legs properly. The lumbar support's a joke and I can only think I'm doing something wrong with it. Is there anything I can do or any accessory I can buy just to make it more comfortable? The Swedes seem to produce cheaper cars that I used to regularly drive from London to the South of France and back and I could operate normally having got out at the other end but after 6 months, I've found myself looking back at Volvos again so I can walk when I get out of the damn thing. It'll probably mean a hit of a few thousand pounds but it might be worth it.

Has anyone else experienced this? It seems such a major let down because I thought I was buying a kind of luxury car but it's just not comfortable and that's not luxury to me! If anyone can offer advice or any accessory I can buy to make it comfortable I'd be very grateful! All those E-Class drivers can't be hobbling about like me!

I realise this is an old thread, but it came up when Googling my issue below.

I agree wholeheartedly – I’ve never driven a car that I find so uncomfortable. One issue in my S212 is a lack of any lumbar support or adjustment in the standard seats but much worse is the lack of room for my left leg (RHD car) due to the intrusion of the transmission tunnel in the footwell. It’s being pushed to the right, leaving me sitting in an offset position.

It’s not an issue on short journeys but a long journey can leave me in pain – and unlike the seat which could be replaced as a last resort, the driving position and lack of space for my left leg isn’t something that can be remedied. If only I’d noticed it during the test drive but unfortunately, it’s only something that manifests itself after an hour or two.

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions (short of changing the car)?

Thanks.

 

[Headhurts]

I realise this is an old thread, but it came up when Googling my issue below.

I agree wholeheartedly – I’ve never driven a car that I find so uncomfortable. One issue in my S212 is a lack of any lumbar support or adjustment in the standard seats but much worse is the lack of room for my left leg (RHD car) due to the intrusion of the transmission tunnel in the footwell. It’s being pushed to the right, leaving me sitting in an offset position.

It’s not an issue on short journeys but a long journey can leave me in pain – and unlike the seat which could be replaced as a last resort, the driving position and lack of space for my left leg isn’t something that can be remedied. If only I’d noticed it during the test drive but unfortunately, it’s only something that manifests itself after an hour or two.

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions (short of changing the car)?

Thanks.

I’m sorry but I cannot help, you do not say how long you have owned the car.

I have a 2016 E350 S212 which I purchased new, initially I thought the seats were too hard and mine too has no lumber support but in time I got used to it and now find the car extremely comfortable having done 3 long trips into France.

I have never noticed the offset position.

I guess we are all different but I hope you get your problem resolved.

Robin

 

[Frontstep]

Buy a Volvo their seats are great, I suppose its not beyond the wit of man to fit Volvo seats in your car but it seems a bit extreme.

Maybe an upholsterer might repad the seats to fit?

 

[DoctorMesmer]

I realise this is an old thread, but it came up when Googling my issue below.

I agree wholeheartedly – I’ve never driven a car that I find so uncomfortable. One issue in my S212 is a lack of any lumbar support or adjustment in the standard seats but much worse is the lack of room for my left leg (RHD car) due to the intrusion of the transmission tunnel in the footwell. It’s being pushed to the right, leaving me sitting in an offset position.

It’s not an issue on short journeys but a long journey can leave me in pain – and unlike the seat which could be replaced as a last resort, the driving position and lack of space for my left leg isn’t something that can be remedied. If only I’d noticed it during the test drive but unfortunately, it’s only something that manifests itself after an hour or two.

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions (short of changing the car)?

Thanks.

The seats are less of an issue than the lack of room for my left leg due to the transmission tunnel.

As Robin says, we're all different, I guess.

 

[Wighty]

I sit in the passenger seat if I need a stretch and leave the car in cruise with my right hand on the steering wheel

 

[Timeandleisure]

Some nice tips but probably already well known....

 

[Blobcat]

I realise this is an old thread, but it came up when Googling my issue below.

I agree wholeheartedly – I’ve never driven a car that I find so uncomfortable. One issue in my S212 is a lack of any lumbar support or adjustment in the standard seats but much worse is the lack of room for my left leg (RHD car) due to the intrusion of the transmission tunnel in the footwell. It’s being pushed to the right, leaving me sitting in an offset position.

It’s not an issue on short journeys but a long journey can leave me in pain – and unlike the seat which could be replaced as a last resort, the driving position and lack of space for my left leg isn’t something that can be remedied. If only I’d noticed it during the test drive but unfortunately, it’s only something that manifests itself after an hour or two.

Does anyone have any suggestions/solutions (short of changing the car)?

Thanks.

Adjust the seat correctly

 

[DoctorMesmer]

Adjust the seat correctly

I think it is adjusted correctly I.e. broadly in line with the instructions in the video posted by Timeandleisure (thank you).

Are there any other good sources of instructions for optimal seat adjustment you could point me towards?

 

[Wighty]

I think it is adjusted correctly I.e. broadly in line with the instructions in the video posted by Timeandleisure (thank you).

Are there any other good sources of instructions for optimal seat adjustment you could point me towards?

Personally as a back issue person I recline the seat back more than normal to avoid all my upper body weight resting on my lower spine , I also raise the front of the seat base to maximum so that the thighs are supported , otherwise the thighs weight can drag the pelvis forward which creates a problem with the lower back again .

 

[Blobcat]

I think it is adjusted correctly I.e. broadly in line with the instructions in the video posted by Timeandleisure (thank you).

Are there any other good sources of instructions for optimal seat adjustment you could point me towards?

It’s very much a personal thing, however set the seat back so the inside of your wrists touch the rim of the steering wheel when at full stretch.
Set the angle of the seat base to support your thighs

 

[EmilysDad]

The seats are less of an issue than the lack of room for my left leg due to the transmission tunnel.

As Robin says, we're all different, I guess.

but if you have a RWD car, then there has to be a transmission tunnel .... most of my cars have had one & I can't say my left leg/foot has ever been short of room .... doesn't your car have a foot rest?

 

[DoctorMesmer]

but if you have a RWD car, then there has to be a transmission tunnel .... most of my cars have had one & I can't say my left leg/foot has ever been short of room .... doesn't your car have a foot rest?

Yes but compared to my previous cars, it seems to intrude more on on the footwell. They were mostly FWD, however. In saying that, I also have a Porsche 986 and it has no such issue.

 

[EmilysDad]

......, I also have a Porsche 986 and it has no such issue.

but don't Porsche put the engine in the boot? so, no transmission tunnel required

 

[DoctorMesmer]

but don't Porsche put the engine in the boot? so, no transmission tunnel required

Indeed (well, mid-engined in the case of the 986 but the same principle applies). Previous post updated with winking emoji!

 

[EmilysDad]

Indeed (well, mid-engined in the case of the 986 but the same principle applies). .....

Same as my Smart Roadster then .....

 

[Blobcat]

but don't Porsche put the engine in the boot? so, no transmission tunnel required

Unless it’s a 4 wheel drive one…

 

[EmilysDad]

Unless it’s a 4 wheel drive one…

we'll pretend they don't do 4x4 ....