Standard Seats/Bad Back/Remedies please

[Sootweaver]

Hi

I'm new to these forums, so "hello" to everyone.

I need some help. I've had my Mini One D for 2 weeks now and can't, for the life of me, find a comfortable driving position. I have standard seats and no matter how much I alter the seat configuration it feels like somebody is sticking their knees into me from the back seat. I do quite a lot of miles with my job (1500 so far) and am in desperate need of a solution. I've tried the standard comfort cushions that can be strapped to the seat but they didn't help. What have other members done to make their seats more comfortable?
If I had the seats replaced with the sports seats or with lumbar support, how much would this cost? Is there a specific back support cushion for the Mini that give the support that seems to be lacking?

Apart from the above, I adore the car, though I can't remember the test drive being that uncomfortable.

For info, I'm 6 foot 3 and around 15 stone.

Thanks in advance.....

[Spookyfish]

You mean the lumbar support is just too much? The more you position the back rest in an upright position, the less you will notice the lumbar support. Try it! Alternatively you could have a seat shop trim off some of the foam inside the back rest.

[GOLDMINI]

I had the same problem for the first couple of weeks in my One D. The pain was targeted at the small of my back and was very sore at times. This was with the sports seats by the way.

Now, after 6 months and 10500 miles there are no problems at all from the seats since that first fortnight or so. I seem to remember reading somewhere that BMW seats are some of the best in the business and that the pain you feel is your back adjusting to a decent seating position after being squashed up the wrong way in other cars. Mind you, I probably read that in a BMW brochure.....

Stick it out for another couple of weeks and hopefully things will get better.

[Sputnik]

I had the same thing in my Cooper with Sports seats. After a few weeks I was comfy, it was as though my back was adjusting to the seat.

[Sootweaver]

Thanks everyone. I've not been in the car this week as I've been away on business, but I'll have a lot of driving to do over the next couple of weeks. I'll give it another couple of weeks and I'll let you know how it goes.

[gibbon]

Before the MINI I had an ancient MKII Golf diesel (a right tank !) and suffered from back pain when driving for more than 30 mins.

Have standard seats in my OneD and have done a couple of long drives (Spain, Brittany) and never once had any back pain... maybe just lucky with the seats ! Or is it psychosomatic ?

[punkeyfunky]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sootweaver

Hi

I'm new to these forums, so "hello" to everyone.

I need some help. I've had my Mini One D for 2 weeks now and can't, for the life of me, [snip] 3 and around 15 stone.

Thanks in advance.....

I had lots of pain from the crap factory seats. But... I found a solution, and it goes roughly like this:

1) Park car, remove key from ignition
2) Carefully disconnect airbag and pretensioner connectors from underneath seat
3) Remove the four hex bolts that secure the seat to the floor of the car
4) Remove seat and throw into the nearest skip
5) Install Sparco race seat
6) Repeat on passenger side





All joking aside - the Sparco's are flippin great *BUT* there are issues with the airbags. See my write-up of the installation (if you're interested)...

http://punkey.net/mini/howto-seats.html

-Lee

[Apial]

Quote: Originally Posted by punkeyfunky

I had lots of pain from the crap factory seats. But... I found a solution, and it goes roughly like this:

1) Park car, remove key from ignition
2) Carefully disconnect airbag and pretensioner connectors from underneath seat
3) Remove the four hex bolts that secure the seat to the floor of the car
4) Remove seat and give to Apial!
5) Install Sparco race seat
6) Repeat on passenger side





-Lee

I had to edit your instructions, sorry. I've just been for a 6 hour drive in my ONE D that is fitted with sports seats. My back is fine. Unfortunately my sofa is killing my spine. I now need the MINI seats to watch TV. The airbags will be a bonus protection against the kids pedal car.
How about you try fitting my sofa in your MINI? It is a 4 seater, but you could always leave the doors off.

Seriously though, 15" wheels and sports seats are a better combo for backs. I can recommend a good book on back problems which might be of interest, "Treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie ISBN 9780959 804928 priced at about £10.99. This book is suggested by the local hospital back class as an aid to some of their patients. As with all medical things, consult your Doctor before using this book!

[punkeyfunky]

Well... to be honest, I kept the factory seats, so that if/when I see my MINI, I have the option of putting them back in.

-L

[Sootweaver]

Hi

Tried everbody's (inexpensive) advice and still no better I'm afraid.

I'm seriously considering having the seats ripped out and replaced, does any have any costings for this type of work to be done?

Thanks again.

[gibbon]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sootweaver

I'm seriously considering having the seats ripped out and replaced, does any have any costings for this type of work to be done?

I seem to remember this subject was debated on the French forum some weeks/months ago... the guy had been quoted around £200 ! The installation sounds easy... why not try yourself ?

[Jupiter]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sootweaver

Hi

I'm new to these forums, so "hello" to everyone.

I need some help. I've had my Mini One D for 2 weeks now and can't, for the life of me, find a comfortable driving position. I have standard seats and no matter how much I alter the seat configuration it feels like somebody is sticking their knees into me from the back seat. I do quite a lot of miles with my job (1500 so far) and am in desperate need of a solution. I've tried the standard comfort cushions that can be strapped to the seat but they didn't help. What have other members done to make their seats more comfortable?
If I had the seats replaced with the sports seats or with lumbar support, how much would this cost? Is there a specific back support cushion for the Mini that give the support that seems to be lacking?

Apart from the above, I adore the car, though I can't remember the test drive being that uncomfortable.

For info, I'm 6 foot 3 and around 15 stone.

Thanks in advance.....

As someone who has had a back operation I can assure you that the Mini seats are good and promote good driving posture. Initially, you will may feel bad effects but that's because you are not used to them & they are probably stretching the lumbar region. In time you will be OK.

[Shep]

I just saw this thread today, thanks to Jupiter's new posting on it.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Back problems vary so much from person to person, but here's what we have experienced after nearly 2 years of Mini driving:
1) After a 20 minute test drive on regular seats, my wife said we must get the sport seats. She sure was right. We find them much more comfortable.
2) As we both have lumbar problems (we are in our 50's) we wanted extra lumbar support and so paid $1250 extra (ouch) to get this (it's only available with the leather seats). I like the lumbar support knob partially tightened; my wife likes it cranked up more.
3) After driving 700 miles in 2 days, and back again 3 days later, I had lower back problems. I found this can be largely avoided by moving my seat further forward. Sitting more upright helps a lot. A laid-out, flat-on-the-floor "racing" posture is bad for the back.

Don't know if any of this helps you. I do encourage you to take a test drive in the sports seats and/or ones with lumbar support and see if it helps. If it does, it may be worth the cost of replacing your seats.

[Sootweaver]

Update:

Thanks everybody for your posts. I have now done 11,000 miles in the car.

I had a MINI One courtesy car, as some nice chap decided to park his Civic into my car, and found the standard seats really comfortable compared to mine in the One D. Went back to BMW dealer who agreed to replace the seat cushion as they believed it had dropped. Seat comfort improved for around 2 weeks then I started to get a shooting pain in my right hip. I traced the problem to the seat cushion not having enough foam between my behind and the seat moulding. BMW have refused to do anything else with the seat but have given me the no. of a guy who modifies seats, so I have my fingers crossed that we'll find a solution.

I now find the backrest quite comfortable but I'm not sure if it's because my hip aches so much it's taken my mind off it.

If I ever have another MINI I'll make sure I'll get the sports seats next time.