Countryman Seats - MINI Cooper Forum

alexph · #1 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 08:07 AM

Hi

i have just purchased my wife a new Countryman Cooper Automatic and we have a BIG problem with the seats.

My wife who is 5 foot 0 tall traded in her mini cooper convertible for the Countryman and now finds that the seats in the new car are impossibly uncomfortable. Mini seem to have changed the type of the seat with a bigger seat squab and she cannot sit back in the seat and reach the pedals properly.

The seats also appear to have no lumbar support whatsoever, and at the end of a 180 mile journey yesterday, both of our backs hurt like hell. Even after a night sleep, my back is still killing me.

Is anyone else experiencing the same?

Thanks

Angib · #2 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 01:56 PM

I don't know the exact picture on the Countryman, but on a regular Mini, if you order the car with sports seats in basic cloth trim, they leave out the adjustable lumbar support - and they just leave a hole where the lumbar support should be.

This parts diagram from the Countryman seats shows that some have lumbar support (3) and some don't (2):

This is the situation I had with my cloth sports seats in a Convertible and I was getting back pain too. My solution was to buy the adjustable lumbar support 'spring mat' (3) and fit it to my driver's seat - problem solved.

The attachment is a write-up of how to do this to a R56 seat. If you go to this discussion that's been running on an American forum since I posted the original write-up in 2009 Retrofit adjustable lumbar support to a sports seat I think there's at least one Countryman owner who has done this mod. You won't find any discussion of it in the UK since, as far as I can see, no-one here makes any modification that isn't about appearance....

fishyweb · #3 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 02:14 PM

I have the CooperD+Chilli and find the seats very comfortable. Not sure if that helps or not.

The Nun · #4 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 02:33 PM

I found the standard seats without lumber crippled me too on a long journey so I made sure the seats I have now had lumber adjustment when I ordered the car and now my backs fine, no doubt the demo car had this and you assumed its standard.
You learn by your mistakes as I did, expensive way too!
I dont like the aftermarket lumber pads you fit to the face of the backrest, l gives me the impression the drivers an invalid, but I suppose it that or you might end up as one yourself.

alexph · #5 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 03:04 PM

Fisheyweb: Are you seats the Sports seats?

The Nun: yes you are right as my wife's pervious Mini Convertible with standard cloth seats had lumbar support. Are your seats standard seats as it seems that you have to order Sports seats, if you want lumbar support

Alex

The Nun · #6 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 04:50 PM

Mine has sports seats yes and they are heated too, comfortable but not as good as Recaro option of course which would be THE choice if they werent so expensive.

Mid Life Mini · #7 (**permalink**) Nov 19th, 2012, 05:03 PM

I have half leather on my Dooper convertible and they come with lumbar supports. I have to say though, the seats are not as comfortable as the ones on my old Corsa SXI, plenty of side support.

greenlanddock · #8 (**permalink**) Nov 20th, 2012, 05:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by alexph (original)

Hi

i have just purchased my wife a new Countryman Cooper Automatic and we have a BIG problem with the seats.

Thanks

Every other post seems to come from someone who buys a car without spending time to test it properly and then whinging about clutch, mileage, seats, window switches, etc.

Ever heard of measuring twice and cutting once?

bmwr606 · #9 (**permalink**) Nov 20th, 2012, 10:17 PM

both my dad and i have 2012 cms all4s, he liked mine so much, he went and bought one

i have no problem with not having the lumbar adjustment in my cms all4, but my dad did complain

i like to sit with the seat back near verticle, my dad likes his tilted back several clicks

i suggested he put the seat more verticle, he went first 1 click, then another, and is now comfortable with the seats

scott

X6Sport · #10 (**permalink**) Nov 21st, 2012, 07:09 PM

What I don't get is why the seats are manual adjust only? My X6 has the (superb) 'Comfort Seats' - and is of course twice the price of a Countryman - but if BMW already have power adjust seats in their other models, why not the Mini Countryman too? I'm 6'4" and my wife 5'2" and the auto seat memory adjustment in the X6 means no messing about when we change drivers, yet it's not even an option for any of the Mini range. Odd.

The Mini seats are comfortable enough but why all manual only? And we did spec lumbar supports as I suffered two major spinal injuries in recent times so they are a 'must have' add-on.

bmwr606 · #11 (**permalink**) Nov 21st, 2012, 07:16 PM

my sister and brother-in-law are of similar heights

the only seat adjustment they make is she pumps the seat all the way up and he pumps it all the way down, no other seat adjustments!

scott

Celtic Bob · #12 (**permalink**) Jan 30th, 2013, 11:20 PM

The one I am considering has Fixed Lumbar according to the dealer. Not sure exactly what that is yet. The dealer is several hours away so I haven't seen the car in person yet. Any ideas on Fixed Lumbar? It is a 2012 Cooper S Countryman All4

Agplant57 · #13 (**permalink**) Jan 31st, 2013, 10:23 AM

I have a Cooper S Chili and with all the adjustment in the world the seats kill. I'm 6'2", dont think the squab is long enough so get pain in my bum after 30 min.

Celtic Bob · #14 (**permalink**) Feb 1st, 2013, 10:03 AM

Anyone know if 'Fixed Lumbar' offers any support?
Thanks

bmwr606 · #15 (**permalink**) Feb 1st, 2013, 04:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Celtic Bob (original)

Anyone know if 'Fixed Lumbar' offers any support?
Thanks

i am 5'8" and have no problem with my seat with "fixed" lumbar

btw, the adjustable lumbar support can be retro-fitted, see realoem.com, and search NAM there is a thead about retro-fitting the lumbar support

scott