E91 run flats causing back ache?

[Roman]

My sister is a sales rep and covers around 36k p.a. all over the UK (including plenty of B roads and city driving). Six months ago her Golf V was replaced with a BMW 318D Tourer with 17" runflats.

Since getting the car six months ago she has started to experience a lot of pain in her lower back and hamstrings which has not been cured by trying various lumbar or wedge cushions to add support. The ride of the (non M-sport) BMW seems much harsher than that of the Golf and can be quite 'juddery' on some corners.

As she likes the car otherwise my sister would quite like to try fitting non run flat tyres (+ spacesaver and/or tyreweld + pump) in an attempt to solve the problem. She is in quite a lot of pain and the Doctor says she has to stay out of the gym until all is well but there is little chance of recovery when driving 36k p.a.

Her company are of the opinion it can't be the tyres and I've no doubt BMW will be of the same opinion but can I ask if anybody else has experienced similar issues and if fitting non run flat tyres made the car more comfortable?

Many thanks.

[john_p]

I'd guess it's far more likely to be the seat itself, 36k pa must mean a lot of time sat in that driver's seat. Does it have sport seats? Has she tried a day or two driving a car with different seats just to see if it clears up?

[Sticks.]

Shouldn't be too bad with 17s I'd have thought. For me the seat needs only to be slightly out of adjustment and it's soon very uncomfortable. memory seats are a real plus, not only for the memory but also the smaller increments of adjustment.

[Roman]

It's a business edition model so I'm pretty sure it has standard non sports seats - without lumbar support. Trying another car with sports seats is a good idea though I'm not sure her employer would be happy paying to have them retro-fitted (especially in Oyster leather!) or if they have an alternative car available assuming a sports seat does work.

I suppose at least non run flat tyres could be tried with an actual cost saving when it is time to change them (currently 6-7mm after 15k).

[Sticks.]

I found the M Sport seats a great benefit, although they have so many adjustments possible it's easy to get them wrong. Horrendously expensive to change, though you may find some used ones.

Probably easiest is to see a physio for some exercises to do regularly and better understand the problem. I dare say you could get one to assess your o/h's driving position.

[briers]

I've just gone from 19" Run flats to 17" non run flat winter tyres on my 335 and i was also suffering a little bit with a dull ache occasionally in the lower back.

A good seat position helped and the seat heaters helped too but since change down to non run flats, so far no back issues.

The car is still set up to be stiffly sprung even with non runflats on but in comparison it's a lot softer, so it might just cure her problem. A long with seat position.

[V8A*ndy]

It's most certainly the seats.

I have the same issue with my wifes 1 series. Getting the seat just right takes a while.

[john_p]

It may be worth seeing if the dealer (or an independent) will be able to retrofit lumbar support.
It's certainly possible on the E46, and it may already be pre-wired?

[jbbusybee]

I've not covered 30k mikes a year, but have done 20 odd. I have no problem with BMW's but do always order the sport seats. I've actually found the lumber support makes little difference to me however the sports seats do naturally have more lumber support.

Most car manufacturers have seating position suggestions, I found this out once when I had a Saab and could never get comfortable, they sent me some notes on adjusting the position of the seat which helps massively.

I also got an article from BMW about it, which I no longer have, but I'll summarize.

Most people set their car seat too low, set the height by making fist and using your fist measure the height from the roof lining to your head with your fist.

Set your distance to the steering wheel with your wrist on the top rim of the rim arms bent.

I also vary my seat position during extended trips by sliding back one notch.

I do think sometimes modern car seats have too much adjustiability, the fixed Probax seats I had in my Lotus were great.

Hope that helps.

I also think you've got to have break and stretch at least every 4 hours.

[AC Schnitzer]

We fit a lot of Recaro orthapaedic seats for a big utility company who's reps are have trouble with their backs. The standard seat is stored and the Recaro is transfered to the next car when the rep has their company car replaced.

[TX1]

No doubt the seats, since I got my car six months ago I have not been able to find a driving position that feels comfortable.
My car is an e92 and to be honest I have never found this problem with my previous e46 se with bog standard non leather non electric seats.
I also feel I am sitting sideways and keep on correcting myself, also there is not enough back support.
Tyres are not the cause as I also changed from runflats to non runflats.
I go as far to say that my other vehicle which is a berlingo van feels more comfy seatwise.

[E21_Ross]

see a chiropractor. her GP is wrong to tell her to stop going to the gym unless she's doing specific exercises which cause the pain. in reality, your GP should be encouraging her to keep active as per latest research regards chronic (6 months ongoing....it's definitely chronic now) low back pain which shows the most effective method of treatment is chiropractic manipulation combined with specific exercises (see the beam trial for one example). this method of treatment has been shown more effective than chiro manipulation alone, exercise alone, and physiotherapy treatment.

your local chiropractor could give you plenty of exercises to help and give you any advice.

run flats are a problem and could help the back pain, though the seating position/support is more likely

Edited by E21_Ross on Tuesday 16th November 18:29

[outnumbered]

BMW seats are generally not all that good in my experience. Their insistence on keeping Lumbar Support as an option on all but highest spec cars doesn't help, because it seems many people don't bother to select it, even though it's relatively cheap.

They should outsource their seat design to Saab...

[Silver993tt]

I think the seats in my E91 330D Touring (2009) are fantastic. I do several continental European trips a year with several hours at a time in the seats without an issue.

[Roman]

Thanks for your contributions everyone - I'll pass them on.

She has been seeing a Chiropractor and tried a lumber cushion and seat wedge as recommended - to no avail.

Perhaps it may be worth her trying to find a good (heated/massaging) orthopaedic seat cushion/seat cover and at least trying non RFTs when it's time to replace the tyres.