German Cars - Painful Sitting Position :-(
Discussion
Hello all,
I've recently purchased an E-Class Coupe E220 SE.
I'm going to have to take a big loss and sell it, as not only is the seat itself not all that comfortable, with bad lumbar support, but the right foot accelerator pedal is really close and doesn't seem adjustable. It also is far too vertical for me to push upon; I only realise now I prefer a non-brick 'from the top' pedal accelerator.
Car was VERY comfortable on a test-drive, but over the last 3 months I've noticed it's beginning to bring on sciatic nerve problems for me due to the following:
Has anybody else experienced this with German cars before?! I've noticed that the accelerator pedal being so far forward compared to the resting left foot area, with offset steering wheel, means you actually sit squinty and at an angle! It's a REALLY bad design for those of us who are less than 5foot8 or thereabouts.
I was considering having a Recaro seat installed, until it dawned on me that it's actually the accelerator brick pedal positioning and the fact it's too far forward towards the driver causing this problem.
I've also noticed a few posts on other forums internationally about this and I think it's a major cause for concern. A £40k should NOT have such problems and should have been designed properly!
If you think I am talking nonsense then next time you drive your German coupe have a look at your right leg and left leg. Your left leg will be straight and comfortable - your right will be hunched up more towards the seat, raised at the thigh. You can certainly bring your seat backwards so your right leg is straight, but then where does your left leg foot rest? You'll probably place it flat on the floor, and with a long seat squab typical of BMW and Mercedes you will (in time) end up with potential back issues or twisting.
Has anybody who has recognised this flaw managed to work out how to resolve it? Can I remove the accelerator pedal and place it further back?! £2k is a lot of money for an orthopedic seat...
I've recently purchased an E-Class Coupe E220 SE.
I'm going to have to take a big loss and sell it, as not only is the seat itself not all that comfortable, with bad lumbar support, but the right foot accelerator pedal is really close and doesn't seem adjustable. It also is far too vertical for me to push upon; I only realise now I prefer a non-brick 'from the top' pedal accelerator.
Car was VERY comfortable on a test-drive, but over the last 3 months I've noticed it's beginning to bring on sciatic nerve problems for me due to the following:
Has anybody else experienced this with German cars before?! I've noticed that the accelerator pedal being so far forward compared to the resting left foot area, with offset steering wheel, means you actually sit squinty and at an angle! It's a REALLY bad design for those of us who are less than 5foot8 or thereabouts.
I was considering having a Recaro seat installed, until it dawned on me that it's actually the accelerator brick pedal positioning and the fact it's too far forward towards the driver causing this problem.
I've also noticed a few posts on other forums internationally about this and I think it's a major cause for concern. A £40k should NOT have such problems and should have been designed properly!
If you think I am talking nonsense then next time you drive your German coupe have a look at your right leg and left leg. Your left leg will be straight and comfortable - your right will be hunched up more towards the seat, raised at the thigh. You can certainly bring your seat backwards so your right leg is straight, but then where does your left leg foot rest? You'll probably place it flat on the floor, and with a long seat squab typical of BMW and Mercedes you will (in time) end up with potential back issues or twisting.
Has anybody who has recognised this flaw managed to work out how to resolve it? Can I remove the accelerator pedal and place it further back?! £2k is a lot of money for an orthopedic seat...
I have some sympathy that your car is causing backpain which might not have been noticeable early on. Hopefully you'll get some serious responses with solutions.
But when you say German cars have you had the same problem with other similiar cars? Or is this a common issue in cars that are designed for LHD?
But when you say German cars have you had the same problem with other similiar cars? Or is this a common issue in cars that are designed for LHD?
I had to get rid of my A3 a few years ago because there was not enough adjustment in the seat. I was either to far from the pedals or to close, the adjustment in the seat gave no middle ground.
Added to that the lack of lumber support I was in agony.
Now this all could have been in my head because I really wanted an Integra DC5 and thats what I replaced it with, however it did have far more back and forth adjustment in the seat (not notched like the A3, you could stop anywhere on the rail) and I never had back issues with the Recaros in the the Integra.
Added to that the lack of lumber support I was in agony.
Now this all could have been in my head because I really wanted an Integra DC5 and thats what I replaced it with, however it did have far more back and forth adjustment in the seat (not notched like the A3, you could stop anywhere on the rail) and I never had back issues with the Recaros in the the Integra.
No issues at all in my German car. Ice driven it 500 miles with just 1 10min stop for fuel and I was absolutely fine. Like how you have a problem with a Merc and claim it's a German car problem.
I've driven numerous German cars over the years and haven't found any to be bad in reality.
I've driven numerous German cars over the years and haven't found any to be bad in reality.
I do sympathise as it's not really going to come to light until you use the car for a while. Many moon's ago I worked for VW group and had a series of different company cars, the Audi A4's used to give me terrible back ache, the driving position always seemed odd to me, yet my wife liked them.
The most comfortable seat / driving position still to this date was my saab 9-5, now long gone but not forgotten.
The most comfortable seat / driving position still to this date was my saab 9-5, now long gone but not forgotten.
Sorry to have missed out an important point!
I had a BMW coupe 6 months ago which the Osteopath told me had bad seats and was causing general muscle lower back pain.
I opted for the Merc E-Class Coupe (built on C-class platform, I know...) based on the better seats. I could kick myself for not realising it was the pedal layout and position, not necessarily the seat, that was the main problem :-(
The reason I mentioned 'German cars' is because they all are now sold with these brick pedals that push downwards, which I feel exacerbates the problem, as you can't generally adjust these position-wise, not even the angle of elevation! A pedal can usually be adjusted in some manner, even if it's just with an extender arm attachment.
I had a BMW coupe 6 months ago which the Osteopath told me had bad seats and was causing general muscle lower back pain.
I opted for the Merc E-Class Coupe (built on C-class platform, I know...) based on the better seats. I could kick myself for not realising it was the pedal layout and position, not necessarily the seat, that was the main problem :-(
The reason I mentioned 'German cars' is because they all are now sold with these brick pedals that push downwards, which I feel exacerbates the problem, as you can't generally adjust these position-wise, not even the angle of elevation! A pedal can usually be adjusted in some manner, even if it's just with an extender arm attachment.
I have an issue with my Porsche seat in that there's no lumbar adjustment - not long after getting the car I noticed the return of left side sciatica after several years absence.
I bought a small lumbar cushion for about £20 - works a treat and no more problems.
I have no issues whatsoever driving the Alpina.
Perhaps it's worth your while getting hold of a cushion to see if it helps?
At least it's a lot cheaper than getting rid of the car.
I bought a small lumbar cushion for about £20 - works a treat and no more problems.
I have no issues whatsoever driving the Alpina.
Perhaps it's worth your while getting hold of a cushion to see if it helps?
At least it's a lot cheaper than getting rid of the car.
My experience with the last few cars:
E39 with non sport leather - could sit on them all day without a problem.
E60 with half leather sports seats - Could not get comfortable, half an hour was enough before I had to get out and stretch. Took a drive to Germany and had to use a rolled up towel for lumbar support
E46 with leather sports seats - lovely and comfortable, fantastic seats.
E39 with non sport leather - could sit on them all day without a problem.
E60 with half leather sports seats - Could not get comfortable, half an hour was enough before I had to get out and stretch. Took a drive to Germany and had to use a rolled up towel for lumbar support
E46 with leather sports seats - lovely and comfortable, fantastic seats.
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