Which is the most comfortable BMW 3 series?

[99Chimaera]

Afternoon everyone.
Which the most comfortable BMW 3 series to buy preferably a touring. I had rather briefly a f31 320d Xdrive M sport Manual, which I had to get rid of last week. It left my ownership, because it kept giving me a very bad back.

Is there a more comfortable model, would the Sport be a better ride? Or would I be better off with a Luxury model? I would probably go for Automatic as I don't think the offset pedal position of manual helped.
My budget would probably be £14k
Many thanks for any suggestions.

[SWoll]

Any RWD SE/Luxury model with small wheels and no RFT's will be a lot better as the X Drives all ride harder. And the auto will massively help as you say.

if it's comfort you're after I'd consider the 5 series SE TBH. More comfortable in every way than the 3.

[SteBrown91]

If an xdrive which has SE suspension gave you a bad back then you have no hope.

TBH I bet it’s the Seat position - in my m sport the first few months i really struggled on long journeys, after some fiddling with the seat it’s better but not perfect. Due to the vast adjustability of them it takes a lot of time to find a good position.

[Sir Bagalot]

[quote=SteBrown91Due to the vast adjustability of them it takes a lot of time to find a good position.
[/quote]

And then you drop it into the garage and the bds change the seat position!!

[99Chimaera]

Many thanks for replies chaps. Food for thought.

[Shiv_P]

Other than the obvious SE with smallest wheels or a car with adaptive suspension there won't be much else you can do but I hear a 19" m sport with adaptive is more comfortable than an SE in comfort mode

The A4 and C class are considerably more comfortable in suspension and better for road noise as well

Edited by Shiv_P on Friday 7th December 16:51

[AlwynMike]

3 series and comfortable are words that should not be in the same sentence.

I've had 4! (All Tourings)

SE seats are generally uncomfortable on long journeys.

I now have a 4 series Gran Coupe on basic 18" wheels.
Much more comfortable and quieter than any of my 3's.
Pretty good luggage space too if you don't need the height.

[croyde]

I have a e36 323 that I bought in 1998 and still use as my daily.

Bloody comfortable I have to say.

Driver's seat is knackered though and I have looked for years but can't find the original anthracite covers.

All it needs to make the seat look new again.

[p1stonhead]

Adaptive suspension in comfort is about as nice as I have felt a 3 series IMO. And thats on 19's and an msport model with sports seats.

Smaller wheels / bigger tyres would be even better.

I reckon comfort on the adaptive is softer than se.

[99Chimaera]

AlwynMike said:

3 series and comfortable are words that should not be in the same sentence.

I've had 4! (All Tourings)

SE seats are generally uncomfortable on long journeys.

I now have a 4 series Gran Coupe on basic 18" wheels.
Much more comfortable and quieter than any of my 3's.
Pretty good luggage space too if you don't need the height.
Interesting I didn't realise that they are all the same in terms of comfort. I thought my dad's 1 series wasn't that comfortable either and it has adaptive suspension. The most comfortable BMW I've ever driven was a e39 540i a speedy sofa!

[Shiv_P]

croyde said:

I have a e36 323 that I bought in 1998 and still use as my daily.

Bloody comfortable I have to say.

Driver's seat is knackered though and I have looked for years but can't find the original anthracite covers.

All it needs to make the seat look new again.

Sorry but my ford focus has as many shared components as an E36 does to an F30 bar a badge

[99Chimaera]

croyde said:

I have a e36 323 that I bought in 1998 and still use as my daily.

Bloody comfortable I have to say.

Driver's seat is knackered though and I have looked for years but can't find the original anthracite covers.

All it needs to make the seat look new again.

I can vouch for that. I've driven a e36 328i sport many times.

[jonah35]

Petrol
Se
Automatic

But don’t know if in budget but a 5 series se would be better - could you get massage seats at that age?

[ZX10R NIN]

The Xdrives have SE suspension so if you're not finding it comfortable I'd suggest looking at the Jaguar XF Sportbrake:

Portfolio

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.0 /2.2d Premium Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[99Chimaera]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Xdrives have SE suspension so if you're not finding it comfortable I'd suggest looking at the Jaguar XF Sportbrake:

Portfolio

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.0 /2.2d Premium Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Thank you for your suggestion, I 've always liked the XF Sportbrake, but unfortunately due to the limited budget, they will be a bit old.

[tim0409]

I suffer from a bad back and ironically BMW sports seats are the only seats that I find comfy. I would echo the earlier comment about getting the right position; for me it was the seat base fairy low, tilted back with the leg support extended, and the lumbar support and side bolsters extended. Once it’s sorted I didn’t let anyone adjust it!!

[99Chimaera]

tim0409 said:

I suffer from a bad back and ironically BMW sports seats are the only seats that I find comfy. I would echo the earlier comment about getting the right position; for me it was the seat base fairy low, tilted back with the leg support extended, and the lumbar support and side bolsters extended. Once it’s sorted I didn’t let anyone adjust it!!

I've never had problems with firm riding cars with bucket seats, I had a few Golf GTIs, Audi A4 Sport, TVR Chimaera etc hence my buying a BMW M sport, when my last golf was written off in a bad rear end shunt by a hit and run driver. I was very surprised when I started getting back trouble, I tried a variety of seat positions and various cushions to no avail. I wonder if I'd been better off with Automatic.

[tim0409]

99Chimaera said:

I wonder if I'd been better off with Automatic.

That's actually a good call; the constant leg movements to operate the clutch don't help your back, especially if the clutch is heavy like it was in my 1 series.

[loskie]

a Volvo V60

[ZX10R NIN]

99Chimaera said:

Thank you for your suggestion, I 've always liked the XF Sportbrake, but unfortunately due to the limited budget, they will be a bit old.

If that's the case & you want something newer that's comfortable then the Mondeo in 180 Titanium spec ticks all the boxes, they're a decent steer loaded with kit & most importantly comfortable.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

The other one would be the 508SW 2.2d in GT Form but you'll have to keep your eyes peeled as they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

My alternative pick to the 508 would be the Mazda6 in 180 Sport or SE L spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

V60 D5 not my cup of tea but people who I've sourced them to are very happy with them.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...