Seating height 3 series vs 5 series
Seating height 3 series vs 5 series
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Burwood

Original Poster:

18,718 posts

276 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
Anyone who regularly drives both. FIL has a 3yo 3 series. Having been in the car I do think you sit quite low. He wants to sit higher as MIL finds it hard to get in/out of. He thinks a 5 series would be better. I doubt it. Any knowledgeable comments on that?

What he really needs is an X3 type but he loathes 4wds biggrin

survivalist

6,124 posts

220 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
Is that with the seat up as high as it can go? I have the opposite problem with fully electric seats as I find the seating annoyingly lofty.

Having been in F10 5-Series many times I'd not say it's significantly higher.

Other option would be a 3 or 5 series GT. Much higher driving position but also a bit larger. Usually come well specified as well.

Scrump

23,947 posts

188 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
Recently took my father shopping for a new car.
He found the 1 and the 3 series too low and difficult to get in and out of.
He tried either an X1 or an X3 (I forget which) and found it much better but didn’t want an SUV.

Deano_BMW

430 posts

216 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
i always felt you "dropped" into a 3 a fair bit more than a 5. I agree with the above, not sure if its because of the electrical gubbins under the seats but i cant get them as low as i would like in my 5 series and do feel perched a little bit and i'm not especially tall.

jonindorset

1,082 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
Not for me but I actually found the X2 to be pleasant enough and not really an SUV. I have a G30 and you can jack the seats up a bit but I suspect you still sit pretty low. Fords are probably better for a higher seating position in a regular car and for non badge snobs can have a lot to commend them.

Burwood

Original Poster:

18,718 posts

276 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
quotequote all
Thanks all- I think it's just an excuse to change his car. And the 5 series is a big car now. smile

BFleming

3,918 posts

173 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
quotequote all
My elderly Dad struggles to get into a 3 series and doesn't get on with the driving position; he would be much better off with an X3, which might be the solution to your problem too. I own a 5 series, they are big cars, too big if you in theory only need something 3 series sized.
F30 length: 4624mm
F30 width: 1811mm
F25 length: 4657mm
F25 width: 1881mm
G30 length: 4936mm
G30 width: 1868mm

Maybe pedantic, but he doesn't have to get a four wheel drive variant of the X3, there are some S Drive variants. But I assume he doesn't like SUVs rather than 4wds.

ThePrisoner

1,078 posts

238 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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I don't think the sport seats help .

I remember my first test drive in a F30.The salesman asked how I drive my cars.

He said " Does one sit in the car sir or does one sit on the car " , thought that was quite funny at the time. biggrin

I think the standard seats are better for access.