Drives seat E220 Exec

[Dream Works]

I have recently bought a 57 plate E220 exec, I am less than happy with the level of comfort with the drivers seat. I have checked to see if it's straight and symmetrical and appears so.

Apart from that it's a cracking car. Any advise would be most welcome. I am in west Yorkshire if there are any super stars with info local to mr

Cheers Andy

 

[jags]

seat induced back problems

Hi,
i am a new owner of a C220 CDI . i dreamed of buying this car for so long and afte robtaining it and driving for 500miles , i am plagued by back pain . i have tried using the seat in every position and i am desperate . i was wondering whether this is only me , i am sorry that you are having similar problems ?? have you recieved any replies or solutions ?

 

[timskemp]

W211 E class seat is slightly off centre to the steering wheel, it's not a lot but it's noticable, and it's the only let down on the comfort of the seats.

 

[markjay]

I am very happy with the standard seats on my W203....

The cars I drove over the past 10 years all had Recaro seats, so I was quite concerned initially before buying the W203, but as said it turned-out to be fine. For me, anyway....

 

[Rory]

I am very happy with the standard seats on my W203....

Mine are terrible - worst I've ever had. I find it bearable if I put a rolled up towel at the base of my back. Looks great when people see it.

 

[st4]

I have recently bought a 57 plate E220 exec, I am less than happy with the level of comfort with the drivers seat. I have checked to see if it's straight and symmetrical and appears so.

Apart from that it's a cracking car. Any advise would be most welcome. I am in west Yorkshire if there are any super stars with info local to mr

Cheers Andy

W211 E class seat is slightly off centre to the steering wheel, it's not a lot but it's noticable, and it's the only let down on the comfort of the seats.

Its IMHO very awkward and makes reach on one side of the wheel different to another.

Seating wise, IMHO people tend to sit too far away and to reclined.

From an IAM thing one of the 1st things my oberserver said was I was sat too far away.

You should be sat upright, all the thigh supported by seat base upto 1inch or so before the knee.

Arms, at the elbow holding the wheel should be bent, max 90 degees, min 120 degree (for those who wish to have their arms straighter) and with your back against the seat back (all the way up to your shoulder) your wrist should be able to reach the top of the wheel with your back against the seat.

This will mean your legs are supported, you have max control over the car and can turn the wheel without lifting your back away from the seat.

head room wise you need at least a clenched fist between the top of your head, and the roof, I am for two to be safe

Aim for this

 

[markjay]

Mine are terrible - worst I've ever had. I find it bearable if I put a rolled up towel at the base of my back. Looks great when people see it.

There's adjustable lumber support...?

 

[Rory]

There's adjustable lumber support...?

It's too high up to help me and its range of adjustment is tiny.

Weird really - I had a virtually identical car on test from MB for a few days but only went on one long journey and my back hurt after an hour. As it's never happened before I dismissed it, but it is the car.

What's really annoying is the seats in my daughters £7500 SEAT Ibiza are beautifully comfortable. The just feel "right" in the same way as the Recaro's in the Capri I had in 1978 did!

 

[Dream Works]

Its IMHO very awkward and makes reach on one side of the wheel different to another.

Seating wise, IMHO people tend to sit too far away and to reclined.

From an IAM thing one of the 1st things my oberserver said was I was sat too far away.

You should be sat upright, all the thigh supported by seat base upto 1inch or so before the knee.

Arms, at the elbow holding the wheel should be bent, max 90 degees, min 120 degree (for those who wish to have their arms straighter) and with your back against the seat back (all the way up to your shoulder) your wrist should be able to reach the top of the wheel with your back against the seat.

This will mean your legs are supported, you have max control over the car and can turn the wheel without lifting your back away from the seat.

head room wise you need at least a clenched fist between the top of your head, and the roof, I am for two to be safe

Aim for this

Sorry but are the shades and shorts part of the comfort.......

how come you cant gave tints at the front but the shades can be BLACKOUT's ?????

 

[Phantom 211]

Good advice but unfortunately at 6'4 my W211 seat does not support my thighs enough.

Saying that the seat is not uncomfortable and I have had the same problem in virtually every car I have owned save the Sierra Cosworths fitted with Recaros which had an extending front piece (for thigh support).

 

[MBLon]

I share the pain of Dream Works, jags and Rory! Never had back pain before until I had my E220, a 2009 saloon. The seat gives me lower back pain, like Rory after driving for long time, say over 1 hr. I called MB Customer Service and also spoke to a local dealer. Their unanimous replies were that they never had any complaints of this type! Clearly, they either have clogged ears or short memory syndrome, or both.

Guys, suggest everyone to call MB and refer them to this forum.

My theory is that there are two contributing factors to this problem:

1. there is not enough support in the lower back region. Rory's towel clearly proves this. Similar, I use a cushion at the back to ease my pain. Yah, great looking in a luxury newish car! :-(

2. the base of the seat is too hard. Mine is Artico artificial leather. Slippery. I guess my bottom slipped forward unintentionally during driving and result in bending my lower back, hence the pain.

 

[developer]

My theory is that there are two contributing factors to this problem:

1. there is not enough support in the lower back region. Rory's towel clearly proves this. Similar, I use a cushion at the back to ease my pain. Yah, great looking in a luxury newish car! :-(

2. the base of the seat is too hard. Mine is Artico artificial leather. Slippery. I guess my bottom slipped forward unintentionally during driving and result in bending my lower back, hence the pain.

It's more fundamental that that - E Class seats are just sh*t

 

[timskemp]

It's more fundamental that that - E Class seats are just sh*t

Bit harsh really, the standard seats are good, the sports ones and the comfort ones are better, they have to be in order to sell the upgrade.

None come close to the long term comfort and ergonomics of the Volvo or Saab though.

W211 failure for comfort was the off-centre steering wheel on the RHD cars. Just enough to be a problem. W212 has fixed this.

 

[MBLon]

W212 might have fixed the alignment but it has not got rid of the discomfort problem. My car is W212. I have been driving for over 20 years and I have never complained about back pain until I had this W212.