mercedes hard seats is it norm to get numb bum

[charliefarlie]

I have a merc C250 td estate and a LWB Sprinter 312 which ever i drive for approx 100 miles i get dashed uncomfortable and have to pull in some place just to get out and walk about then drive a bit more after about 50 miles or so i get bum ake , i have tried doing all the adjustments forward back recline make softer harder etc but still get it , are all merc cars vans the same , i have had the trucks and found them excellent in comfort could drive them all day long with out getting uncomfortable but then they had the air suspension built in which made a fantastic difference never felt bumps all ironed out .
Have just returned from a 108 mile run up to Glenrothes and back with a stop for fuel and a pick up of item then returned am now suffering from a sore bum that was in the 250 estate , am not an over weight person 6ft in height , dont have this problem in the G wagen or her indoors Astra .
Any thoughts ?
cf

 

[martyz]

No,It's what we call a P.I.T.A

 

[GP801]

Try a 124. Regularly cover large distances in ours - up to 1,000miles in a day with no problems. The CLK is pretty good too.

 

[stephen coy]

I found the seat base of my 190e was a bit unforgiving, and fitted a sheepskin seat cover. This transformed the comfort of the seat

My w124 is fine as is though.

 

[coalville126]

I think it all depends how well built you are in the first place. I don't have a problem with any Mercedes seats, in fact I prefer the older flat design as I'm heavier than average. Sports type seats tend to jab me in the sides. We used to have a '06 Dualiner which I drove for many miles at a stretch.

 

[BEJ]

I have had back problems for many years and find that with the majority of cars that I have driven I have to get out and walk around for a while after having driven for about 11/2 - 2 hours.
Having said that the only MB I have driven is my SLK and I can drive that all day long with no problems.

 

[Harrythedog]

My first Merc was a W202 and I thought the seats were uncomfortable then I decided to sit properly ie sit upright with a straight back and not slouching and the seats were fine

 

[Buffers]

I must say the seats in my w203 2003 give me bum ache after about 120 miles. Used to do 250+ miles in my W210 e class with no discomfort at all. There again it was a larger car.

 

[V12]

The sprinter has terrible seats, the c250 should be good. Check you don't have any broken springs in the base.

 

[charliefarlie]

V12
Dont agree sprinter seats as can at least adjust the seat to whatever position you want can be raised or lowered to suit rake , can also recline plus can move back forward , and can pump up back support not all have this very well designed seat but blinking hard , the c250 has a toggle thing which brings up the front edge or lowers then there is a lever for bringing the seat up or press down for lowering has the forward or back for leg room or reach of pedals also the recline very similar to sprinter but not just as handy for adjusting when sitting in it , i had an ML before the c250 didnt like it at all kept hitting my head off door frame getting in or out of it , it too had a hard seat part leather type only had that about a month greedy on diesel too , and before it i had a realy nice low mileage merc e 300 diesel estate lovely motor went like **** off shovel unfortunately too low for my track driveway half a mile long its seat was excellent leather , so maybe i should find some leather seats for the c250 then shall be able to drive in comfort again .
Cf

 

[V12]

Have driven dozens of sprinters (including one i drive nearly every day for the past 5 years) and have only got comfortable in the vans that had the drivers seat replaced. For my body type the seat doesn't go far enough back before it hits the bulkhead and I can't get the base to tilt back as it hits the bulkhead again. The solid padding is the least of my worries. As a side note, I can comfy in a transit...Seating is such a preference thing I guess.

 

[charliefarlie]

Hi V12
yes i know what you mean , it bugged me till i took out the panel behind then could get the seat much further back think must have been made for a short person know what you mean tranny seat is comfy .
cf

 

[vijilants]

W202 seats are awful. I replaced the seatpad on my one as I began to think that something was seriously wrong and it did make a small difference. When you strip the chair down to replace the seat pad you begin to understand why they are soo awful......basically you are sitting on a piece of horsehair like thin cushion over a wire-sprung frame.

Considering that the older generation of Mercs used to have seats that resembled plush armchairs, its amazing that they went in the opposite direction and force drivers into punishment

 

[davidjpowell]

I remember a pre-facelift 190E that my dad had when we were kids. We were not that impressed in the first instance as for two teenagers and a little one it was a bit of a squeeze. But the back seat was the most uncomfortable thing known to man. Long journeys were horrible.

They changed the composition of the rear bench at the facelift.

 

[John]

I'm 18.5st with a small ass and don't suffer from a numb bum in mine.

I do get a numb bum sat on other people's office chairs at work if the cushion is not fairly chunky...

 

[charliefarlie]

Ah well have had enough of btm ake so off to go buy a good ole volvo 940 estate tomorrow see how it does juice wise at least its a comfy motor , had a look under the seat of the 250 today to see how it was constructed very spartan i thought basically just sitting on a shaped piece of card board or paper mashay and a couple of springs no wonder its uncomfortable . but i suppose merc has to economise on some things as the rest of the build quality is second to none excellent mechanically and well built strong chassis . cf

 

[John]

Could you replace the seats with ones from a wrecked AMG or something?

 

[Dichtung]

I must say the seats in my w203 2003 give me bum ache after about 120 miles. Used to do 250+ miles in my W210 e class with no discomfort at all. There again it was a larger car.

W203; W210? ^ +1 exactly.

 

[charliefarlie]

Yup had an e300 td loved it too but alas too blinking low for my track hence why i bought an ml 370 manual but hated it could not get on with it at all plus i dont like permanent 4 wheel drive got shot of that and bought the c250 i like it lots but the seat is realy awfull painfull after a hundred miles and gets worse on the return journey hotching about trying to get a position thats not as uncomfortable , makes no sense to replace the seats plus other works which am thinking it wiill need shortly . cf