Seat Positioning Go Any Lower?

3002 tii · 11-07-2011, 02:45 PM

I like to position the seat upright for trackdays but I then find I have barely enough space to get my helmet on. I have the seats set to the lowest height possible and I'm not the tallest guy either (5'9"). Anyone else have this issue? I could've swore there was a trick to get them lower, maybe removing some washers?

Twisted Six · 11-07-2011, 02:57 PM

Dubb....I can't remember if it is the manual or powered seats which drop the lowest....but I thought it was the powered ?

I know for me....the only way I could sit deeper down was to lose 10 lbs in my butt.

Worked for me.

3002 tii · 11-07-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Schnitzer

Dubb....I can't remember if it is the manual or powered seats which drop the lowest....but I thought it was the powered ?

I know for me....the only way I could sit deeper down was to lose 10 lbs in my butt.

Worked for me.

I have the powered "m" seats. I suppose I can lose a few pounds lol.

gcochard · 11-07-2011, 03:05 PM

I was about to post but then I realized I do autocrosses with the top down.

WestCDA · 11-07-2011, 03:26 PM

I've got heated manual 'M' seats in mine. I normally have them quite far back, and I know if you move them 'down' with them set too far back, they will not go fully down. I found that out when I bought the car, and noticed the passenger seat was lower than mine when I had it fully down. Moved it forward slightly and tried again - it dropped a LOT!

I'm 6'2", and I've got a lot of headroom with the roadster top up, and the seat fully down. Maybe try moving it forward a bit and see if you can get any more depth out of it ...

BlackMoupe · 11-07-2011, 03:37 PM

The powered seats go about 1 inch lower I believe.

BTM · 11-07-2011, 05:40 PM

Took some pics of a heated/powered msport seat from a 3.0si coupe. To me it doesn't look like it can be modified to go lower, but here they are anyway:

Resized to 1024x768 for better viewing, I can email you the original sizes if you want more resolution

TexasZed4MC · 11-07-2011, 07:33 PM

I agree with West, I am 6'2" and easily have 1 1/2" above my head to the headliner even with my helmet on.

WestCDA · 11-07-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

The powered seats go about 1 inch lower I believe.

I guess that's possible, but I've got the first aid boxes installed under my manual seats, and it's hard to see them going much lower than they do now ...

If at 6'2" my Texas compatriot and I can fit in the car with ample headroom, it's hard to see not fitting with 5 inches less height - though some people have a longer trunk than others. But I've also never put the seatback upright while occupied, as I can't stand driving in that position.

3002 tii · 11-07-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WestCDA

I guess that's possible, but I've got the first aid boxes installed under my manual seats, and it's hard to see them going much lower than they do now ...

If at 6'2" my Texas compatriot and I can fit in the car with ample headroom, it's hard to see not fitting with 5 inches less height - though some people have a longer trunk than others. But I've also never put the seatback upright while occupied, as I can't stand driving in that position.

I do have a long torso and the helmet does add. When I drive normally I lean the seat back but on the track upright is a must for me, helps mitigate some body roll.

Punko · 11-09-2011, 06:25 PM

In my Z3 M Coupe, I took the seat out and removed the carpet and sound proofing that was squeezed between the seat mounts and the car body....every little bit helps.

ZStig · 11-09-2011, 06:27 PM

In a coupe, I don't see why you should have helmet clearing issues at 5'9
roadster and the rollbars is a different issue

3002 tii · 11-09-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

In a coupe, I don't see why you should have helmet clearing issues at 5'9
roadster and the rollbars is a different issue

Like I said, I have the seat literally upright, 90 degrees. I'm not making it up!

ZStig · 11-09-2011, 06:40 PM

I missed the detail about sitting upright, I recommend removing the oem sliders and motors, and fabricating simple to bolt up to the floor

11-07-2011, 02:45 PM	#1
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2289 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	Seat Positioning Go Any Lower? I like to position the seat upright for trackdays but I then find I have barely enough space to get my helmet on. I have the seats set to the lowest height possible and I'm not the tallest guy either (5'9"). Anyone else have this issue? I could've swore there was a trick to get them lower, maybe removing some washers? __________________ Follow for latest mods
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-07-2011, 02:57 PM	#2
Twisted Six CarbonFiber Engineer @ ZeroMassMotorsports 40 Rep 1,481 Posts Drives: Z4si-coupe Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: -Laguna Beach Ca. iTrader: (6)	Dubb....I can't remember if it is the manual or powered seats which drop the lowest....but I thought it was the powered ? I know for me....the only way I could sit deeper down was to lose 10 lbs in my butt. Worked for me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-07-2011, 03:05 PM	#4
gcochard Captain 24 Rep 784 Posts Drives: 2011.5 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South OC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	I was about to post but then I realized I do autocrosses with the top down.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-07-2011, 03:26 PM	#5
WestCDA Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4R 3.0si Join Date: May 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta iTrader: (0)	I've got heated manual 'M' seats in mine. I normally have them quite far back, and I know if you move them 'down' with them set too far back, they will not go fully down. I found that out when I bought the car, and noticed the passenger seat was lower than mine when I had it fully down. Moved it forward slightly and tried again - it dropped a LOT! I'm 6'2", and I've got a lot of headroom with the roadster top up, and the seat fully down. Maybe try moving it forward a bit and see if you can get any more depth out of it ...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-07-2011, 03:37 PM	#6
BlackMoupe Mouper 114 Rep 1,064 Posts Drives: _____ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: _____ iTrader: (1)	The powered seats go about 1 inch lower I believe.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-07-2011, 05:40 PM	#7
BTM Banned 485 Rep 10,309 Posts Drives: A///MERICAN!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A///MERICA!!! iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.20]	Took some pics of a heated/powered msport seat from a 3.0si coupe. To me it doesn't look like it can be modified to go lower, but here they are anyway: Resized to 1024x768 for better viewing, I can email you the original sizes if you want more resolution
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-07-2011, 07:33 PM	#8
TexasZed4MC Captain 150 Rep 688 Posts Drives: 2006 Interlagos Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Texas iTrader: (1)	I agree with West, I am 6'2" and easily have 1 1/2" above my head to the headliner even with my helmet on. __________________ Lone Star Chapter BMWCCA HPDE Event Chair, Texas Trifecta Event Chair, & BMWCCA driving Instructor
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2011, 06:25 PM	#11
Punko Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 250 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hamilton, ON iTrader: (2)	In my Z3 M Coupe, I took the seat out and removed the carpet and sound proofing that was squeezed between the seat mounts and the car body....every little bit helps.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2011, 06:27 PM	#12
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	In a coupe, I don't see why you should have helmet clearing issues at 5'9 roadster and the rollbars is a different issue __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-09-2011, 06:40 PM	#14
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	I missed the detail about sitting upright, I recommend removing the oem sliders and motors, and fabricating simple to bolt up to the floor __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote