Manual sport seat folding

[Octothorp27]

I'm looking to move from my 330ci to a 135i but when I was at the dealer I saw that the electric front seats don't fold forward anywhere near as well as on e46s. E46 seats both fold and jump forward thanks to a 4-bar link to the seat rails.

Can anyone with manual sport seats let me know if they do the same as e46s, or if they are like the 135i electric seats that only fold and then have to be slid forward?

I'm 6'5" and have a baby and toddler (2 car seats) so I need to get to the back seats often and want to know if manual seats would be any better for access.

Also anyone know if e46 m3 coupe seats would fit in a 135? Maybe I could do a swap if the manual sport seats don't give me the access I need.

Thanks.
-Brad

[BBursey]

I have manual seats and the little handle on the seat back lets them fold and slide out of the way. I don't think there's a linkage that lifts the back of the seat bottom. I also don't have kids or a car seat, so can't comment on how easy it would be to manage. My only complaint is that the seat doesn't necessarily go back to where is started, so you have to re-adjust a little each time.

Cheers,
Bryan

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Canucker

I have manual seats and the little handle on the seat back lets them fold and slide out of the way. I don't think there's a linkage that lifts the back of the seat bottom. I also don't have kids or a car seat, so can't comment on how easy it would be to manage. My only complaint is that the seat doesn't necessarily go back to where is started, so you have to re-adjust a little each time.

Cheers,
Bryan

+1

[Octothorp27]

Thanks Bryan.

Maybe e46 m3 coupe seats will be the best option for me then. With them an adult can get in by pulling one lever and the seat goes back to the exact same spot every time.

[jkoral]

The manual sport seats are definitely a step backwards in usability.

I had power seats in my E46s, but I did have the manual leather/cloth sport seats in my 318ti and when you flipped the lever, the seat lifted up and flipped forward, and stayed that way until it was pushed back.

I can live with the 1-series seats sliding forward (require a re-adjustment), but the thing I hate is that you have to hold them flipped forward, otherwise they flop back, which is a pain when you are letting small humans (my kids) in the back seat.

This is something I hadn't noticed when test driving the 1-series.

[Octothorp27]

Originally Posted by jkoral

The manual sport seats are definitely a step backwards in usability.

I had power seats in my E46s, but I did have the manual leather/cloth sport seats in my 318ti and when you flipped the lever, the seat lifted up and flipped forward, and stayed that way until it was pushed back.

I can live with the 1-series seats sliding forward (require a re-adjustment), but the thing I hate is that you have to hold them flipped forward, otherwise they flop back, which is a pain when you are letting small humans (my kids) in the back seat.

This is something I hadn't noticed when test driving the 1-series.

Have you been ok with the 1 and kids. It seems half the 135s I see for sale say they are moving to a bigger car for their kids. I'm down to a 135 or 535 wagon and I sure don't want all that extra weight and rear air suspension of the 5.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Octothorp27

Have you been ok with the 1 and kids. It seems half the 135s I see for sale say they are moving to a bigger car for their kids. I'm down to a 135 or 535 wagon and I sure don't want all that extra weight and rear air suspension of the 5.

It's not the main family vehicle, so on the occasions when I have to run them somewhere and my wife is out with the family car, it's been fine. My smallest are out of car seats/boosters, and my biggest sits in the front seat, so it's not as onerous as when they were in traditional car seats.

My previous two cars were an E46 sedan and E46 touring, so I was quite aware that the 135i coupe was going to be less convenient. It was a trade off I was willing to make.

If sold in the US, I definitely would have preferred a 5-door hatchback E87 135i.

[mdputnam]

Consider it a feature not a bug!

If the little rug rats don't fit well in your car Mom's car will be the main transportation hub.

[wadny]

I've noticed that when you pull the lever and flip the seat back forward while sliding the seat forward, if you hold the seat back in the forward position the seat will slide back to where it was. Then you can flip the seat back into its normal position. If you let the seat back flip back before you slide the seat base, it won't slide but will lock where it is. Kinda weird, but it seems to work.

[mdputnam]

I have the solution, from my view you have two problems, you're 6' 5" and have small kids. You need a convertible. One click of the key fob and the top is down for total access in 22 seconds. You can drop the kids into their seats and then get into the car without having to fold yourself into a human origami. Once everyone is in push the button and as the top goes up you drive away.

[MZWIE]

My e46 coupe and 135 seats work almost identically. The e46 were electric but the seat back operated the same way. Grab hanle pull seat back foward. At some pointin travel the seat bottom also goe forward.

The manual seats in the 135 are soooo much better than the eclectric seats in the e46. Infinitely more adjustable than the electric ones.

[Octothorp27]

If I lived in Cali like you a convertible might be an option for year round, but here in Boston throwing the top down in January to put the kids in doesn't work so well.

Fingers crossed for making the 1 work. I think I just need to bring one of the cars seats to a test drive.

[mdputnam]

Originally Posted by Octothorp27

If I lived in Cali like you a convertible might be an option for year round, but here in Boston throwing the top down in January to put the kids in doesn't work so well.

Boston huh.. Let me rephrase my statement. From my point of view you have three problems...

[Dackelone]

Perhaps some pics are in order... my manual seats move forward with the rear seat back locked into position(all the way tolted forward). Or you can tilt the seat partly and the bottom still will slide forward. Have a look...

[Octothorp27]

Thanks Dackelone, that's perfect. While it isn't as easy as an e46 coupe or a four door, it will be good enought for me and the kids. Now since I want an n54 I either need manual sport seats or someone to trade with seats with.

Thanks again everyone.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

... my manual seats move forward with the rear seat back locked into position(all the way tilted forward).

How do you do that? I can't seem to do the same. I could never take that picture of the seat flipped forward unless my hand was holding it.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by jkoral

How do you do that? I can't seem to do the same. I could never take that picture of the seat flipped forward unless my hand was holding it.

First lift up the lever on the outside of the top of the seat, this will allow the back of the seat back to tilt forward. Then tilt the seat back ALL the way forward BEFORE the bottom of the seat starts to move forward. The seat back will "lock" in the forward position as the seat starts to slide forward.

IF you simply tilt the seat forward without the seat back locking full forward position(tilt all the way over!)... the bottom of the seat will still be allowed to slide forward(towards the dash) - just the seat back will not be locked in the full forward position. I guess BMW allows both ways for the seat to slide forward.


Dack

[3liter1]

Originally Posted by jkoral

How do you do that? I can't seem to do the same. I could never take that picture of the seat flipped forward unless my hand was holding it.

that does not seem to work for me either (2009 128 msport)

[tccox]

Thanks Dackelone !!!

Takes a little bit of practice but yep setbacks lock in place just like you said on my 2012 128 with sport manual seats. Makes it a lot easier to access the backseat.