BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

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      02-25-2009, 06:44 PM   #1
Choclove23
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My car gives me a headache!

Yes, you heard. Everytime I drive my car for any length of time I end up getting a headache. I believe it's because of the headrest.

I have the leather(ette?) sports seats and, I don't know if everyone knows this, the headrest design pushes the head forward compared to the angle of the seat-back. I think this forces my neck forward and causes the headaches.

I usually drive like an old man (with the seat almost vertical) and I'm used to having a 1 piece racing/bucket seat (which saved my neck in a car crash last year). This was almost like the $4000 BMW racing seats.

Does anyone else have this drama? Does anyone have a solution? Is there a way to change the headrest (the ones in the back won't fit)? I'd like a straight line from my head to my back.
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      02-25-2009, 06:55 PM   #2
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Not discounting the headrest theory, but there are some other threads on this forum about other people getting headaches from their 1'ers.
This I think was put down to glue fumes or something?????????
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      02-25-2009, 07:20 PM   #3
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It's because of the chemicals that are used to make the leatherette. It's been discussed a lot here and all over the Internet... I feel for ya, man - I get regular sinus headaches and couldn't bare it if I knew my car was going to cause them too!
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      02-25-2009, 08:06 PM   #4
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Didnt even know that BMW delivered 1er's with leatherette in Australia..
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      02-25-2009, 09:46 PM   #5
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Me too Zuzu

Is not Boston Leather (real leather). BMW should say it's Leatherette if it's so. I bought Black Boston as described off the BMW Aus web site, so it had better be real leather.
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      02-25-2009, 09:51 PM   #6
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The cars delivered in Oz all have leather interiors standard..

I just didnt realise that "leatherette" was an option here..
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      02-25-2009, 10:18 PM   #7
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Choclove, nothing a good racing seat won't cure! I am like you, I like sitting like an old man. That is how you sit when you are on the track and I am used to that position. I suggest you go for something like Sparco (or Cobra which I find better as you sit in instead of sit on) one piece seat. They aren't that dear, about $1k and then a few hundred for the railings. BMW Performance ones are different. They are 2 piece seat that tilts forward like any other seat. BMW Performance seats are also Recaros and they are a bit more expensive.
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      02-25-2009, 10:26 PM   #8
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I agree Joe, Cannot find Leatherette anywhere as an option on Build Your BMW, so that discounts ChocLove23's being affected by Leatherette chemicals. Must be something else though I'm at a loss to know anything else it could be. Maybe the rust preventative dip solution under the car.
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      02-25-2009, 10:29 PM   #9
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Will you guys stop referring to the way I'm assumed to be sitting in the car.
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      02-25-2009, 11:35 PM   #10
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Nah, I'm pretty sure it's not chemicals because the headache is a result of a sore neck and traps (muscle/nerves/strain). Thus, I concluded that it was due to having my head pushed forward; i.e. the headrest. And it always happens after driving this car (not my wifes).

As for the leather, I don't know if is leather or leatherette. I assumed it was leather at first; however, my wife works with leather furniture and says that if it is leather, then it is one of the cheaper harder layers of cow, not the nice soft Natuzzi stuff.

I thought replacing the seats with buckets would affect my warranty (definitely the resale). Plus, I' like the idea of built-in airbags. I do like the Recaros though, they're like my old seats.
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      02-25-2009, 11:41 PM   #11
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Maybe as a test (not sure if it'd work), put the headrest on back to front. See if it makes a difference? BTW, I wouldn't recommend removing it altogether though!
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      02-25-2009, 11:46 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldman View Post
Will you guys stop referring to the way I'm assumed to be sitting in the car.
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      02-25-2009, 11:52 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Choclove23 View Post
Nah, I'm pretty sure it's not chemicals because the headache is a result of a sore neck and traps (muscle/nerves/strain). Thus, I concluded that it was due to having my head pushed forward; i.e. the headrest. And it always happens after driving this car (not my wifes).

As for the leather, I don't know if is leather or leatherette. I assumed it was leather at first; however, my wife works with leather furniture and says that if it is leather, then it is one of the cheaper harder layers of cow, not the nice soft Natuzzi stuff.

I thought replacing the seats with buckets would affect my warranty (definitely the resale). Plus, I' like the idea of built-in airbags. I do like the Recaros though, they're like my old seats.
Those seats you had are still 2 piece seats and are no different to factory seats in many ways (other than hugging you better). One piece seats are like these.


I do know what you are talking about in terms of getting a headache with the 1 series seats. I too feel uncomfortable when driving the car with a helmet on. The head rest is just too far forward. The first time I took the car to the track, I also had a headache from it. Because of this, I have to drive with the seat leaning at an angle more than I would like when I have my helmet on. But i have no choice until I get my race seats.
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      02-26-2009, 12:11 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sprey View Post
Maybe as a test (not sure if it'd work), put the headrest on back to front. See if it makes a difference? BTW, I wouldn't recommend removing it altogether though!
Tried that. They won't actually go in backwards. The 'legs' are curved forwards, so don't fit.
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      02-26-2009, 12:23 AM   #15
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Can it be swapped with the rear ones? You may already have tried this one too!
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      02-26-2009, 12:26 AM   #16
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so leatherette isn't even an option on the 120i? I know 125i and 135i have standard boston leather
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      02-26-2009, 02:19 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sprey View Post
Can it be swapped with the rear ones? You may already have tried this one too!
The rear ones have a narrower gap between the 'legs'.

Quote:
so leatherette isn't even an option on the 120i? I know 125i and 135i have standard boston leather
Mine is Boston Leather, but like I said, how good the leather is is another story...
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      02-26-2009, 03:11 PM   #18
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D'oh!
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      02-26-2009, 06:07 PM   #19
Choclove23
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Actually, I think I sorted it now. I went back last night and turned it around and used the 'brute force' approach. I jammed it in backwards pretty good; I'm not sure I'll ever get the headrest out again, but it seems to line up nice and straight.

Thanks everyone.
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      02-27-2009, 02:12 AM   #20
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I can't vouch for the 135 but the other 1 series cars ALL have leatherette. It's not an option, you ask for leather interior and you get 98% leatherette. The only real leather is a strip down the sides of the front seats, the arm rests on the doors and i forget whats real leather in the back. The bulk of the seats is leatherette... and yes we were mighty pissed off when we found out after ordering Boston Leather interior. Biggest give away is they aren't porous like leather, if you try to use leather cleaner or conditioner on the leatherette parts it doesn't soak in at all.
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      02-27-2009, 03:29 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRMAT View Post
I can't vouch for the 135 but the other 1 series cars ALL have leatherette. It's not an option, you ask for leather interior and you get 98% leatherette. The only real leather is a strip down the sides of the front seats, the arm rests on the doors and i forget whats real leather in the back. The bulk of the seats is leatherette... and yes we were mighty pissed off when we found out after ordering Boston Leather interior. Biggest give away is they aren't porous like leather, if you try to use leather cleaner or conditioner on the leatherette parts it doesn't soak in at all.
Now if this is try, is in not against some law, like a consumer law, fails advertising etc?
That being the case does every 1er owner have the right to sue for real leather?
I'm going to check my quote and sales info to see what is says.
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      03-01-2009, 10:10 PM   #22
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As i said i can't recall what the 135/125s have from when i looked at one but its definiteyl the case in the 120s. We never really thought about it until we had Final Inspection do a detail on it from new and Damian called me up to tell me something was up with the seats, checked with a friend of his who works for BMW and he confirmed it.
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