Active seat ventilation

[semaj]

I don't need I-Drive or the Premium Package. Just give me the Sport Package and Active seat ventilation!

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ntilation.html

I wish BMW NA would offer this as an option for us. Us desert climate people don't need heated seats, but air conditioned ones!

Anyone else agree with me?

[alex2364]

No, this isn't a 5-Series. And there is no way BMW NA would offer this when BMW AG doesn't offer it.

[///MG]

From experience with an E500... it is BARELY noticeable.

MB, similarly, uses multiple small fans to force air through the perforated leather. Unfortunately no one figured that a persons body increases the external static pressure through the perforated openings to the point that the air velocity is minimized to nearly 0... and therefore no cooling effect.

There is an infintely more effective, yet complex way of cooling the seat. Haven't seen any automaker attempt to put a refrig. circuit (air-cooled of course) with rejection to the undercarriage.

Pricing would be through the roof for this option, but it is more than feasible and it would be incredibly effective.

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

I think the airscarf thing like a SLK can have would be a neat gimmick.

[redwood]

If it works, I'd be all for it. I've never tried one of the other cars that come with it. I don't care about heated seats, but I'd pay good money for cooled ones.

[mikey]

Originally Posted by grg

From experience with an E500... it is BARELY noticeable.

MB, similarly, uses multiple small fans to force air through the perforated leather. Unfortunately no one figured that a persons body increases the external static pressure through the perforated openings to the point that the air velocity is minimized to nearly 0... and therefore no cooling effect.

There is an infintely more effective, yet complex way of cooling the seat. Haven't seen any automaker attempt to put a refrig. circuit (air-cooled of course) with rejection to the undercarriage.

Pricing would be through the roof for this option, but it is more than feasible and it would be incredibly effective.

I think the idea of it is not that it acts as an air conditioner, but instead it uses the perforations as a way to circulate the air that you are "sitting" on to prevent getting an unpleasantly sweaty back. Although it's a cool idea, I think it is a level of cosseting above and beyond the 1er image.

[semaj]

Yes, Active seat ventilation is a luxury feature not really suited for the 1er crowd; however, if you think about it from a purely functional standpoint, it is a great idea.

One of my biggest peeves of driving in hot summer weather is the sweaty back one gets after driving. How great would it be to have that problem eliminated? If BMW would offer cloth seats I wouldn't mind, but they don't.

Cold weather package? Us Californians don't need heated seats. BMW NA should give us a hot weather package--with air ventilated seats and a BMW brand collapsible sun visor for our windshields. That would be awesome.

[ChrisK]

My wife has ventilated seats on her Lexus, and you can't even feel them most of the time. A Waste IMO.

[///MG]

Originally Posted by mikey

I think the idea of it is not that it acts as an air conditioner, but instead it uses the perforations as a way to circulate the air that you are "sitting" on to prevent getting an unpleasantly sweaty back. Although it's a cool idea, I think it is a level of cosseting above and beyond the 1er image.

That was my point in my first thread... it DOES NOT circulate air. Imagine a 1" tube with air blowing through it. Put that in front of your face on a hot sweaty day it would feel great. Now imagine that on the discharge side you cover it with your hand completely. Too much static develops from the loss of free area, and your terminal face velocity decreases almost completely. Hence, the loss of circulation. This is what happens when a uman body completely covers nearly 100% of the tiny perforated opening in the leather.

[AMB]

This all would be resolved by simply giving US (as in the U.S.) the same Cloth options found overseas. :mad:

[Fast Kiwi]

it does work nicely in the 5 but BMW would never do it.. there trying to bring costs down not drive em up

[MastaMind]

Originally Posted by AMB

This all would be resolved by simply giving US (as in the U.S.) the same Cloth options found overseas. :mad:

Amen to that. I just want some grippy, cool cloth seats. If BMW feels that it MUST have leather to uphold its image, then at least allow cloth seats with leather bolsters. It's called compromise....

[blacknbean]

id take lightweight cloth seats over gadget seats with motors and fans anyday...

[BForbes]

The a/c seats in the 08 Escalades are AMAZING!