[Otruba_843]

If I'm on a long road trip, I get chronic lower back pain in my E90. I have the non-sport seats with power adjust, heat, and lumbar support. I find myself actually putting on my seat heater to help with the pain a little. Im a 6'3" weigh 160 pounds. I find myself leaning to one side or the other for some relief until it comes back and switch to the other side to lean against the bolster. I hate to sound winey, but lower back pain really kills me on road trips. Any tips to help ease this? I try to put my lumbar support all the way out and low, but it only does so much.

[Kalidian]

See if you can pick up a chair back-cushion for some extra lumbar support



something like that, might help : I think I've seen pharmacies sell them, also office depots and places like that.

[Datsik]

Originally Posted by Kalidian

See if you can pick up a chair back-cushion for some extra lumbar support

That would probably be your best bet besides replacing the entire seat.

[WOT Bimmer]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

If I'm on a long road trip, I get chronic lower back pain in my E90. I have the non-sport seats with power adjust, heat, and lumbar support. I find myself actually putting on my seat heater to help with the pain a little. Im a 6'3" weigh 160 pounds. I find myself leaning to one side or the other for some relief until it comes back and switch to the other side to lean against the bolster. I hate to sound winey, but lower back pain really kills me on road trips. Any tips to help ease this? I try to put my lumbar support all the way out and low, but it only does so much.

I have the same issue. I have tried utilizing the lumbar support, but I feel like that just makes it worse sometimes.

[jaykayelemenohpee]

Just need to find the correct seating position. I've driven cross country twice in 3 days without problems. Great seats.

[ddanj]

maybe you are sitting too upright? your legs too bent at the hips?

[kamek]

I've found that proper lumbar support adjustments and back angles help. When I have my back portion leaning back, it's comfortable for short distances but then begins to hurt my lower back. Having the back portion straighter up is a less comfortable seating position, but it prevents my lower back from hurting.

[jon_335]

I have similar issues. I took the car on a trip from NC to Ohio (about 8.5 hours) and it was terribly uncomfortable. A few weeks later, we rented a minivan for a family trip from NC to NY and it was the most comfortable thing I've been in. I think the seats and seating position play a role, but you also need to consider the suspension setup. My car is quite low and stiff and I feel every bump, which I think leads to some fatigue, unlike the minivan.

[Otruba_843]

Originally Posted by kamek

I've found that proper lumbar support adjustments and back angles help. When I have my back portion leaning back, it's comfortable for short distances but then begins to hurt my lower back. Having the back portion straighter up is a less comfortable seating position, but it prevents my lower back from hurting.

This is probably why. I have really long legs and always tend to set the seat angle back pretty far. It is a lot more comfortable around town which is about 90% of the driving time.

[Atombyte]

Originally Posted by kamek

I've found that proper lumbar support adjustments and back angles help. When I have my back portion leaning back, it's comfortable for short distances but then begins to hurt my lower back. Having the back portion straighter up is a less comfortable seating position, but it prevents my lower back from hurting.

+1. When I did PCD with my last E92, they helped me with my seating position. I'm 6'2", about 240, and they had my seat way far forward and more upright than I would have done. They also had me adjust my mirrors way differently than the way I was taught. It took some getting used to, but it really made a huge difference. I feel a little geekish, but after that, I was able to make the 7+ hour trip to my mother's house without fatigue or back ache that I usually suffer. It also eliminated any blind spots with the mirrors.

[omerfar23]

i have experienced the same thing along with sweating on lower back...

I found minor relieve by adjusting the seat angle.

[Jdub679]

Wow, I was just thinking about this today. Chronic lower back problems here as well. I'm thinking that the angle of the seat bottom at its lowest position may be angled too much at the back end, creating an awkward angle at my hips. I do tend to sit pretty upright as well since I have a manual. I also use a little bit of the lumbar support too.

I'm going to try to raise the seat bottom up more towards the hips side. See if that helps.

[Atombyte]

Originally Posted by Jdub679

Wow, I was just thinking about this today. Chronic lower back problems here as well. I'm thinking that the angle of the seat bottom at its lowest position may be angled too much at the back end, creating an awkward angle at my hips. I do tend to sit pretty upright as well since I have a manual. I also use a little bit of the lumbar support too.

I'm going to try to raise the seat bottom up more towards the hips side. See if that helps.

The problem with the sport seats is they have so many adjustments. Get one of them wrong, and they punish you. If you get everything right, then you have all-day driving comfort. It just takes a while to get your settings dialed in.

[Kalidian]

We humans are fragile and finicky creatures...

[Hybrid For Life]

Maybe its just the non=sport seats? Idk I've driven quite long distnaces from time to time in my car and have never once felt back pain, albeit I have sport seats and shit pretty vertical and close to the wheel. 6'5" 190lbs.

[wilbur_the_goose]

I LOVE my E92 with sport. But I was driving in my colleague's Lexus yesterday - the seats were amazingly comfortable. I've been working for 3 weeks to get my seats just right, and I'm still nothtere

[SHEEDI]

Time to join the Gym

[Otruba_843]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Time to join the Gym

I wish I had time. I do run 4 miles 3-5 times a week. I think I'm going to start doing some lower back strengthening exercises.

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

I wish I had time. I do run 4 miles 3-5 times a week. I think I'm going to start doing some lower back strengthening exercises.

+1 and consider some yoga also

[smallseafishie]

It's all in how you sit and your posture.

No gangster leans. While sitting back, you should be able to naturally place both wrists at 12 o'clock without leaning forward. Your seat should be adjusted so that when you fully depress brakes, there is still a slight bend in your knee. The heel of your foot should be be behind the gas pedal (and not slanted sideways from where the brake pedal). Other foot should be resting on the foot rest.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by smallseafishie

It's all in how you sit and your posture.

No gangster leans. While sitting back, you should be able to naturally place both wrists at 12 o'clock without leaning forward. Your seat should be adjusted so that when you fully depress brakes, there is still a slight bend in your knee. The heel of your foot should be be behind the gas pedal (and not slanted sideways from where the brake pedal). Other foot should be resting on the foot rest.

+1...and strengthen your core muscles. Believe me...I suffer chronic back problems from playing FB through college. I can drive 3 hrs without any pain.

[Jdub679]

Originally Posted by smallseafishie

It's all in how you sit and your posture.

No gangster leans. While sitting back, you should be able to naturally place both wrists at 12 o'clock without leaning forward. Your seat should be adjusted so that when you fully depress brakes, there is still a slight bend in your knee. The heel of your foot should be be behind the gas pedal (and not slanted sideways from where the brake pedal). Other foot should be resting on the foot rest.

I've seen these suggestions a well. They do help, especially with manual. But the one adjustment I can't seem to find info on is the angle of the seat bottom at the hips and the height relative to the pedals.

I did raise my seat bottom today. I noticed that when you press up on the seat bottom adjustment, it's non-linear. The bottom half of the adjustment seems to bring the angle up quite quickly. The top half of the adjustment only brings the overall seat bottom height up without changing the angle of the bottom relative to the floor too much.

Also, I do go to the gym (except when I've hurt my back). Core muscle exercises are great, esp side crunches and lower back extensions.