How many have got the active seat option ? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Black M5 · 4th February 2006, 08:44

Sorry but im late to hear about this option but what i heard about it upto now is thats it amazing. I might have missed threads about it but sure would love you guys to talk about it. Also might be a convincing thread for those who didnt think it was important

jfenley · 4th February 2006, 10:18

I love the adjustable side bolsters, but I don't really think the active bolsters are so necessary. I find that I normally leave the active turned off and just set the bolsters almost all the way in to hold me firmly. The thing about when 'active' is turned on I don't like is that it releases the bolsters to the full open position when you are in a straightaway. They also seem to inflate on very minor turns when you don't need them to. For that reason, I prefer to leave my bolsters in a fixed position, about 75% in.

catdog · 4th February 2006, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfenley

I love the adjustable side bolsters, but I don't really think the active bolsters are so necessary. I find that I normally leave the active turned off and just set the bolsters almost all the way in to hold me firmly. The thing about when 'active' is turned on I don't like is that it releases the bolsters to the full open position when you are in a straightaway. They also seem to inflate on very minor turns when you don't need them to. For that reason, I prefer to leave my bolsters in a fixed position, about 75% in.

Fully agree, have not used the active feature since first getting car. I do the same, have them set manually at 75% in and go up to 90% in when going in banzai mode...

Ashok Arora · 4th February 2006, 11:38

Totally pointless for daily driving, but get the car onto some nice twisty mountain roads and they're surprisingly useful

nomis · 4th February 2006, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashok Arora

Totally pointless for daily driving, but get the car onto some nice twisty mountain roads and they're surprisingly useful

Got them Love them Agree with Ashok mostly however, I will put them on level 1 (lowest) for semi town driving My wife also loves them and calls them 'touchy feely seats' http://www.m5board.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

http://www.m5board.com/ubb/smile.gif

basil · 4th February 2006, 12:21

With spirited driving, I too often elect to turn off the active seat and manually set the side bolsters to around 75% of max. It's distracting to be anticipating the squeeze when coming hot into a corner, wishing I was already secured in the seat and wondering if one or both sides will deploy. I also feel loose in the seat when the bolsters relax after exiting and at that point I usually turn off the auto setting and squeeze myself in manually to a fixed position.

The active seats can be nice when just driving casually and coming upon the occasional opportunity to pick up the pace for a moment or coming upon a tight curve. The two lower settings work well for this.

Warp travel aside, I've begun to become less conscious of the sides of the seat puffing up on one side or the other as I drive in and out of traffic. It will be interesting to read opinions about active seats as we drivers put more time in the active seat.

A nice software tweak would be for the seats to relax with a more gradual release of air so the sensation wouldn't be as sudden and abrupt, and thus, distracting.

DazzaM · 4th February 2006, 14:30

I've ordered these on my M5 after a very quick play with the ones on the demo car, are the motors what move the bolsters quiet or can you hear them working?

rodman31 · 4th February 2006, 15:49

Everyday driving I see no need for them, until my Mom was riding in the car! She has a bad back and does not like to be tossed around, soooo intiate the active seats and "presto" she is happy and loving it!!!

While I was doing track time down at the Performance Center I used them the whole time and they were an excellent resource for the turns and surpentine!

Robert

12Special · 4th February 2006, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzaM

are the motors what move the bolsters quiet or can you hear them working?

They're pretty quiet - I think. If you're driving such that they are activating, you tend to be listening to the V10 orchestra.

Ronny · 5th February 2006, 16:57

I do have the actieve seats but don't use them for routine driving. I have the side bolsters fairly firm as I like the feeling of sitting firm in the seat. The multifunctional seats have a slightly different design than the others and offer more functions. You will have on both front seats the memory function and it allows you to adjust the back support of your seat. I think if you are driving your M5 at the limit the active seats will give that extra support which will make driving more comfortable.