[X6ix GTA]

Originally Posted by LuckyBrand

I know this is an older thread but looking for more feedback on seat comfort from anyone that's had both ventilated and non-ventilated. Wife and I are really mixed on adding these mainly due to decrease in seat comfort. Especially on longer runs. It's a cheap option but if the seats aren't as comfortable than that's a moot point. Thanks!

TB is right, you really have to try the seats your self. That being said, I like the utility of the ventilated seats but I find the seats are not comfortable enough for my liking. I had asked my sales guy to delete the ventilated seats at the time of ordering but he dropped the ball on it. Next time around, I will make sure the car doesn't have ventilated seats.

[E91toG05]

The ventilation feature is so much worse than proper ones that blow cold air on you. Our other car is a Kia Telluride and the seat ventilation execution in that car is far superior. Other things clearly better in the X5 but the BMW seat ventilation does stink. I don’t understand what they were thinking.

[LuckyBrand]

Thanks for the responses. After doing some more research regarding seat comfort with ventilated and also massage we will skip both options. We are looking for the most plush seat so not getting anything extra in the seat would make the most sense for us!

[jad03060]

Every leather seat that I’ve owned that didn’t have ventilation, on a long trip I would tend to end up being damp at the end. Leather just doesn’t breathe all that much. Seats, at least leather (and probably vinyl, too) always end up with me feeling damp at the end, especially if it’s a hot humid day and you get in already a little damp…with a long enough trip, it dries you off, too. As has been said previously, the air direction is INTO the seat, so it’s pulling hopefully conditioned air past you, absorbing some sweat in the process. It is not blowing cold air up your ass, which, over time, can be uncomfortable IMHO. German seats tend to rely on shape more than being plush, but at least with the comfort seats, it can take a long time to get them adjusted perfectly for your shape and preferences…luckily, they have memory functions. The foam in a seat tends to break down over time, so what might be plush at the beginning, may no longer be the same after a few years, and especially if you tend to keep yours after the warranty, become an issue.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Every leather seat that I’ve owned that didn’t have ventilation, on a long trip I would tend to end up being damp at the end. Leather just doesn’t breathe all that much. Seats, at least leather (and probably vinyl, too) always end up with me feeling damp at the end, especially if it’s a hot humid day and you get in already a little damp…with a long enough trip, it dries you off, too. As has been said previously, the air direction is INTO the seat, so it’s pulling hopefully conditioned air past you, absorbing some sweat in the process. It is not blowing cold air up your ass, which, over time, can be uncomfortable IMHO. German seats tend to rely on shape more than being plush, but at least with the comfort seats, it can take a long time to get them adjusted perfectly for your shape and preferences…luckily, they have memory functions. The foam in a seat tends to break down over time, so what might be plush at the beginning, may no longer be the same after a few years, and especially if you tend to keep yours after the warranty, become an issue.

"Blowing smoke up your a$$". Now we're talking politics!

[Cityman]

I enjoy the ventilated seats and think they work just fine, especially once the cabin cools off. They really work well to keep your back from sweating on long road trips. My merino leather seats seem plenty comfortable, and they even have massagers as well.

[FastMarkA]

I have the ventilated seats and like them.

If I were ordering a new X5, I'd order them.

If I found a car on a lot and its build fit all of my requirements except having ventilated seats, I'd still get it.

Ventilated seats are not a deal breaker for me, but I do enjoy them.

[X5MC4ME]

I live in a hot climate and won't buy a car without them. I find the BMWs ventilated seats to be as effective as those in my Porsches or former acura. No complaints although apparently there are better ones available.

X

[LuckyBrand]

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

I have the ventilated seats and like them.

If I were ordering a new X5, I'd order them.

If I found a car on a lot and its build fit all of my requirements except having ventilated seats, I'd still get it.

Ventilated seats are not a deal breaker for me, but I do enjoy them.

Originally Posted by X5MC4ME

I live in a hot climate and won't buy a car without them. I find the BMWs ventilated seats to be as effective as those in my Porsches or former acura. No complaints although apparently there are better ones available.

X

Do you guys have the massage function as well or just ventilated? If just ventilated, have you sat in both merino seats with and without ventilated and did you notice any difference in seat comfort? We sat in 2 cars with both ventilated and massage and found the seats to be firmer and not as comfortable. We haven't been able to find merino with just ventilated.

[X5MC4ME]

I did test drive an X5 without the ventilated seats and didn’t notice much difference (it had the comfort seats and my X5M has the sport seats). I find the sport seats to be the most comfortable I have ever owned - tremendously plush and adjustable.


As for the massage function I have it but think it’s barely passable. I can barely feel it working.

X

[jad03060]

The longest single day I’ve had in my X5 was about 650-miles, so over half of a day with a few short breaks along the way. I used the ventilation and massage nearly the entire time. I was not stiff or damp at the end. Note, the massage feature is more to help prevent blood clots from sitting for a long time…not like what you might get from a masseuse in a deep tissue massage. If you expect that, you may be disappointed.

IMHO, the goal of both those options are to help you stay more alert on your trip, and in the winter, the heated seats help in the same manner. In a couple of SAABs I had a long time ago, the heated seats came on automatically when the cabin temperature was below a certain point and you couldn’t turn them off…their thought was shivering did not combine with safe driving.

With these vehicles, you’re accepting the engineers’ and marketing people’s thoughts on what is ‘right’. You may not agree with it, but it seems if you want the vehicle, you need to accept their decisions or not buy it.

[BeEmVee]

I run warm and have never had a sticky back on my merino leather seats. After being disappointed with the ventilated seats in my Cayenne (one motor broke and the air does not blow cold just like with the X5) I knew I would skip this option when moving to BMW. I also read somewhere that the ventilated seat centers do not use merino leather even if you option merino due to wear and tear concerns.

[BartThrob]

Originally Posted by DrPartagas

Compare and Contrast --- For those who purchased this option, do they make a significant improvement, minor improvement, or not much of a positive difference as you drive your vehicle? Some of you may have driven ventilated and non-ventilated seats in the past. Was the ventilated seat option worth it to you now that you have used it for a while or not?

I think they're terrible. It's the #1 thing about the car (and probably the only) that I dislike. I've written about this: Post #341: https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...982745&page=16

[BruinMan]

I have the merino leather, comfort, vents and massage seats.
Are the ventilated seats great - No. Are they below average - Yes.
If you are coming from a work-out, you can feel them and they are great. If you have a long drive, you shouldn’t have a sticky back.
They do make noise, best to play music or sports talk.
Sometimes, I can’t feel them. Could be the type of clothes you wear - probably.

I will say this, better to have them and not. BMW should provide better, but I will always add this option.

FWIW. The massage seats are great. It is a good feeling on the back and so many settings. Not sure why they get a bad wrap here.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by BruinMan

I have the merino leather, comfort, vents and massage seats.
Are the ventilated seats great - No. Are they below average - Yes.
If you are coming from a work-out, you can feel them and they are great. If you have a long drive, you shouldn’t have a sticky back.
They do make noise, best to play music or sports talk.
Sometimes, I can’t feel them. Could be the type of clothes you wear - probably.

I will say this, better to have them and not. BMW should provide better, but I will always add this option.

FWIW. The massage seats are great. It is a good feeling on the back and so many settings. Not sure why they get a bad wrap here.

Perfectly said. Could not agree more. Better to have them than not.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Perfectly said. Could not agree more. Better to have them than not.

IMO the ventilated seats work as intended and I like them. The massaging seats are meh and not worth the $1k I paid for them. My wife's only request when I ordered was massaging seats and I'm smart enough to know which battles to choose. The answer is None!

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by LDT

IMO the ventilated seats work as intended and I like them. The massaging seats are meh and not worth the $1k I paid for them. My wife's only request when I ordered was massaging seats and I'm smart enough to know which battles to choose. The answer is None!

I’ve got bad back - 2 herniated lower lumbar discs. It’s another one of those something is better than nothing and I wish I had them!

[Blu-Byou]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

What others think really won't help you as it seems to be like deciding on a color. We have them and the seats are very comfortable. My wife says we should never get another road trip vehicle without the massage seats.

"My wife says we should never get another road trip vehicle without the massage"

I think thats your job to do no??

[Cityman]

I would not hesitate one bit to spend this money again for both ventilated and massaging seats. Sure, they are an “unnecessary luxury”, but why not if you’re already prepared to pay over $100k for a new vehicle? I don’t regret any of the options I paid for, especially the v8. Life is short folks; enjoy every minute of it!

[BlkGS]

I've got a spread of vehicles with and without ventilated seats. The seats in our Expedition blow "cold" air at you, and they don't work as well as preventing what we down here in FL affectionately call "swamp ass". They do a better job cooling you down if you're hot, however. On a long drive, I'd rather have the BMW ones.

That said, what works better than either is the very breathable alcantara inserts in my other cars. When you have that, you don't really NEED the cooled seats. Alcantara is also a nightmare situation with young kids, so leather with ventilated seats is a very preferable alternative.

Love the massage seats. Heated seat plus lower back massage on the way to work... Makes spending this much money worth it, lol.

[bp1203]

Compared to my Q7, the vented seats stink in this car.

[Opie55]

I can't speak directly to this car, but I would always order the ventilated seats for one reason - I think the perforated leather looks so much better. If these have perforations no matter what, then that's a different issue. But on my 650 and my MB before that, I found the actual feature to be pretty useless.