STKLAW

Is there any way the dealer can change settings so the seats get cooler or more air circulation. I feel it but on a hot day would like more cooling.

bmw2mb

i have not heard of any adjustment...sometimes i feel the high position too much but we are just hitting 90+ degrees...so we'll see the next month.

jhb

I have three positions on my active ventilated seats. They have seemed quite adequate even on hot Florida days. Perhaps you might have the dealer verify that yours are working properly. Jeff

STKLAW

Do you actually feel air coming through the seat? Mine just gets the seat a little cool but I feel VERY little air.

bmw2mb

mine are working fine and i too feel very little air. you are not suppose to feel air coming through the seats. the fans are suppose to pull cooler air to/within the seats.

you may want to test to see if setting 1,2 and 3 are working properly. with the engine off and ignition on, you can barely hear the fans working. try setting 1 then 2 and then 3 to see if each setting is louder than the first. it's my understanding that there are a serious of fans that operate according to each settings. for example, fans 1-3 on setting 1, 1-6 on setting 2 and 1-10 on setting 3. the fans operate at one speed regardless of the setting. it's a matter of how many fans are 'on' or 'off'.

STKLAW

Thanks for the info. I will do that test and see what I come up with.

jhb

I can just barely feel the air (as a slightly cool sensation rather than a rush of air) if I am wearing light wool slacks but not at all if I am wearing cotton or thicker wool slacks. It does not "cool" me. It prevents perspiration from contact with the leather that occurs more readily without the active ventilated seats. I am quite satisfied with the value of this option.

If yours do not produce this benefit, you should have the dealer check out whether they are performing properly.

Jeff

RichardM

I've driven a Lexus LS430 and in that you could really feel the cold air coming up through the seat.

schvetkaaks

It doesn't blow air, it is a vacuum, pulling the hot air out the back of your seat - see the vents on the back of the front seats?

jhb

Here is what MBUSA says about the Active Ventilated Seats option on the Build Your Own pages:

"Inside each seat are ten miniature fans which draw cooling air from underneath the seat through perforations in the leather seating surface. Three stages of cooling help to keep you more comfortable on warm days. Includes heating feature."

Thus, this is not a vacuum function. It is very pleasing to use. I use these every day now that it is summer in South Florida. What a relief from perspiration that normally accompanies driving in this weather. In winter (or when coming from golf, etc.) the heating function is equally great.

Jeff

skymast

Just the 3 position setting.

rhahn

I had AVS in my previous E430 and in that car I actually noticed air coming out of the seat and the seats were noticeably cooler. Being that this is not my first car (or Mercedes at that) with AVS I think MBZ just goofed and these new E's seats were poorly designed.

jhb

The seats are noticeably cooler. Whether you can "feel" the air coming through the seats is a matter of interpretation. I believe I can "feel" the air in the sense of a "cool" sensation. But, I cannot feel a movement, per se, of air like one can with a ceiling fan, etc.

So, I do not think there is any mistake by MB on these. I am not sure about the engineering. I would find feeling a rush of air annoying. I just want the cool (or warm) sensation and I get it.

Jeff