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Test drove the 2024 GLE 450, and while I love it, and found it very comfortable, it’s too tight of a fit in my narrow garage. There’s a 2023 E450 wagon nearby for a great price, has most (not all) of the features I want, but after 3 test drives, I can’t get the seat quite right. I’m 5’ 4”, 118 lbs, with short legs, and the seat back is so uncomfortable, no matter how much I play with positioning and lumbar. Give it up, or keep trying?
Perhaps the nappa leather and regular leather on the E class sedan makes a difference?
Being comfortable in a seat -- and seat -- is about all the things everyone said here, but it's also as much about one's "body" (yes, height, weight, etc.). However, it's also about actual and specific build, "shape" and weight distribution, allocation, depth, broadness, and more, how the body settles and sits in the seat, posture, etc. Yes, "core" also has a lot to do with it. I've seen people "fatter" than me, and they can fit into a booth at a restaurant -- but I can't! I've seen people "fatter" than me sit no problem on a plane -- yet I need the extender. There is so much at play here.
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
2023 E450. Seats are hard and flat. Most uncomfortable I have ever had. Then realized I just lost 25 lbs, thsnks to zapbound, and butt is mostly bones now. Back to working out at gym. I have tried three portable cushions and two of them work well. The best is a thin, 1 or 2 inch, gel pad. Good luck!
I have a 2022 E450 and love the seats although I have to take my wallet out of my pocket. One thing I can suggest when on long drives is to move the seats around occasionally, especially the lumbar.
2023 E450. Seats are hard and flat. Most uncomfortable I have ever had. Then realized I just lost 25 lbs, thsnks to zapbound, and butt is mostly bones now. Back to working out at gym. I have tried three portable cushions and two of them work well. The best is a thin, 1 or 2 inch, gel pad. Good luck!
Do you mean Eli Lilly's new drug, Zepbound? If you don't mind me asking -- how long have you been on it? How did it go? Congratulations and all the best!!!
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
Yes on min dose since November. Miracle drug. Hate taking it every week bcs I am sick for a day or two. Have ten more lbs to go, or until my seat becomes more comfortable 🤔 lol.
Yes on min dose since November. Miracle drug. Hate taking it every week bcs I am sick for a day or two. Have ten more lbs to go, or until my seat becomes more comfortable 🤔 lol.
LOL...sorry to hear about the being sick. The first time I took Ozempic, for the next 48 hours, I thought I had norovirus and/or I was dying! Good luck getting that seat to be more comfortable!!!
We love the car. It's been great. The issue has been on long trips, around 8 hours or more (Montana to San Francisco), to visit family. I get discomfort on the tailbone. I am a long-time serious bicycle racer, and although I am now old, I ride a lot of miles. I probably could work on flexibility.
I purchased a cushion from cushion labs, and I will report back after we try it. Planning to run down the Pacific Coast Highway this summer.
We love the car. It's been great. The issue has been on long trips, around 8 hours or more (Montana to San Francisco), to visit family. I get discomfort on the tailbone. I am a long-time serious bicycle racer, and although I am now old, I ride a lot of miles. I probably could work on flexibility.
I purchased a cushion from cushion labs, and I will report back after we try it. Planning to run down the Pacific Coast Highway this summer.
My one issue with seating in the W213 is that the driver side mirror is massive and seemingly placed higher up than my old 211. I like to sit very low and reclined in my seat. But I had to raise it to be eye-level with the top of the gauge cluster in order to see what's behind my mirror.
The massage function of my E43 seats helped my back significantly on my 5hr drive home. Perhaps you would want to test and retrofit the feature in your car?
Last edited by sidnotgod; Apr 23, 2025 at 08:04 PM.
My one issue with seating in the W213 is that the driver side mirror is massive and seemingly placed higher up than my old 211. I like to sit very low and reclined in my seat. But I had to raise it to be eye-level with the top of the gauge cluster in order to see what's behind my mirror.
The massage function of my E43 seats helped my back significantly on my 5hr drive home. Perhaps you would want to test and retrofit the feature in your car?
Yeah retrofit the massage feature. I took a look at the ordering guide and am not sure if massage is a standard feature or not. But it may be worth testing out on a dealership car and retrofitting -- if the ROI is high enough. I have an excellent back but the wave and active massage settings on a long trip are unbeatable.
Yeah retrofit the massage feature. I took a look at the ordering guide and am not sure if massage is a standard feature or not. But it may be worth testing out on a dealership car and retrofitting -- if the ROI is high enough. I have an excellent back but the wave and active massage settings on a long trip are unbeatable.
I have 2025 with the multi-countour seats that have massage capability. They are amazing on long trips. You still start to feel it after about 8 hours, but very comfortable. Combine that with the seat kenetics and it makes for an even more comfortable ride.
Yeah retrofit the massage feature. I took a look at the ordering guide and am not sure if massage is a standard feature or not. But it may be worth testing out on a dealership car and retrofitting -- if the ROI is high enough. I have an excellent back but the wave and active massage settings on a long trip are unbeatable.
I see, sounds like it might indeed be cost prohibitive. Massage was never standard on the W213 not sure for the W214, they have to bundle it into other packages.
I have 2025 with the multi-countour seats that have massage capability. They are amazing on long trips. You still start to feel it after about 8 hours, but very comfortable. Combine that with the seat kenetics and it makes for an even more comfortable ride.
Glad to hear that, forum member streamliner said he didn't like the massage of the W223 S-Class and liked it much more in his new bmw. I am curious how good the E class one is if the S-Class is as inferior as he said? That said, since the W214 is newer than W223, it is possible they improved it despite being an E vs S comparison.
Glad to hear that, forum member streamliner said he didn't like the massage of the W223 S-Class and liked it much more in his new bmw. I am curious how good the E class one is if the S-Class is as inferior as he said? That said, since the W214 is newer than W223, it is possible they improved it despite being an E vs S comparison.
IMHO it's definitely something that, even when working perfectly, some may not like. It's different than a standalone massage chair with rollers, vibrating motor pads, etc., but solely uses air bags. I myself don't use it until I'm on a smooth and thoughtless stretch of road, otherwise I personally find it annoying and distracting. My friends however want it on always.
Side note: I understand that ventilated seats are different from cooled seats, but MB has had at least 20 years now to hone it in. From my w211 to my 213 I found no difference in added comfort. In my 213, the feature on its high setting vibrates the seat more than it provides any sweat relief or cooling sensation. It seems like MB knew this considering the feature pauses itself going less than ~5MPH presumably so that you don't notice it vibrating you. My 211 never did that. Crazy.
IMHO it's definitely something that, even when working perfectly, some may not like. It's different than a standalone massage chair with rollers, vibrating motor pads, etc., but solely uses air bags. I myself don't use it until I'm on a smooth and thoughtless stretch of road, otherwise I personally find it annoying and distracting. My friends however want it on always.
Side note: I understand that ventilated seats are different from cooled seats, but MB has had at least 20 years now to hone it in. From my w211 to my 213 I found no difference in added comfort. In my 213, the feature on its high setting vibrates the seat more than it provides any sweat relief or cooling sensation. It seems like MB knew this considering the feature pauses itself going less than ~5MPH presumably so that you don't notice it vibrating you. My 211 never did that. Crazy.
There are some differences in the new W214 based on your description. The W214 has vibration and air bags for the massage function. I like it and use it all the time, but like you said, some do not. My adult son does not like it and said it feels weird. My elderly 90yo father also did not like it. My wife and adult daughter love it.
The ventilated seats in the W214 do not behave this way so maybe that was fixed. It's still not cooled air, but it's fairly silent and does not vibrate the seat at all. If you lean forward you can hear the air flow, but thats it. It works when parked and at any speed. I use it all the time when it's hot.
IMHO it's definitely something that, even when working perfectly, some may not like. It's different than a standalone massage chair with rollers, vibrating motor pads, etc., but solely uses air bags. I myself don't use it until I'm on a smooth and thoughtless stretch of road, otherwise I personally find it annoying and distracting. My friends however want it on always.
Side note: I understand that ventilated seats are different from cooled seats, but MB has had at least 20 years now to hone it in. From my w211 to my 213 I found no difference in added comfort. In my 213, the feature on its high setting vibrates the seat more than it provides any sweat relief or cooling sensation. It seems like MB knew this considering the feature pauses itself going less than ~5MPH presumably so that you don't notice it vibrating you. My 211 never did that. Crazy.
Originally Posted by L1Wolf
There are some differences in the new W214 based on your description. The W214 has vibration and air bags for the massage function. I like it and use it all the time, but like you said, some do not. My adult son does not like it and said it feels weird. My elderly 90yo father also did not like it. My wife and adult daughter love it.
The ventilated seats in the W214 do not behave this way so maybe that was fixed. It's still not cooled air, but it's fairly silent and does not vibrate the seat at all. If you lean forward you can hear the air flow, but thats it. It works when parked and at any speed. I use it all the time when it's hot.
Wait so bmw on the other hand doesn't just use airbags? I know nothing about MB's competitors, admittedly. I am "brain-washed" by MB, if you will.
Wait so bmw on the other hand doesn't just use airbags? I know nothing about MB's competitors, admittedly. I am "brain-washed" by MB, if you will.
I’m not 100% sure but I believe most manufacturers including BMW just use inflating/deflating air bags. And maybe vibration as well. What I meant by “standalone” massage chairs are the ones you can purchase and set up in your house. They have rolling motors in the back, along with vibrating pads, air bags, and all the works.
I’m not 100% sure but I believe most manufacturers including BMW just use inflating/deflating air bags. And maybe vibration as well. What I meant by “standalone” massage chairs are the ones you can purchase and set up in your house. They have rolling motors in the back, along with vibrating pads, air bags, and all the works.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
