Destination Unk

I just purchased a 2002 S430 a couple of months ago, and a few freinds have made comments that a top end luxury car has front seats that are hard as a rock. I sit for 12 hours a day in a Crown Vic which are nice and thick and sodft and when I get into my S430 I feel like im sitting a wood bench. Is it me or do these cars just have a very hard seat. I think because I think about it so much I could just be over critical at this point.

Let me know what your seats feel like. Thanks.

bamberger_1

Any European luxury car seat (except Citroen from France) cannot be compared with the typical plushy American luxury seating. Those European seats are made for +120mph autobahn racing and need to be firmer.

pmb600

Mercedes is known for having firm seats which are better for your back and body in the long run. The Germans do everything for a reason.

02S430

I read in motortrend that they make the Crown Vic extra comfortable for cops because they spend a great deal of there tour sitting and getting out and getting back in etc, that could be why you feel the difference. And the article was comparing the 3 most popular police cars, Crown Vic, Impala, and the new Charger.

pmb600

Yeah haven't trained myself to spot the Charger police cars yet, but they are starting to get them out here. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them.

02S430

yea here the highway patrol have them and even a few black unmarked ones, cant even see all the antennas until your less then ten feet away

newton22

Yup, my seats are very hard, and my friends have commented on it.

At first, I didn't like them, but then I realized it gave me a lot support when driving aggressively.

They're still not great seats IMO after I sat in a new S550. The new S-class has firm, yet comfy seats.

pmb600

I just noticed that both you and the OP have a pre-2003 facelift S-Class. They did change the seats for the 2003 update, no doubt due to customer complaints.

MercPlease

I'm proud to be German.

lwalling

Actually, I think the seats in my 03 are uncomfortable as well. They look and feel like new, but are just not that great on my back, particularly for more than a few hundred miles. I like the car a great deal, except for this.

I have an 06 E320 CDI I picked up new last year that, by my standards, has the best feeling seats for me on the planet. I love the seats. It's my "trip car" as a result. Plus you can't beat the fuel economy. They are still firm but are shaped different (plain and simple) with less aggressive bolsters. I love the E seats to death.

Haven't tried a new S yet.

kenstudios

S430 have somewhat hard seats that are somewhat supportive. S500 & 600comes standard with the soft nappa leather. It's optional in the S430. S550 (W221) have the all new soft cashmere leather with the option to adjust the firmness/softness of the seats through command.

Destination Unk

Ok this is killing me, I looked at the seat from top, bottom, left, right inside and out. Can't find out whats up with it, Feels fine for the first few minutes of driving and then It feels like somthing is sticking up through the seat into my right *** cheek.

I was thinking maybe the seat cusion just gave away its support, but there is only 12.5k miles on the car.

Does anyone know the part number and how difficult it is to replace the cushion under the leather cover. The seat leather looks great like its not even used.

Help, its driviing me crazy.

Vader55

Ahhhhhh, nothing like the soft snug feel of nappa leather.

2H S5

I haven't done my homework on the specific leather, but I went to test drive an 04 S55 and them seats are sooooo comfortable and supportive.

They have to be supportive to handle the 100mph test drive

After getting back into my car, it was night and day