SL/R129: Lower Back Pain - What to Do?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
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From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Lower Back Pain - What to Do?
Although I love the car, my 2002 SL500 seats do not support my lower back very well. I find my lower back hurting after 30 minutes of driving. I found a few posts in the R129 forum that show that I'm not alone in this opinion.
I don't want spend thousands of dollars buying new seats. Can anyone recommend a lumbar support that I can add to the existing seats? I have the standard seats - not the multicontour.
Thanks, Will
I don't want spend thousands of dollars buying new seats. Can anyone recommend a lumbar support that I can add to the existing seats? I have the standard seats - not the multicontour.
Thanks, Will
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by hotel_calif
Although I love the car, my 2002 SL500 seats do not support my lower back very well. I find my lower back hurting after 30 minutes of driving. I found a few posts in the R129 forum that show that I'm not alone in this opinion.
I don't want spend thousands of dollars buying new seats. Can anyone recommend a lumbar support that I can add to the existing seats? I have the standard seats - not the multicontour.
Thanks, Will
I don't want spend thousands of dollars buying new seats. Can anyone recommend a lumbar support that I can add to the existing seats? I have the standard seats - not the multicontour.
Thanks, Will
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
If that's the only alternative, I'll look into the multicontour seats. Do the MB multicontours provide adequate lower back support, or do I need to purchase some other seat?
In catalogs, I've seen pads that attach to the seat and claim to support the lower back. Has anyone tried one of these to see if they work?
It's ironic that the seats in my 2002 SL500 don't feel as comfortable as the ones in my 190E. Are the seats in the newer SLs any better?
In catalogs, I've seen pads that attach to the seat and claim to support the lower back. Has anyone tried one of these to see if they work?
It's ironic that the seats in my 2002 SL500 don't feel as comfortable as the ones in my 190E. Are the seats in the newer SLs any better?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 972
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
Too big to be comfortable ?
Speaking of SL seat discomfort and being 6'3 220lbs, would I be making a mistake in buying an SL as a daily driver ? The new body syle seems more comfortable than the R129, but I'm just not sure. Any thoughts ?
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by hotel_calif
If that's the only alternative, I'll look into the multicontour seats. Do the MB multicontours provide adequate lower back support, or do I need to purchase some other seat?
In catalogs, I've seen pads that attach to the seat and claim to support the lower back. Has anyone tried one of these to see if they work?
It's ironic that the seats in my 2002 SL500 don't feel as comfortable as the ones in my 190E. Are the seats in the newer SLs any better?
In catalogs, I've seen pads that attach to the seat and claim to support the lower back. Has anyone tried one of these to see if they work?
It's ironic that the seats in my 2002 SL500 don't feel as comfortable as the ones in my 190E. Are the seats in the newer SLs any better?
This might sound obvious but are your position adjustments ideal for your height.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by MBZFAN55
Speaking of SL seat discomfort and being 6'3 220lbs, would I be making a mistake in buying an SL as a daily driver ? The new body syle seems more comfortable than the R129, but I'm just not sure. Any thoughts ?
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 53
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From: Renton, WA
1992 500SL (wife); 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10
Check these out:
http://www.businesscopiers.com/backs...aceairplus.htm
http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/...hions-back.htm
http://www.backfitpro.com/supports.htm
http://www.backandneckpainsupplies.c...w_backrest.htm
http://www.reliefmart.com/adjustable...t_supports.htm
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...551057967&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...552868332&rd=1
etc., etc., etc.
http://www.businesscopiers.com/backs...aceairplus.htm
http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/...hions-back.htm
http://www.backfitpro.com/supports.htm
http://www.backandneckpainsupplies.c...w_backrest.htm
http://www.reliefmart.com/adjustable...t_supports.htm
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...551057967&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...552868332&rd=1
etc., etc., etc.
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Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 53
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From: Renton, WA
1992 500SL (wife); 1996 Dodge Viper RT/10
Actually none of these, but I had a 2 horizontal tube blow up (air pump bulbs), that I used in my van. I thought I got it from JC Whitney, but couldn't find it there now. Worked very well.
Don
Don
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
1999 SL 500 & 2011 E 550 4Matic
Originally Posted by MBZFAN55
Speaking of SL seat discomfort ... would I be making a mistake in buying an SL as a daily driver ? ... Any thoughts ?
Having owned the SL for over two years now and having driven lots of 2 hour + trips. I'd say the SL is fine for a daily driver. For this type of driving we have never had any trouble at all.
However this past September we drove 1,500 miles over 4 days through the mountains in heavy rain most of the time. About 6 hours a day driving with the extra tension of driving in the wet all the time was enough to give both my wife and I lower back pain that lingered for months.
We eventually bought a new bed, box spring and matress because our sleep patterns were disrupted by the back pain to the point that we were not getting good sleep on our 10 year old bed.
Our long road trip experience was such that I guess we will never be driving from Vancouver down to San Diego and back again on the pactific coast higway
.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by ChrisB
However this past September we drove 1,500 miles over 4 days through the mountains in heavy rain most of the time. About 6 hours a day driving with the extra tension of driving in the wet all the time was enough to give both my wife and I lower back pain that lingered for months.
Our long road trip experience was such that I guess we will never be driving from Vancouver down to San Diego and back again on the pactific coast higway .
Our long road trip experience was such that I guess we will never be driving from Vancouver down to San Diego and back again on the pactific coast higway
.I drove from San Fran to Boston and back to Los Angeles. A good bed stop made all the difference.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Originally Posted by miroj
The multicontour is highly adjustable to the extent that you would be surprised by the levels of variation. A basic SL seat isnt all that exciting. But look at it this way, you could go for seat heating as well as multi-contour (which you probably already have).
Originally Posted by miroj
This might sound obvious but are your position adjustments ideal for your height.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
2002 SL500
Originally Posted by ChrisB
Our long road trip experience was such that I guess we will never be driving from Vancouver down to San Diego and back again on the pactific coast higway .
.Will
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 71
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From: Nelson NZ
17 E220d all-terrrain, 92 SL500, 16 C250D Wagon, 16 A200 (wife)
Another option for seat contour
There is a low cost option you could consider. Now this is from NZ which is the land of inventiveness, so the idea may not seem left field....
Just 2 Torx screws can be removed from the rear back of the seat to release the top squab of my 92 R129 seats, may well be the same on your more recent cars. It comes out easily by pulling out the base, and I have made some simple, albeit fixed adjustments to the seat profile, by inserting something in between the wire frame and the cushion material. A couple of small pieces of wood 10-15mm thick, one each side can be jammed in to force the seat back out around the lower back. Keep adjusting till you like it.
This is still in trial with me, but certainly has improved the profile. I have found the original shape of the seats ideal for hugging grip of your body, but indeed a bit lacking in lower back support. When you push out the lower back, it feels a little less hugging of course.
I have taken care and don't believe it has in any way caused any problems with the wiring of the seat heating. It does make the Torx screws a little harder to get back in, as the wire frame springs back a bit too.
After I have got the exact shape / placement I want, I may look at instead deforming the wire support frame rather than chocking it with an insert- I think this is preferable.
Better still, you could incorporate those dynamic air ones quoted further up in this post into the seat where I put the wood!
Just 2 Torx screws can be removed from the rear back of the seat to release the top squab of my 92 R129 seats, may well be the same on your more recent cars. It comes out easily by pulling out the base, and I have made some simple, albeit fixed adjustments to the seat profile, by inserting something in between the wire frame and the cushion material. A couple of small pieces of wood 10-15mm thick, one each side can be jammed in to force the seat back out around the lower back. Keep adjusting till you like it.
This is still in trial with me, but certainly has improved the profile. I have found the original shape of the seats ideal for hugging grip of your body, but indeed a bit lacking in lower back support. When you push out the lower back, it feels a little less hugging of course.
I have taken care and don't believe it has in any way caused any problems with the wiring of the seat heating. It does make the Torx screws a little harder to get back in, as the wire frame springs back a bit too.
After I have got the exact shape / placement I want, I may look at instead deforming the wire support frame rather than chocking it with an insert- I think this is preferable.
Better still, you could incorporate those dynamic air ones quoted further up in this post into the seat where I put the wood!
Last edited by grege; Jan 25, 2005 at 06:00 AM.
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
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From: Australia
Originally Posted by hotel_calif
I do have heated seats but the multicontours were hard to find - my car doesn't have them.
Perhaps not. I'm 6' 1" and have the seat all the way back. The seat controls don't seem to work intuitively in this state. For example, when I try to recline the seat, it moves forward. Probably trying to avoid hitting the back. No matter how I position the seat, my lower back isn't supported.
Perhaps not. I'm 6' 1" and have the seat all the way back. The seat controls don't seem to work intuitively in this state. For example, when I try to recline the seat, it moves forward. Probably trying to avoid hitting the back. No matter how I position the seat, my lower back isn't supported.
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 1
From: Australia
Originally Posted by grege
There is a low cost option you could consider. Now this is from NZ which is the land of inventiveness, so the idea may not seem left field....
Just 2 Torx screws can be removed from the rear back of the seat to release the top squab of my 92 R129 seats, may well be the same on your more recent cars. It comes out easily by pulling out the base, and I have made some simple, albeit fixed adjustments to the seat profile, by inserting something in between the wire frame and the cushion material. A couple of small pieces of wood 10-15mm thick, one each side can be jammed in to force the seat back out around the lower back. Keep adjusting till you like it.
This is still in trial with me, but certainly has improved the profile. I have found the original shape of the seats ideal for hugging grip of your body, but indeed a bit lacking in lower back support. When you push out the lower back, it feels a little less hugging of course.
I have taken care and don't believe it has in any way caused any problems with the wiring of the seat heating. It does make the Torx screws a little harder to get back in, as the wire frame springs back a bit too.
After I have got the exact shape / placement I want, I may look at instead deforming the wire support frame rather than chocking it with an insert- I think this is preferable.
Better still, you could incorporate those dynamic air ones quoted further up in this post into the seat where I put the wood!
Just 2 Torx screws can be removed from the rear back of the seat to release the top squab of my 92 R129 seats, may well be the same on your more recent cars. It comes out easily by pulling out the base, and I have made some simple, albeit fixed adjustments to the seat profile, by inserting something in between the wire frame and the cushion material. A couple of small pieces of wood 10-15mm thick, one each side can be jammed in to force the seat back out around the lower back. Keep adjusting till you like it.
This is still in trial with me, but certainly has improved the profile. I have found the original shape of the seats ideal for hugging grip of your body, but indeed a bit lacking in lower back support. When you push out the lower back, it feels a little less hugging of course.
I have taken care and don't believe it has in any way caused any problems with the wiring of the seat heating. It does make the Torx screws a little harder to get back in, as the wire frame springs back a bit too.
After I have got the exact shape / placement I want, I may look at instead deforming the wire support frame rather than chocking it with an insert- I think this is preferable.
Better still, you could incorporate those dynamic air ones quoted further up in this post into the seat where I put the wood!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 71
Likes: 5
From: Nelson NZ
17 E220d all-terrrain, 92 SL500, 16 C250D Wagon, 16 A200 (wife)
>Wool insert I could understand ..... planks of wood are just outside my intuitive scale.
That's alright, I expected some surprise / derision on this one!
For this technique, it needs to be very firm to push the whole thing forward from the back. Use anything firm that you like that sounds trendier, but wool won't do it as no pressure could be achieved against the wire frame.
But if those inflatable bladders are very tough, and perhaps with a firm backing, they could be the answer. Especially if you sneak the bulb out somewhere discreet so it can be adjusted in situ.
Greg
That's alright, I expected some surprise / derision on this one!
For this technique, it needs to be very firm to push the whole thing forward from the back. Use anything firm that you like that sounds trendier, but wool won't do it as no pressure could be achieved against the wire frame.
But if those inflatable bladders are very tough, and perhaps with a firm backing, they could be the answer. Especially if you sneak the bulb out somewhere discreet so it can be adjusted in situ.
Greg
Last edited by grege; Jan 26, 2005 at 06:09 AM.
