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Opinion on massage function

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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 09:36 AM
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Opinion on massage function

I'm looking at some pre-owned vehicles and found one that has the normal, non-performance seats, but is lacking the massage function. For those of you who spec'd the massage feature, is it useful? I had it in my F10 M5 and it was worthless. I have it in my W212 and I do use it although I'm not sure how much it's really doing. It's mainly lower back, but it feels comfortable.

Looking at pre-owned vehicles is like buying real estate. You're always going to have to compromise with something. Just trying to figure out what I can live without.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Shellbmb
I'm looking at some pre-owned vehicles and found one that has the normal, non-performance seats, but is lacking the massage function. For those of you who spec'd the massage feature, is it useful? I had it in my F10 M5 and it was worthless. I have it in my W212 and I do use it although I'm not sure how much it's really doing. It's mainly lower back, but it feels comfortable.

Looking at pre-owned vehicles is like buying real estate. You're always going to have to compromise with something. Just trying to figure out what I can live without.
It's nice but I wouldn't miss if it were absent. It's not very firm but perhaps MB doesn't want the driver distracted with pleasure or relief. On the other hand, my girlfriend loves the massage function.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 10:49 AM
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"Massage" came about literally as a "safety feature" - to help prevent drowsiness on late-night-office-drive-home on the Autobahn - more a "circulatory" or "alert distraction" than any therapeutic value really.. of course as we move forward this feature has added gaudiness.....

To me - not a "must have" - and "if you have it why not enjoy it"..
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 11:47 AM
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My W212 massage feature is worthless. I was put in a W213 loaner and thought the feature was amazing. It’s beyond a night and day difference. It actually felt like a percussive therapeutic massage instead of a bratty kid behind you with his dirty feet pushing in your airline seat. I wouldn’t have a W213 without it.

Last edited by chiromikey; Aug 22, 2018 at 11:49 AM.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 12:36 PM
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I used it quite a bit on my cross country drive. It really helped after hours in the seat to loosen up my back and work the thighs a bit.

Not a substitute in any way for visiting a real masseuse.

Around town I don't use it, as my trips are pretty short and also because I forget about it.

Mostly it's fun to show off to new passengers who've never had a chance to experience it.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by chiromikey
My W212 massage feature is worthless. I was put in a W213 loaner and thought the feature was amazing. It’s beyond a night and day difference. It actually felt like a percussive therapeutic massage instead of a bratty kid behind you with his dirty feet pushing in your airline seat. I wouldn’t have a W213 without it.
That is good intel!
PS don't all the 2018 W213s have massage anyway? I mean I wouldn't imagine speccing that car without premium package at least which has that feature
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 01:18 PM
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Another thing to consider is that active bolsters only come with massage seats, so if you like the seat pushing you in the sides in corners may also dictate whether you want them.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by kponti
That is good intel!
PS don't all the 2018 W213s have massage anyway? I mean I wouldn't imagine speccing that car without premium package at least which has that feature
Not sure about the base models but in the 63 many prefer the looks/feel of the sport seats or don’t want to upgrade to the countour seats to get the active/massage features.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by kponti
That is good intel!
PS don't all the 2018 W213s have massage anyway? I mean I wouldn't imagine speccing that car without premium package at least which has that feature
No, it's a stand-alone option only available with the non-performance seats. It's listed as "Active multicontour front seats with massage." So no massage and no active side bolstering without this option. I would think it would be a no-brainer option to check off, but I guess everyone is different. There are two 2018's sitting at my local dealer and neither have distronic or heads-up display. On a 120k E63, I would think those would be must-have options. They certainly are for me.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 03:29 PM
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I didn't like the fact that I had to add $1500 in options I didn't want just to get the $1,320 massage seats. I don't understand why I'm required to spend $450 to make my seat heat up faster and $1,050 to get heated armrests to get the massage seats. If you are forcing people to pick two options they would likely never choose to voluntarily why not just make the massage seats option $2820? And I can wrap my head around the fast heating, just say the supplier doesn't have the "bandwidth" to produce and stock both fast and slow heating massage seats and make them $1770. What I don't understand is why I HAVE to have heated armrests...
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 03:57 PM
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I have the massage seats and for me, they're mediocre. It's dependent on individual expectations of course. I do not find them to even come close to providing a "real" massage but I wasn't expecting that anyway. For me, they do provide just enough pressure to help with circulation on long drives. That's all they're useful for, to me. If I had to do it over, I don't think I would bother because I rarely use it. So far, the only options that I have on my car in which I would possibly not order again are the soft close doors and the massage seats. The acoustic comfort package was on the questionable list but I think I would still get that one again because I think it helps make the 3D Burmiester sound system sound better than without it.
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 04:26 PM
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Count yourselves lucky, this isn’t an option in the U.K.! Must be some sort of massage tariff!
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Slugsy
Count yourselves lucky, this isn’t an option in the U.K.! Must be some sort of massage tariff!
MB signed an agreement with the happy ending parlors in the UK
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by kponti
MB signed an agreement with the happy ending parlors in the UK
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Old Aug 22, 2018 | 10:47 PM
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i found its useful when i drive to my workout. just say 'driver seat massage on' and it works. I use it every time before tennis or golf. sometimes after as well........
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Old Aug 23, 2018 | 03:27 AM
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Originally Posted by kponti
MB signed an agreement with the happy ending parlors in the UK
and they're probably all located around Milton Keynes...
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Old Aug 23, 2018 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Shellbmb
I'm looking at some pre-owned vehicles and found one that has the normal, non-performance seats, but is lacking the massage function. For those of you who spec'd the massage feature, is it useful? I had it in my F10 M5 and it was worthless. I have it in my W212 and I do use it although I'm not sure how much it's really doing. It's mainly lower back, but it feels comfortable.

Looking at pre-owned vehicles is like buying real estate. You're always going to have to compromise with something. Just trying to figure out what I can live without.
It's not critical because the fact that you are asking tells me you can live without it. I don't have it in my 911.

However whenever I drive the E63S I use it. It is well designed and quite nice. My wife LOVES the feature.
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