Am I too tall for my car?! Options?

[cjm41]

Alright- so I've had my e92 M3 for about a month and a half now. When I first got it I felt like I was sitting pretty high but I quickly got used to it.

But...

At 6'3" I've found that I cannot adjust the seat enough to see things like the shift lights and turn signals (they're blocked by the top of the steering wheel), unless I put the steering wheel in school bus mode (adjusting so the steering wheel sits high). I should note that I'm quite comfortable in the car, I've messed around with the seats a lot as well.

This is my 4th BMW (two e30s and an e60) and this is the first one I feel like was not designed with me in mind.

Am I doing something wrong? Are their options to bring the seats down further, like aftermarket brackets?

[kscarrol]

No, I am 6'3" as well and have similar issues in my E90. I just live with it as I know I'm using my signal and as for the shift lights, I just glance at the tach... Never bothered me to the point of looking into different seat brackets etc.

[fatalelement]

Originally Posted by cjm41

Alright- so I've had my e92 M3 for about a month and a half now. When I first got it I felt like I was sitting pretty high but I quickly got used to it.

But...

At 6'3" I've found that I cannot adjust the seat enough to see things like the shift lights and turn signals (they're blocked by the top of the steering wheel), unless I put the steering wheel in school bus mode (adjusting so the steering wheel sits high). I should note that I'm quite comfortable in the car, I've messed around with the seats a lot as well.

This is my 4th BMW (two e30s and an e60) and this is the first one I feel like was not designed with me in mind.

Am I doing something wrong? Are their options to bring the seats down further, like aftermarket brackets?

You know, I have the same problem. My issue is that I'm also 6'3", but I have a VERY short torso. Like, when I sit down I'm the same height as my 5'8"-5'10" friends. It made me an effective competitive cyclist because I have monster legs, but anything sized "off the rack," like cars, etc. is always a challenge.

My recipe for success, frankly, has been to back off the pedals a bit and put the seat further back, which makes the angle from my eyes to the dash much more acute. Give that a shot, if you have long legs. Otherwise, I'm not sure what to suggest. Even so, I find that sometimes I sit just a bit higher in the seat and have to readjust my wheel because I can't see the shift lights, which I've never had to do in any other car as often.

I have an E93 and frankly, I find myself constantly doing a hand broomstick test when I'm in traffic with the top down. It's a lot better than the Miata, where even at its lowest usable seat position the top of my head was pretty much out of the car, which scared the living hell out of me on the test drive.

Tall people have it hard! :P

Originally Posted by kscarrol

No, I am 6'3" as well and have similar issues in my E90. I just live with it as I know I'm using my signal and as for the shift lights, I just glance at the tach... Never bothered me to the point of looking into different seat brackets etc.

6'3" seat issue club represent

[MattM3SVT]

I'm 6'3" and have the same issue. Just got used to it. The E9X M3 seats do sit quite high compared to my other cars.

[Mvy]

I feel you on this one. Anything over 6 ft and it feels close.

[cjm41]

I'm glad to hear it's not just me haha. Makes me feel like I'm not a freak.

I do sit pretty far back, I'm relatively proportionate (although I could stand to lose 20 lbs). I like to plant my foot on the foot rest thing on the left (mostly because I'm afraid of wearing down the floor mat in one spot).

Countless times in the past month I've tried to get my seat lower, convinced there was a setting I missed. My e60 (same era 5-series) was great for my height.

I guess I'll just learn to live with it. I think I'm mostly afraid of magooing a turn signal and cruising a few miles looking like I'm turning.

[XKxRome0ox]

e9x m3 seat sits high
that's an easy observation if you go and sit in a few other cars

i've mostly gotten used to it
but anytime i have to use the sunvisor, i'm reminded that i'm sitting way high and have to kinda duck down to see a signal light

[Timujin]

Same here 6'3" with the same issue.

[Megabrode]

No problem at 6'1". Two sons at 6'5" do not adjust the seat or wheel at all when they drive the car, just the rearview and side mirrors. 6'3" must be exactly the wrong height. Condolences.

[spazzyfry123]

I'm not sure why, but I've found that the E92 seat position seems higher than that of the E90. I'm not a tall dude, maybe 5'10", but I did feel like I was too high up in the coupe but just right in the sedan.

[Dr. Dre]

You're doing something wrong. I'm 6'6" and have no problem. Car fits like a glove. I always felt funny in my e36 M3. I felt like fat guy in a little coat.

[cjm41]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dre

You're doing something wrong. I'm 6'6" and have no problem. Car fits like a glove. I always felt funny in my e36 M3. I felt like fat guy in a little coat.

So sitting up straight your view of the top of the gauges, shift light, turn signals are completely unobstructed? Interesting.

I definitely feel comfortable in the car, it's roomy enough. It's just the view obstruction, with the top of the steering wheel blocking stuff.

[xander_g]

I'm 6'2" and I dont have that issue. The seating position for this car in general makes it feel like you're sitting on it instead of in it, if that makes any sense.