Midnight Rider

I have a 95 cab that I love in every way. I used to drive a 540i daily, sold it and now drive the 993 exclusively. I have a low back issue (geez I am only 35) that used to pester me occasionally. Since driving the 993 every day, my symptoms are now daily. Is there any way to replace my current seat with one with lumbar support(did they even make one for the 993) OR is there anyone out there who has found an insert, cushion, pad, etc. that gives ample lumbar support?? This issue may cause me to have to even get rid of the car and god forbid, replace it with the 996!!! that has decent seats. Help!!!

Terry Adams

I don't know where you are located, but I bought a $75 cushion at Relax the back store . I have only used it once, as I find the 993 seats very lower back supportive. A couple of weekends ago I drove 13 hours straight in one day without the cushion, and no problems. This at the end of a 12 day 4800 mile trip where I did not use the cushion for any of it. Hope this helps.

nile13

Strange. I have a pretty bad back (at 36, too) and alwas found BMW seast uncomfortable on longer drives.
I drove my 993 with regular seats for 4500 miles in two weeks, sometimes for 12 hours with 1 stop and did nto have any problems with my back. But that's very specific to each back, of course.
Some 993s did come with lumbar support seats. It's called a 12-way adjustable seat, having an extra "dial" switch on the side of the seat. The lumbar both goes in and out and up and down. You can buy them used and just replace yours. You can then sell yours and not loose much money. Ironically, when you are replacing seats, your back will _really_ hurt, as they weigh in 60 lbs range.

Midnight Rider

Thanks for the input guys. Will the replaced seat with the lumbar sync up appropriately with the electrics found in my car now??

nile13

Yes, it's just a bolt-in.

Terry Adams

Another observation. When I lowered my car 1.25", I went through a couple weeks of increased back pain, I think due to the different entry/exit height I was used to.

mooty

i am 34 and have very bad back from years of bike riding. almost all car seats hurts my back regardless of how many ways of adjustment it has. but i find the current euro GT3 bucket seats (not the one that's in the USA GT3's) to very comfy and the only one that doesn't make my back hurt. i logged about 20,000 miles on those seats, many drives were 2-3 hours.

caveat, it does make entry/exit a BIT tougher due to the thigh bolsters.

Midnight Rider

again, thanks for the input

Jastx

In factory hard back sport seats, the center section of the seat back is actually held to the inside of the hard back with velcro. Removing this section, you can see that addtional lumbar support is provided by a piece of foam (I'd say about 7" x 3" by about 1") going across in the lumbar area (very high tech!). It isn't adjustalbe unless you reglue it. If the standard seats are assembled in the same way, it wouldn't be difficult or expensive simply to add a piece of foam and create your own lumbar support.

Midnight Rider

great idea. unfortunately mine do not have a removable back. Leather/vinyl material wraps all the way around

mooty

the center piece (on OEM standard power seat) can be pulled out a bit, and you can stuff a neatly cut foam behind it for lumbar support like jastx said. you will never see the foam once it's behind the seat center, very factory look.

Midnight Rider

you mean coming straight up (from the rear floorboard area) from behind the seat ?

mooty

no, looking at the seats headon, the center portion of the seat back isn't fully sewn to the side bolsters, at least on my car. and as far as i know, it's stock, standard seats.

Midnight Rider

gotcha. thanks.

John H. in DC Area

This is exactly what I did for my lower back, except rather than foam I rolled a hand towel very tightly and put it back there on the horizontal axis right at my lower back. Bulges nicely right at the lower vertebrae requiring support. It fixed my chronic aches immediately. Low tech, but it worked.