Fixed-position headrests?

[papasmurf]

My mom is thinking about buying an X3, however, there is one problem (it's a problem on all new cars for her); the headrest in the X3 is tilted foward and cannot be tilted back. This causes my mom to sit with her head pointed down, and it's a big no-no for her small 5' flat frame.

The thing is, the X3 has cutouts in the headrest to allow it to move back to level with the seat back, just like my X5, but it's fixed in the tilted forward position, unlike my X5 (E53). Is there a screw or something that can be removed to rotate it back? The X3 was the headrest that bothered her the least out of any small SUV, but it could be better, and obviously the headrests can be adjusted to accomodate her. Anyone got ideas/suggestions?

[AzNMpower32]

There's a strong likelihood that Comfort seats will be available in the near future, perhaps as early as Fall 2011 production.

The tilt angle of the headrests cannot be adjusted. Although I'm not that short (I'm 173cm), I found this extremely annoying in the loaner, non-sport E90 which has a similar setup.

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

There's a strong likelihood that Comfort seats will be available in the near future, perhaps as early as Fall 2011 production.

The tilt angle of the headrests cannot be adjusted. Although I'm not that short (I'm 173cm), I found this extremely annoying in the loaner, non-sport E90 which has a similar setup.

My question is, then why is the upholstery cut out to allow for movement? I've noticed in many other cars that shorter people have flipped them around backwards so it does not intrude, so how can these uncomfortable headrests be deemed safe?

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

There's a strong likelihood that Comfort seats will be available in the near future, perhaps as early as Fall 2011 production.

The tilt angle of the headrests cannot be adjusted. Although I'm not that short (I'm 173cm), I found this extremely annoying in the loaner, non-sport E90 which has a similar setup.

Source please?

I'm considering an x3 in the fall.

(oh and Aznmpower is 5' 6" )

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by papasmurf

My question is, then why is the upholstery cut out to allow for movement? I've noticed in many other cars that shorter people have flipped them around backwards so it does not intrude, so how can these uncomfortable headrests be deemed safe?

Does your mom drive with the back of her head resting against the head rest?

I was driving home yesterday and checked to see if I do that and the back of my head is a few inches from the head rest. Is this a height thing? (I'm 6' 2")

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

Does your mom drive with the back of her head resting against the head rest?

I was driving home yesterday and checked to see if I do that and the back of my head is a few inches from the head rest. Is this a height thing? (I'm 6' 2")

Yes she does. She is 5'0" and sits with the seat bolt upright with her back against the entire seat in what looks like the most uncomfortable position ever.

[AzNMpower32]

Sorry to get y'all's hopes up. There was a thread I was following last month, then I kinda stopped reading it. Turns out they're not planning to come out with Comfort seats yet. "Perhaps" by Fall, or next spring production, no final timeline yet.

Given that the E83 had comfort seat availability, it would be kind of weird for the F25 to not have it. But that'll have to wait.

The headrest design is so that you keep your head against the head restraint and also to prevent whiplash in rear-end collisions. The tendency is for drivers' heads to be too far forward from the restraint for the restraint to be effective, so by forcing the design to tilt forward, the distance is minimised and injuries can be prevented. Automakers are adding these active head restraints because the general public is too ignorant to adjust the old types properly.

When I'm seated in any car, most of my back and my head rest against the respective parts of the seat to minimise fatigue- I have the older design which had tilt-forward flexibility, thank god. And at least I know how to set it up properly too. We used to have a Honda Civic (2006) that was "fixed forward".......didn't like it.

[papasmurf]

Any update on the comfort seats?