Active Ventilated Seat Bottom Cushion vs. Comfort Seat Bottom Cushion

[davahad]

Are the bottom seat cushions for the AVS the same as the comfort?

My X5 has the Comfort and I feel like the Seat bottom is just too firm for my back. Sat in an AVS X5 today and it looks like the cushion is flatter from back to front and and a little springier. Anyone know as dealer salesman had no idea.

Also, would it be possible to switch a Driver's side comfort seat for AVS?

[BCA]

I have no idea about the possibility of switching seats but I imagine you could do it as long as you didn't expect the ventilation to work. It would surely be $$$ regardless.

I have AVS and I actually think my seats are a bit on the firm side. I've gotten used to it and I love the ventilation, but I do wish they were a little softer.

Never done a side by side comparison of sport vs. comfort vs. ventilated though...

[King]

Comfort seats are the same with or without active ventilation. The vented seats of course are perforated leather. I have tried the seat vents several times and I can never really feel anything especially when wearing jeans! If I wear light dress pants, I feel a very very light vent. I would expect it to be a stronger vent. Not worth the price in my opinion. Any yes, I've tried adjusting it through the i-drive...

[davahad]

Here are pictures of the bottom of the comfort seats. Looks like some yellow foam that is adhered to some kind of black casing to support the foam and then a series of springs on the outside of that.

I looked at the bottom of the AVS seats at the dealer and I think it was a molded grey foam with different springs. Or that could be the 2007 model I am remembering..... They definitely didn't feel the same as I thought the Active were softer but that could just be the perforated leather.

Maybe will go back tomorrow and look again and possibly take some pictures.

[davahad]

There is definitely a difference between the comfort seat cushions and the AVS cushions as AVS has 2 inflatable air cushions on each side for the AVS. I think this is the difference in feel between Comfort and AVS. Below is some info I got that explains this better:

Four air cushions are integrated in the seat surface for the active seat. Two air cushions,
one on top of the other, are used in both the left and right seat halves.
The air cushions are inflated with air provided by the pump for lumbar-support adjustment.
A solenoid valve is integrated in the pump unit. The function of the solenoid valve
is to change over the air supply. This ensures that only one function (lumbar-support
adjustment or active seat) is ever executed.
A distributor module is used for inflating the air cushions. The seat module delivers power
to the distributor module as soon as the active seat is switched on.
The distributor module houses a motor, which drives an eccentric shaft. The rotation of
the eccentric shaft causes the air inlets to the seat cushions to open or close.
The seat cushions are alternately inflated or deflated, depending on the position of the
eccentric shaft. The air inlets are closed when the system is switched off and in the
breaks between inflation or deflation.
A switch contact is integrated in the distributor module to switch on the pump for lumbar
support adjustment. The rotation of the eccentric shaft actuates the contact, which thereby
signals activation to the seat module. The seat module switches on the pump for lumbar-
support adjustment and changes the solenoid valve to inflate the seat cushions.

[Bozz]

Originally Posted by King

Comfort seats are the same with or without active ventilation. The vented seats of course are perforated leather. I have tried the seat vents several times and I can never really feel anything especially when wearing jeans! If I wear light dress pants, I feel a very very light vent. I would expect it to be a stronger vent. Not worth the price in my opinion. Any yes, I've tried adjusting it through the i-drive...

King, try it without wearing pants, you may get that stronger vent feeling.

I am just waiting for the ladies to chime in on this one and tell us what kind of vent feeling that they are receiving.