[Seiko]

Do they really not fold down unless you spec the split seats option (£375ish on an m sport)? I assumed they would fold down as one?!

[BMWSKI]

This needs to be specced unfortunately ...Which is totally ridiculous in my opinion for such a high end car.

[Seiko]

Amazing - no trips to ikea for me then!
Poor show and not clear in configurator or dealership.

[Englishbloke]

Yeah I had a hard time deciding whether to spec them. Went for adaptive suspension so have to use the wife's car for the Ikea trips!

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Seiko

Amazing - no trips to ikea for me then!
Poor show and not clear in configurator or dealership.

It's never been standard on the 3 series saloons, it was standard on Coupes but they dropped it to an option now on the F32...

[Ciprian]

is it standard on the touring ?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Ciprian

is it standard on the touring ?

Yes, but we 'wagon' users are willing to compromise our BMW to carry loads....

HighlandPete

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

This needs to be specced unfortunately ...Which is totally ridiculous in my opinion for such a high end car.

How is this ridiculous?

Many BMW users don't care too much about the finer side of handling, but some do and torsional rigidity is a key factor in giving the edge to handling dynamics. Having the compromise of a weaker body shell, with folding seats, is not an ideal choice for the driving enthusiast.

I haven't got any figures at hand for the F30 models, but looking at older designs such as the E46 saloon, the figure without folding seats is 18,000 Nm/deg. With folding seats, 13,000 Nm/deg. That is a massive difference.

So nothing really to do with BMW being skimpy on specification, but choice. The non folding seat specification being the better body shell.

HighlandPete

[Alkidrew]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

How is this ridiculous?

Many BMW users don't care too much about the finer side of handling, but some do and torsional rigidity is a key factor in giving the edge to handling dynamics. Having the compromise of a weaker body shell, with folding seats, is not an ideal choice for the driving enthusiast.

I haven't got any figures at hand for the F30 models, but looking at older designs such as the E46 saloon, the figure without folding seats is 18,000 Nm/deg. With folding seats, 13,000 Nm/deg. That is a massive difference.

So nothing really to do with BMW being skimpy on specification, but choice. The non folding seat specification being the better body shell.

HighlandPete

I agree, a saloon shape is all about the stiffest possible shape. I also think saloons provide the most secure boot if the seats dont fold down. You can smash my window and take my laptop but not in a saloon.

I went for the touring as i'm happy to compromise that for the extra space.

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

How is this ridiculous?

Many BMW users don't care too much about the finer side of handling, but some do and torsional rigidity is a key factor in giving the edge to handling dynamics. Having the compromise of a weaker body shell, with folding seats, is not an ideal choice for the driving enthusiast.

I haven't got any figures at hand for the F30 models, but looking at older designs such as the E46 saloon, the figure without folding seats is 18,000 Nm/deg. With folding seats, 13,000 Nm/deg. That is a massive difference.

So nothing really to do with BMW being skimpy on specification, but choice. The non folding seat specification being the better body shell.

HighlandPete

Fair enough

[rich1068]

I've never expected folding seats on a saloon either. I'd expect them on a hatch or estate but not a saloon. I had a Saab 9-3 once that came with them and I was genuinely surprised mainly because I didn't believe they were terribly practical due to the lack of boot height in the first place.

[Seiko]

To be fair the boot is pretty sizeable in any case - it was just a shock as I assumed (very wrongly) it would have them - the impact it would have on other aspects of the car never really came to mind! Thanks for the info!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

How is this ridiculous?

Many BMW users don't care too much about the finer side of handling, but some do and torsional rigidity is a key factor in giving the edge to handling dynamics. Having the compromise of a weaker body shell, with folding seats, is not an ideal choice for the driving enthusiast.

I haven't got any figures at hand for the F30 models, but looking at older designs such as the E46 saloon, the figure without folding seats is 18,000 Nm/deg. With folding seats, 13,000 Nm/deg. That is a massive difference.

So nothing really to do with BMW being skimpy on specification, but choice. The non folding seat specification being the better body shell.

HighlandPete

Wow, I've had split seats on my last two 3 series and the one on order and never give this a thought with regards the rigidity of the car.
Is it actually noticeable when driving? I never heard of spilt seats affecting the car's handling before!!! Does this mean all hot hatches (that I guess all would come with split seats) are at a disadvantage?

I've not really driven any other 3 series for a period of time that haven't got spilt seats to compare with mine.

[ewanmac]

I remember back in the day when Peugeot actually made decent cars, they wouldn't spec split fold rear seats on the 405 even as an option as it compromised the handling. It was the best handling fwd saloon of its time so perhaps it actually does make a difference.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Originally Posted by ewanmac

I remember back in the day when Peugeot actually made decent cars, they wouldn't spec split fold rear seats on the 405 even as an option as it compromised the handling. It was the best handling fwd saloon of its time so perhaps it actually does make a difference.

The difference with a Peugeot is the rear seat is actually holding the car together.

Given how poor the seats are in French cars, this fills be with a whole heap of confidence.

[gatsojon]

My MY99 classic shape Impreza had folding seats but the prodrive special RB5 and STi versions didn't for reasons of rigidity. Also the MK2 Jetta saloon was favoured over the Golf body for racing, again for rigidity reasons.

So perhaps on the ragged edge, there might be a difference between with and without.

[davethefish]

i'm glad they don't come as standard...
or i'd get conned into ferrying all kinds of crap around for relatives....

it's a BMW not a van!

[FastLaneJB]

I believe if you go for split folding rear seats you also lose the centre armrest with the cup holders. Not got my F30 yet but my eldest uses the arm rest all the time on my E90 but there's no cup holders. It'll be even more useful on the F30.

I also just use the wife's car for the odd occasions I need something bigger to be ferried around but its so rare. Even if specced the bigger problem on the E90 at least is the gap to get stuff in. I brought a microwave once that wouldn't fit through the gap. Had to take it out of its box to get it into the boot. Once in there's plenty of space but the E90 just has a very small opening. I believe the F30 has a much larger opening to the boot which fixes my biggest issue there.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by FastLaneJB

I believe if you go for split folding rear seats you also lose the centre armrest with the cup holders. Not got my F30 yet but my eldest uses the arm rest all the time on my E90 but there's no cup holders. It'll be even more useful on the F30.

I looks to me there is an armrest. If you look in the first picture it looks to me that its split so it must fold down.
And the second picture shows the cup holders, surely these are in all armrests?

[pete18]

I would say, it's just BMW jacking up the price you pay...Nuff said!
Pete

[dopper99]

In fact, I knew I read it somewhere. Nothing to worry about, this is from the brochure

It says in my brochure its:
465 Split-folding rear seat with a similar description.

[gtsussex]

Here go - apologies for bad photo but from phone. Split folding seats do have arm rest with cup holders.