[HDGFND]

Stephen, I just bought a GLE 350 and was so excited about the car. I thought the seats were a little stiff/hard when I test drove but kept telling myself "how can a Mercedes be uncomfortable"? Every time I drive the car my back is in excruciating pain for hours or a day later. I can't believe it. I have owned the car 2 weeks and I'm looking for something else. Most costly mistake I've ever made.

Sorry to hear. You might be better of with Lexus that puts more focus on build quality but lack in all the advanced tech found in german car makers like Mercedes.

What other car makers are you open to?

 

[Agingracefully]

This is my first post, but, like many of you, I think that the multi contour seats are painful. For me, this is the joy thing I dislike about the car. I want to buy it and my dealer had made me a great offer, but, my butt! The back and massage function are great, but I have concluded that the seat-bottom bolsters are the culprit. Sooo, I think for about $500 I can have a good upholstery shop cut down the height of the bolsters and Re-stitch using the existing material and that should fix it. Adding padding would interfere with the ventilation feature and I live in South Carolina, so that will not work. Any thoughts? Moving the lumbar will not help.
Thanks for your input

 

[HDGFND]

This is my first post, but, like many of you, I think that the multi contour seats are painful. For me, this is the joy thing I dislike about the car. I want to buy it and my dealer had made me a great offer, but, my butt! The back and massage function are great, but I have concluded that the seat-bottom bolsters are the culprit. Sooo, I think for about $500 I can have a good upholstery shop cut down the height of the bolsters and Re-stitch using the existing material and that should fix it. Adding padding would interfere with the ventilation feature and I live in South Carolina, so that will not work. Any thoughts? Moving the lumbar will not help.
Thanks for your input

It might help if you start by looking for other folks that have done it even to other Mercedes Benz products. Are you on any bigger MB forums?

 

[Viperdoc]

Yes I admit I am right there with you. My wife has a 2017 gls which we love. Mbtex seats that are very comfy. I came from a BMW X5. Which I loved. Great seats but the warranty was up and decided to look at MB. Wanted a larger engine than the base 350 so I got a CPO gle 400 from out of state. Has every known option including multi-contour seats. Leather too with ventilation. For the first month I couldn’t tell why my butt hurt so badly. I just could not get comfortable. I eventually figured out that it was not only the center of the seat cushion, which allows me to sink deeply into the seat, but the side bolsters are very, very firm. So it’s like I am wedged between two rocks. My hips kill me if I drive longer than 30 minutes, which is often unfortunately. I managed to put some soft towels under the leather part of the central seat bottom which helps me not sink so much. But as others have said, is this really what I have to do in a car whose sticker was more than $80K?? I hav evened for 3 months and don’t know how much longer I can drive it due to the comfort issue.

 

[Indianul28]

Hi. I also baught a new GLE 350de and the seats are super uncomfortable. For me the right side bolster is very firm. It has an area near my right hip that creates pain in my leg. After more than 1h of driving I cannot stay in car anymore. I like the idea of reducing the cushion on that side at a specialized shop .

 

[Indianul28]

Hi All. I also have issues with my seat on my new 350de 2022. After long drives (> 1h) I feel pain and numbness in the right hip. Before I owned a X3 and had drives of more than 8h without this kind of pain. I tried all the possibilities with the chair position and to have a correct posture but still the same. When you press the bottom cushion you can feel there is a bump in the right part towards the back. That thing is like the "Chinese Drop". At first you don't feel it, but after 1h of constantly pressing on your hip it starts to hurt until a point where you cannot stand it anymore. I went to Mercedes and they tried to open the chair to make more soft but without any luck. I really don't know what to do.

 

[Azegarek]

I have the same problem with a 2022 GLE. My problem seems to have started only about 6 months ago so it may be more related to orthopedic issues which I am investigating. But there’s no doubt the tight hip bolster on the right side is creating severe pain in my entire upper leg. I’ve tried towels and pillows but they haven’t helped. My question is has anyone found a solution?

 

[hightechman]

I did not get the multi-contour seats, just the standard seats and I believe the 4-way lumbar support (up/down, in/out) powered by what seems to be a little air compressor.

I have tried playing around with the seat. Sitting closer, a bit farther, titling the angle up/down of the seat cushion. It's started to become of of those things that is driving me crazy. He I am with a brand new car awesome and I can't stop messing around with it. I can't tell whether or not the seat should support my calves or not and/or at what angle etc.

I took it on some windy roads during the drive and was very impressed with how it handles. The car really is a beautiful piece of machinery. Happy with everything but the seats.

just purchased used 2017 gle 350 standard seats fernwood same pronlem! Any fix fernwood? Just bought $129 stiff orthopedic sest cushion AMZ Backstop (?)-made things worse