Has anyone installed an aftermarket lumbar support?

[defaz]

I've had my E39 for over a year now and I have some serious back pains... I blame them all on these damn flat-backed seats....

So i've been looking around for a cure. Instead of shelling out a couple thousand for a pair of comfort seats I'm confident that I can either retrofit a factory lumbar bag/pump from another BMW seat (most likely an E38) or just go with an aftermarket kit.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of task?

I'm only 22, waay too young to be walking around like a senior.

[sunman]

i retrofitted oem lumbar on my sport seats. You need an air pump, rear bladder, and switch. You have to custom make the harness unless you buy the entire seat harness.

[BlackSapphire]

i retrofitted oem lumbar on my sport seats. You need an air pump, rear bladder, and switch. You have to custom make the harness unless you buy the entire seat harness.

DIY including pics or ban!

[Nero530i]

get a cadillac. hehe

[Al's540i]

DIY Please.

[sunman]

I finished the passenger side already. When i start the drivers side, i will take some pictures of the project and post.

[sunman]

The car also received heated seats at the same time.

[oekundar]

I finished the passenger side already. When i start the drivers side, i will take some pictures of the project and post.

The car also received heated seats at the same time.

No need to rub salt in the wounds...as previously stated....No Pics...immediate ban

[John in Houston]

The car also received heated seats at the same time.

Would definitely appreciate a write-up on this. Coming from Houston I had no need for heated seats. Now I'm in Denver and that leather is chilly in the A.M. Need some bun warmers.

[boom2085]

here is DIY link for a E46 but I would think it would be about the same. http://www.tmk.com/lumbar/index.shtml

[Aubergine]

I have the rare "standard seats" w/ 4 way power lumbar and heat, but they are not comforts. Odd...

[John 540i6]

i want to add in some tighter side bolsters.... after driving in a lot of new 3 series and 550s which have some insane side bolstering, my e39 comfort seats feel like a bench seat in a pickup truck. The side bolsters in the e60 550 squeeze your sides in and you sit really deep in the seat, like its hugging you. I want my e39 to hug me (that sounds bad)

[racerx0911]

here is DIY link for a E46 but I would think it would be about the same. http://www.tmk.com/lumbar/index.shtml

would this be the same for us??

[defaz]

I want my e39 to hug me (that sounds bad)

Yea I know what you mean... My previous car was a denali with like 500 way adjustable seats.... It was like they were molesting me rather than hugging me.... it was great.

So i ordered an OEM Lumbar bag/pump/wires/switch for my driver's seat... A nice detailed write-up with plenty of pictures is on it's way....

[sunman]

did you order the entire seat harness? I ordered the air pump enclosed in the vinyl cover, valve unit, switch, and lumbar pad. Power under the seat. I made my own harness.

[defaz]

I didn't get the whole harness with it, but I can for an extra $25... how hard was it to modify the curent harness to work with the lumbar?

[boom2085]

I would think they would be about the same.
BMW does like X-using parts.
but I do not know for sure.

[sunman]

my original harness in the seat did have wiring for the seat heaters but nothing for lumbar. You would need a connector on the valve body, switch, and pump. Then integrate this into the power of the seat. I believe the entire seat harness is 100 dollars. I am not sure if there is a retrofit harness available having the lumbar function only.

[fuddyduddy121]

Yes, my back hurts when I drive for long distances. I have the standard seats in my 540i and I definitely need lumbar support.

[e39dream]

I was shocked to find my bimmer didn't have this when playing with the seats. Both my 1990 and 1992 mustangs had the air lumbar.

[racerx0911]

I was shocked to find my bimmer didn't have this when playing with the seats. Both my 1990 and 1992 mustangs had the air lumbar.

yeah bmw is ridiculous...lubar was standard on our 92 ls400...

[PJB]

yeah bmw is ridiculous...lubar was standard on our 92 ls400...

yeah bmw is fubar...lubar was standard on my mom's 92 Explorer also...

[fuddyduddy121]

I had awesome seats on my 93 SSEi, the lumbar was not standard; however the 18-way seats had 3 different lumbar bags in them and moving side bolsters. Best seats I ever had. I think there were a couple of Pontiac models that had those seats.

[BlackSapphire]

I had awesome seats on my 93 SSEi, the lumbar was not standard; however the 18-way seats had 3 different lumbar bags in them and moving side bolsters. Best seats I ever had. I think there were a couple of Pontiac models that had those seats.

I was only aware that Pontiac put either 6-way (adjustments on door) and 12-way (adjustments on console) power seats into their early to mid-90s bonnevilles. You sure they were '18-way'?

In fact, they were a popular mod for us Impala SS guys since the light gray versions were a perfect match to the SS interior. In fact, I had a set of 'bonnys' in my '96 SS.

[fuddyduddy121]

I was only aware that Pontiac put either 6-way (adjustments on door) and 12-way (adjustments on console) power seats into their early to mid-90s bonnevilles. You sure they were '18-way'?

In fact, they were a popular mod for us Impala SS guys since the light gray versions were a perfect match to the SS interior. In fact, I had a set of 'bonnys' in my '96 SS.

You might be right, I remember 9 switches, each moving in two directions, 9 x 2 = 18. Maybe some of the switches combine some of the "ways" together.